Lake Ivanhoe Celebrates 100 Years as Historic Black Resort Town

Residents plan centennial event to attract new families and preserve legacy

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Lake Ivanhoe, a small unincorporated community in Wisconsin, was founded in 1926 as a resort town for Black families during a time of widespread racism. The Lake Ivanhoe Property Owners Association is now planning a centennial celebration to attract more visitors and residents to the historically significant town.

Why it matters

Lake Ivanhoe was created as a safe haven for Black travelers during the Jim Crow era when they faced discrimination and exclusion from many public spaces. As the town's Black population has dwindled over the years, the centennial celebration aims to preserve the town's legacy and encourage new families of all races to experience its history and community.

The details

Lake Ivanhoe was founded in 1926 by three Black men who wanted to create a resort town for other Black families. It is now a small community of 461 people, with a Black population of just 41 residents according to the 2020 Census. The Lake Ivanhoe Property Owners Association is planning a centennial celebration the weekend of July 24 to attract more visitors and potential new residents to the town.

  • Lake Ivanhoe was founded in 1926.
  • The town received a historical marker from the Wisconsin Historical Society in 2023.
  • The centennial celebration is planned for the weekend of July 24, 2026.

The players

Gwen Jones

A Lake Ivanhoe native who is organizing the centennial event.

Peter Baker

A longtime resident who led the effort to erect a historical plaque in the town.

Lake Ivanhoe Property Owners Association

The organization planning the centennial celebration to attract more visitors and potential new residents to the town.

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What they’re saying

“We want Lake Ivanhoe to remain a vital community, and in order to do that, we have to have young people come into Lake Ivanhoe.”

— Gwen Jones, Lake Ivanhoe native and organizer of the centennial event (tmj4.com)

“This has always just been the best place in the world for me, period. After I saw it as a kid, I came back home and told my mother about it. I told her the community was all Black and she said, 'We've got to go up there.'”

— Peter Baker, Longtime Lake Ivanhoe resident (tmj4.com)

What’s next

The Lake Ivanhoe Property Owners Association is planning the centennial celebration for the weekend of July 24, 2026 to attract more visitors and potential new residents to the historic town.

The takeaway

Lake Ivanhoe's centennial celebration is an opportunity to preserve the legacy of this historic Black resort town and encourage new families of all races to experience its unique community and rich history.