About Chippewa Resort
Chippewa Resort is a charming getaway offering the perfect blend of relaxation and lakeside adventure. Spanning two historic properties, Chippewa Resort and the Normandie cottages and lake house, our rustic cabins provide a cozy escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Our Values
At Chippewa Resort, we are committed to providing a comfortable stay and upholding ethical practices that allow our guests, our team, and the natural environment to thrive. Our values include:
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Hospitality: Offering a warm, welcome to every guest
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Integrity: Conducting business ethically, fairly, and transparently
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Sustainability: Upholding environmentally and socially sustainable practices that support our community, protect natural resources, and promote long-term well-being for people and place
We hope to create unforgettable experiences at Chippewa Resort, and your feedback is invaluable to us.
Feel free to reach out to our team with any questions, feedback, or special requests.
Chippewa Resort History
Chippewa Resort was built in the 1950s by Louie and Mildred Bartos. In the years that followed, they became friends with Jim Maiers, an Illinois donut shop owner who often vacationed in Lake Geneva with his family. After falling in love with the area, Jim expressed interest in purchasing the resort if Louie ever chose to sell.
In the early 1970s, the property was sold to the Maiers family. Jim and his wife, Nancy, ran Chippewa Resort for the next forty years, living in the main house and raising their four daughters—turning the resort into not just a business, but a family legacy.
Do you have old photographs or stories of Chippewa Resort or Normandie cottages and lake house that you want to share with us? We'd love to hear about them! Contact us!
Co-Owner
Laura Hobbs
Laura moved to Williams Bay as a young girl when her parents (Jim and Nancy) bought Chippewa Resort in the early 1970s. Laura and her three sisters grew up on the property and attended the local Williams Bay schools, where Laura met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Mike. After undergrad at Cedarville University and Physician's Assistant school at UW-Madison, Laura enjoyed a 30-year career as a PA, first in Milwaukee and then in Elkhorn after returning to the area with her husband and two young daughters. Laura and Mike took over management of Chippewa Resort in her parents' later years.
Pets: Bon Bon (see below, right)
Favorite hobby: chair yoga, Duolingo Spanish
Fun fact: Laura's daily routine includes reading Hardy Boys books to her grandson via FaceTime.
Co-Owner
Mike Hobbs
The Hobbs family moved to Williams Bay the year before Mike was born, the second of three children to Lew and JoAnn. After attending Williams Bay schools where he met Laura, Mike attended Oberlin College for undergrad and then The Medical College of Wisconsin. While attending school, Mike also worked for a general contractor, developing skills that have served him (and the resort!) well in his years managing and maintaining Chippewa Resort with Laura. With the addition of Becca (below, left) to the family business, Mike has also taken on the time-honored parental role of instructor in all things plumbing, electrical, and construction for the resort.
Pets: Bon Bon (see below)
Favorite board game: Wingspan
Fun fact: Mike used to play piano bar on The Belle of the Lake (one of the big tour boats on Geneva Lake) during his college years. Other fun past jobs include baker's assistant.
Property Manager
Becca Hobbs
Youngest daughter of Laura and Mike, Becca grew up in Williams Bay, spending most summer days on the beach or in the water at Chippewa Resort. After earning a BA in Psychology from UW-Madison, Becca spent almost a decade working in public health grant and program management for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services before deciding to rejoin the family legacy of operating Chippewa Resort in 2025. Becca lives in Madison.
Pets: An orange tabby named Stevie (after Stevie Nicks)
Favorite TV show: Parks and Rec, Schitt's Creek
Fun fact: Becca's TBR ("to be read") list is longer than her life expectancy, at 2,200 titles as of January 2026.
Guest Engagement Director
Bon Bon
This sweet pup lived at Lakeland Animal Shelter until he found his forever home with Laura and Mike. With his good looks, charisma, and outgoing personality, Bon Bon is the natural choice as Chippewa Resort's Guest Engagement Director. As a leading expert in his field, Bon Bon's compensation plan includes a salary of 1,000 dog treats and belly rubs from any "dog people" who visit Chippewa Resort.
Pets: Laura and Mike (who truly owns whom? We aren't sure...)
Favorite hobby: Going on walks with his best puppy friend, Baia
Fun fact: Bon Bon loves chasing (but never catching) squirrels—he just hasn’t realized their greatest escape move is up.