Gary Con and Lake Geneva
Every March, the sleepy town of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin comes out of its winter hibernation to witness the annual migration of a rare breed - gamers! These strange creatures come in many varieties of shape and coloration, often with visible plumage that denotes their heritage (fantasy, sci-fi, pulp, historical), and gather with their flock to reconnect and forge new bonds. Yet, they all come with one single purpose - to celebrate a "Life Well Played." The event is Gary Con, founded to honor the life of Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons.
The weather in Lake Geneva varies wildly in March. In 2019, the lake was still frozen.
Gary Con is a unique entry into the vast number of gaming-based conventions. A relatively small convention compared to behemoths like Gen Con and PAX, it still sells out and draws more interest every year. Steeped in the history of Role Playing Games but embracing the new resurgence of the hobby, it is one part convention, one part history lesson, and one part family reunion.
Gary Con is the only place where you can play games with some of the early creators of the hobby, meet the artists that solidified what D&D and other roleplaying games would look like, and even play those games in locations that have their own storied connection to the hobby.
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva is the birthplace of D&D, though not the RPG hobby. That is a much more complicated story reserved for other scholarly works. The important thing here is that this is where Gary Gygax lived when D&D was birthed by him and Dave Arneson. This is where Tactical Studies Rules (TSR), the original publisher of D&D, was based and where all of the luminaries who would go on to work on D&D would move to work on it until TSR was purchased by Wizards of the Coast in 1997. It is also where several of those creators still live either directly or within a short drive.
Lake Geneva is also the birthplace of Gen Con (a portmanteau of Geneva and Convention), founded by Gygax in 1968 as the Lake Geneva Wargaming Convention. Gen Con spent several years in Lake Geneva before moving on to bigger venues. One of the last places that Gen Con was held in Lake Geneva was, at the time, the Playboy Club Resort.
Lake Geneva was (and still is) a nearby summer vacation destination for Chicagoans looking to escape the city but still take advantage of a large lake. Attracting celebrities, tourists, and locals alike the Playboy Resort was seen as the peak of modern class and sophistication in the 1970s and was very successful throughout the decade. However, as times changed the appeal of a Playboy resort waned and eventually it changed hands and became what is now the Grand Geneva Resort, a more universal, though still higher class, resort that offers accommodations for the entire family.
The Grand Geneva
The Grand Geneva is also now home to Gary Con, moving back into the space that Lake Geneva's premier gaming convention once held. It offers lots of event space including an entire convention forum, presentation rooms for panels, dining and bar options, and, of course, onsite lodging. This combination makes it a great space for hosting a moderately-sized convention. The décor leans upon its 1970s era foundations but with a modern update. Some spaces will feel more dated than others but that is part of the charm and it in a way it mirrors Gary Con itself - straddling the divide between the past and the present.
There is one drawback that should be pointed out for making it a perfect convention space - the layout. Built in 1968, the architecture is very Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired. The large hotel and convention space is laid out in a long line as was popular with Prairie Architecture. Additionally, there are multiple staircases between one end and the other that can make indoor accessibility a challenge. This has caused issues with con-goers having difficulty getting to the convention forum which has hosted gaming tables and the dealer space in the past. As of this writing, there is no great solution for this other than taking the outdoor sidewalks which may be less than ideal depending on the Wisconsin weather.
Gary Con
Started as an impromptu gathering in 2008 by Gary Gygax's family and friends after his death, Gary Con became an annual event organized by his children to honor their father's "life well played". Regular attendees include many of TSR's notable creators and staff as well as modern creators and celebrities who all seek a place to enjoy their hobby with the community.
Derek White, The Geekpreacher, running one of his annual Scooby-Doo Meets the Call of Cthulhu games.
I started attending Gary Con in 2019 and was part of two virtual (or Ethereal in gaming terms) conventions during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, we returned to in-person and it was as if the con had hardly been interrupted. I regularly run 20 hours of roleplaying game sessions ranging from modern D&D 5e to old school classics like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Marvel Superheroes. Every session I have ever taken part in, whether one that I ran or just played in, has had the best players. The Gary Con crowd is enthusiastic, friendly, and their love for gaming always shows. There are perks for GMs depending on the amount of games or events that you organize. Exclusive t-shirts and your next year's attendance are up for grabs if you commit to being a full-time GM for the con. There is also a GMs' Lounge which provides quick snacks and drinks along with space to organize your thoughts and print off a character sheet or two.
The variety of games ranges from old-school wargaming to modern RPGs and even board games. If you have a game you want to play, sign up as a GM and run it. You will definitely find someone to play with you as events regularly sell out. Even though the range of gaming eras is wide, it is somewhat narrow in genres. Because it is Gary Con there is a strong Dungeons and Dragons presence, so much so that it has been criticized as a D&D Con. My personal opinion is that it is simply because few people want to run anything that is not fantasy-based since it is the most popular genre. I have had no problems filling out player spots for games like TMNT and Marvel that were in other genres and was even thanked this past year for running something different.
Gary Con's attendance skews to an older crowd, again due to its connection to the history of hobby. You will easily find gamers that have been playing since the beginning. As an older gamer I do appreciate the chance to game with my peers as that is something that is harder to do at the larger conventions. That being said I am excited to see younger generations show up as well and encourage them to do so. All of my games in 2022 included people under 25 and it was fantastic. I believe there is a perception that Gary Con is "an old man's con" but when I attend I see a diverse crowd of all walks of life. This is how Gary Con will survive - by appealing to a larger audience and not just us old grognards.
Points of Interest in Lake Geneva
Besides Gary Con itself, there are several points of interest that I recommend taking an afternoon away from the convention to go visit if you have the chance.
The Birthplace of D&D
(330 Center Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147)
This tiny house is where Gary Gygax and his family lived when he wrote and playtested the first codified rules of Dungeons & Dragons. The simple unfinished basement was where he and his friends gathered around a handmade sand table to play wargames and devise the ideas that would turn into a major hobby.
The house is available for private games along with a stay at the loft next door. Sessions are also hosted there as part of Gary Con. I was fortunate enough to attend one of these sessions in 2022 and it was a bucket-list experience being able to play the original game in the room where it was first played with Gary and his kids.
The Gary Gygax Memorial Tile
(812 Wrigley Dr, Lake Geneva, WI 53147)
Currently the only memorial to the co-founder of our hobby, the Memorial Tile is a small part of a larger memorial fountain plaza and easy to miss (especially if there is still snow on the ground!). It is a humble place to pay tribute to Gary and ask for a bit of luck to be bestowed on your dice by a quick roll.
Lake Geneva Games
A solid gaming store with great selection and game space. This is the place to head to if you need to grab last minute supplies before the con gets underway. You will find groups from Gary Con behind the secret bookcase door taking advantage of the game space for more private games on the nights leading up to Gary Con.
The Horticultural Hall
Photo Credit: Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The Lake Geneva Horticultural Hall was built in 1911 as a location for the professional gardeners working on nearby estates to meet and discuss their work. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is wonderful example of Arts and Crafts architecture.
The Horticultural Hall also has a gaming connection as it was the original site of Gen Con from 1968 - 1977. Gary Gygax rented the space in 1968 and began hosting the yearly wargaming convention long before Dungeons & Dragons came into existence.
It is an event space now and not open to the public save for the weekly Farmer’s Market on Thursdays from May - October. If you are lucky enough to be able to attend you can walk the halls of gaming history while picking up some local fresh produce.
Geneva Lake Museum
A museum of the local history of Lake Geneva and its rise to vacation destination. A permanent exhibit titled "A Legacy of Imagination - The Creation of a Culture" is opening soon and will interpret the town's prominence in the founding of the roleplaying game community.
Dining at Gary Con and in Lake Geneva
Dining at the Grand Geneva is excellent, though you will be paying resort prices.
Convention Catering
The Grand Geneva offers several pop-up locations that offer grab-and-go options to gamers on their way to their next events. These are fairly standard con fair, including burgers, pizza, and wraps as well as snacks, sodas, water, and beer for those over 21. It serves its purpose of quick and filling with above average taste. I regularly grab a turkey wrap between my games and have never been disappointed. In the "pre-COVID" days, the Grand Geneva also offered tableside service for GMs which was amazing. A waiter would come by your table and ask if you wanted anything to eat with drinks being on the house - perfect for GMS with back to back games.
Lobby Lounge
Photo Credit: Badger Eats https://www.instagram.com/badger.eats/
This sunken lounge overlooking the pool and property through a massive window is the hub of social activity at Gary Con. This is where you can grab a beer (Wisconsin's own Spotted Cow!) and share a bite with fellow attendees.
Grab one of the delicious MPC Bavarian Pretzels (big enough to share) or a flavorful Wisco Sooey Burger and then regale your compatriots with tales of games past.
Geneva Chophouse
The Grand Geneva's signature steakhouse, Geneva Chophouse is probably on the higher end for a convention meal, but it makes a great place for any sort of special occasion. Gary Con attendees will often be found using the Chophouse as the venue for celebrating the chance to gather together again with their "Gary Con Family." Make reservations early as they go fast once the convention gets underway.
Ristorante Brissago
Photo Credit: Visit Lake Geneva www.visitlakegeneva.com
Tucked away on the upper floor overlooking the main lounge area, Ristorante Brissago offers a quiet dining atmosphere with mid-range priced Italian dishes. The flat breads are always a hit with Gary Con attendees but the pasta and entrees are not to be missed.
Grand Café
While at Gary Con if you want a fuller breakfast than the grab-and-go options, Grand Café is your only option but it is a solid one. During the convention, they offer a daily breakfast buffet that has a wide range of options for any dietary preference. Their dinner buffet is also a decent choice if you need to eat on property, with a different theme each night. However, I would recommend checking out some of the offsite dining options below if you have the time.
If you are looking for something less expensive, there are several fantastic local spots which offer their own unique charm. Here are a few local restaurants I suggest you try if in town for Gary Con.
The Next Door Pub
A Gary Con pre-con tradition. Hitting up Next Door Pub on the Wednesday night before the con properly starts is a tradition of many con-goers. There is ample seating and you can find pretty much anything you are looking for on their large menu including their famous stone-fired, thin crust pizzas.
Popeye's on Lake Geneva
Another long-standing Lake Geneva tradition (celebrating 50+ years in business!), Popeye's is not the fast-food chicken place you may be thinking of. Rather it's a great hodge-podge of mid-western, seafood, and Greek rotisserie. The atmosphere is an eclectic, nautical theme reminiscent of its namesake cartoon character with a bar built to look like a tugboat! This is not fine dining but it is really good food and makes for a fairly inexpensive outing away from the con. It is also conveniently near the Gary Gygax Memorial Tile.
Sabai Sabai
For something a little less midwestern try Sabai Sabai. This local Thai restaurant has excellent flavors and prices wrapped up in a converted house. I particularly enjoyed the Pad Ki Mao with just enough heat to warm me up on a chilly day in March. Sabai Sabai is also the closest restaurant to The Birthplace of D&D, making it a short walk to grab a bite if you are fortunate enough to be able to play there.
“A Life Well Played”
The motto of Gary Con - “A Life Well Played” - was originally in reference to Gary Gygax himself and for the Gygax family, this is their chance to remember the father. That motto goes far beyond Gary though.
Gary Con is an opportunity for us all to have an intimate gathering of gamers to celebrate all of our “lives well played.” It is a chance to remember our fellow gamers that we have lost and to honor those that have paved the way so that this hobby will outlive us all. It is a time to reflect on the past and move forward into the future of gaming.
An absolutely terrible picture of me and some of my Gary Con family.
The four days of Gary Con go by so quickly and leave you wanting to stay longer. The Grand Geneva's size allows for both variety in gaming yet familiarity with your fellow gamers. It will take great effort for you to attend Gary Con and not make at least one friend who you will look forward to seeing next year. More than likely you will make friends that last a lifetime while playing in some fantastic games that you will find nowhere else.
You can find out more about Gary Con, including how to purchase tickets, at https://garycon.com/.
For more information about the Grand Geneva, visit their site: https://www.grandgeneva.com/.
If you would like to know more about visiting Lake Geneva, visit https://www.visitlakegeneva.com/.
