What You Can Find Here
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This 43-acre preserve protects rare plants, contains two calcareous fens, and a variety of wildlife. Within this preserve are two wooded parcels and wetlands adjacent to Lake Ivanhoe.
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The purchase of this property was made possible by grants from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Knowles Nelson Stewardship Fund and a North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant through Ducks Unlimited. In addition, more than 20 donors from the Geneva Lake Conservancy’s membership supported this purchase.
History
The property is located in Lake Ivanhoe, a historic community founded in the 1920s by three African American businessmen from Chicago as a resort for Black families. Much of the Conservancy’s newly acquired land once belonged to one of those founders, Frank Anglin. Working with his granddaughter, Paula Anglin, the Conservancy completed the purchase and named the site the Anglin Family Nature Preserve in the family’s honor. In 2022, Lake Ivanhoe was recognized by the Wisconsin Historical Society with a marker commemorating its legacy as the state’s first African American resort community.
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In the fall of 2023, the Conservancy hosted a dedication event, dedicating the name of the preserve to the Anglin Family. In October of 2025, the Conservancy unveiled the new boardwalk at the preserve.