Things to do near Abbey Resort: activities and attractions
Abbey Resort and Avani Spa sits on Geneva Lake in Fontana and offers on-site activities including indoor and seasonal outdoor pools, an on-site marina for boat rentals, and a full-service Avani Spa. Nearby attractions include Fontana Beach (a one-block walk), the Geneva Lake Shore Path, Yerkes Observatory, and several boat cruise options.
In this guide
On-site pools & family activities
The resort has multiple pool options: two outdoor pools (seasonal), an indoor pool with a children's wading area and waterslide, plus a separate adults-only Avani Atrium pool for spa guests aged 16 and older.
Family-friendly programming runs regularly and can include arcade games, fireside s'mores, and evening movie screenings; the indoor pool area is fenced for safety around the children's section.
- Indoor pool with children's wading pool and waterslide
- Two outdoor pools in summer — one family, one adults-only
- Avani Atrium pool and whirlpool reserved for spa guests 16+
| Pool | Who can use it | Season/notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor pool (with wading pool & waterslide) | All guests; family-friendly | Year-round (indoor) |
| Outdoor family pool | All guests | Seasonal (summer months) |
| Avani Atrium (adults-only) | Spa guests 16+ or day pass holders | Access requires spa booking or on-site day pass |
Avani Spa: treatments and access
Avani Spa is a full-service, roughly 35,000 sq. ft. spa on the property offering massages, facials, body treatments, and salon services. Signature offerings include the Avani Signature Bliss and couples' side-by-side massage options.
Spa wellness spaces include a salt room, steam and sauna areas, whirlpools, and a private Atrium pool reserved for guests 16 and older. Day passes and spa admission policies are set by the spa and may be purchased on-site when available.
- Spa hours: Monday–Saturday 6:30 AM–7:00 PM; Sunday 6:30 AM–6:00 PM (published hours)
- Daily admission: complimentary with a qualifying spa service >= $100; otherwise on-site day passes available (prices and availability vary)
- Couples treatments and a private Sanctuary Suite are available by reservation
| Feature | Access |
|---|---|
| Atrium pool / whirlpool / sauna / salt and steam rooms | Guests 16+ who book a qualifying service or purchase day pass |
| Couples massage | Available by reservation in couples' suites |
| Sanctuary Suite | Available by reservation (bridal/party use) |
Boating, marina and lake activities
The resort sits on Abbey Harbor and guests can rent boats from the on-site marina as well as arrange narrated cruises and mailboat excursions from the broader Lake Geneva area. Boat rental operators and cruise lines run seasonally.
A short walk brings you to public Fontana Beach and the Geneva Lake Shore Path, which are convenient for swimming, strolling, and shorter hikes along the lakefront.
- On-site Abbey Harbor marina offers boat rentals (availability varies)
- Lake Geneva Cruise Line and other operators run narrated full-lake and specialty cruises seasonally (May–October typical)
- Fontana Beach is about a one-block walk from the resort
| Activity | When to do it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boat rental from marina | Spring–Fall (seasonal) | Arrangements available on-site; operators in Fontana offer various boat types |
| Lake Geneva full-lake or mailboat cruise | Seasonal (typically May–October; some special cruises late Nov/Dec) | Tours depart from Lake Geneva area; schedules vary by operator |
| Fontana Beach swim or sun | Late spring–early fall | Public beach about one block from the resort |
Dining and evening entertainment
On-site dining covers casual to more formal meals across multiple venues. 240° West serves breakfast and dinner with steaks, seafood, and a Sunday Harborside Champagne Brunch; Waterfront is the casual harborside American BBQ restaurant with live music on some nights.
Bar West is the resort lounge for cocktails and small plates (currently published hours on weekends), Café Latte handles coffee and pastries in the lobby, and Gazebo Grille operates poolside during summer months for snacks and drinks.
- 240° West — breakfast and dinner; reservations recommended; Sunday Harborside Champagne Brunch 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
- Waterfront Restaurant & Bar — casual BBQ, live music Saturday nights, no reservations required
- Bar West — lounge atmosphere with cocktails and flatbreads (hours may be limited to Fri–Sat evenings)
- Gazebo Grille — seasonal poolside service in warmer months; hours vary
| Venue | Primary service |
|---|---|
| 240° West | Breakfast & Dinner (reservations recommended) |
| Waterfront Restaurant & Bar | Lunch & Dinner; casual BBQ and live music |
| Café Latte / Gazebo Grille | Coffee/pastries and seasonal poolside snacks |
Nearby sights: Shore Path, Yerkes and estates
The Geneva Lake Shore Path is a public 21-mile easement circling the lake; most visitors pick a short out-and-back segment to see lakeside estates and shoreline scenery rather than walking the full loop.
Nearby attractions within a short drive include Yerkes Observatory (grounds open daylight hours, seasonal tours available), Black Point Estate (access via guided boat tour), and the Lake Geneva Mailboat and Full Lake scenic cruises operated from the Lake Geneva area.
- Geneva Lake Shore Path — public lakeside walking access; full loop is long so plan shorter segments
- Yerkes Observatory — roughly a 5–10 minute drive; daytime grounds access and seasonal ticketed tours
- Black Point Estate — reachable by shore-path walk or guided boat tour (book tours separately)
| Attraction | Typical travel time from resort (reported) |
|---|---|
| Yerkes Observatory | About 5 minutes by car |
| Black Point Estate | Around 5–10 minutes by boat or short drive |
| Downtown Lake Geneva | About 15 minutes by car or via scheduled shuttle (subject to resort shuttle schedule) |
Golf, ziplining and seasonal excursions
Golfers can play at the adjacent Abbey Springs Golf Course (an 18-hole, lake-view course) that the resort promotes in stay-and-play options. Check current availability and tee times directly with the course.
For more active excursions the resort advertises a Zipline Adventure package that combines an overnight stay with a guided zipline tour at a local zipline operator; package details are available through the resort's reservations team.
- Abbey Springs Golf Course — nearby, lake-view 18-hole course (check for tee time availability)
- Zipline Adventure package — pairs an overnight stay with a full zipline tour; package details vary
- Seasonal nature activities — Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy and Big Foot Beach State Park are short drives away
| Activity | How to book |
|---|---|
| Golf at Abbey Springs | Contact the resort or golf course for tee times and stay-and-play options |
| Zipline Adventure | Available as a resort package; reserve through the resort |
| State park and nature conservancy visits | Drive to sites (short drive); check seasonal hours |
Practical details for your stay
The resort address is 269 Fontana Boulevard, Fontana, Wisconsin 53125. Standard check-in begins at 4:00 PM and check-out is 11:00 AM; the property lists a minimum age to check in generally as 18 but sources vary, so confirm at booking.
Rooms are available in several named types — Room, Resort View; Room, Pool View; Room, with Sofa bed, Pool View; Room, with Sofa bed, Harbor View; and Room, Harbor View. The nightly resort fee covers WiFi, fitness center access, in-room bottled water, valet parking, newspapers, pool access and scheduled shuttle service.
- Address: 269 Fontana Boulevard, Fontana, WI 53125
- Phone (BookResorts agents, 24/7): +1 (888) 605-1350
- Room types (exact names): Room, Resort View; Room, Pool View; Room, with Sofa bed, Pool View; Room, with Sofa bed, Harbor View; Room, Harbor View
| Policy or amenity | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Check-in / Check-out | Check-in 4:00 PM; check-out 11:00 AM (standard) |
| Resort fee | Covers WiFi, fitness center access, in-room bottled water, valet parking, newspaper, pool access and shuttle |
| Pet policy | Pets are not allowed; service animals compliant with ADA are permitted |
