Wonder Lake
Wonder Lake is the 830-acre centerpiece of a planned lakefront community in the Chicagoland area of Illinois. That was the vision of developers in 1929 when they built a small dam across Nippersink Creek 50 miles northwest of the Loop.…
Lake Lou Yaeger
One of the hidden gems in the central Illinois heartland, Lake Lou Yaeger provides over 1200 acres of recreational enjoyment to residents and visitors alike. Built in 1966 for flood control, recreation and water supply, Lake Lou Yaeger has become…
Evergreen Lake
One of Central Illinois’ best-kept secret lies just north of Bloomington: Evergreen Lake. When the growing city needed additional water supply in 1971, Six Mile Creek was dammed to create new Evergreen Lake. Then, needing even more water storage, the…
Lake Wildwood IL
Build it and they will come’ is the true story behind Lake Wildwood in Central Illinois. As the population grew in the 1960s and 1970s, developers found a willing market for new lakefront developments. A new lake on the mostly…
Deep Lake IL
Even in a county with hundreds of lakes, Deep Lake stands out. Located in Lake County, in the Chicagoland Region of Illinois, private Deep Lake is noted as one of the cleanest, clearest lakes in the watershed. The lake lies…
Lake Galena
Tucked in a corner of the Northern Region of Illinois, Lake Galena presents one of the finest examples of a well-planned manmade lake. Galena Reservoir, as it is also known, was created when developers dammed Smallpox River with an eye…
Happy Hollow Lake
Knox County in western Illinois is home to private Happy Hollow Lake. Built in 1963, Happy Hollow Lake offers 30 acres of cool, refreshing water. Very close by is another lake, Happy Hollow Lake 2, which is 15 acres. The…
Lake Wee-Ma-Tuk
Lake Wee-Ma-Tuk, located southwest of Peoria, Illinois, is a shining example of thoughtful land restoration. The 154-acre private lake is part of an upscale residential development containing more than 40 lakes in Illinois’ Western tourism region. Fulton County, Illinois, home…
Crystal Lake IL
Crystal Lake, in the Chicagoland Region of Illinois, is a water playground surrounded by a decidedly urban landscape. Located in the Chicago Northwest suburbs, Crystal Lake is easy to get to and a great place to live. An easy commute…
Pistakee Lake
Pistakee Lake is a well-known destination to generations of Chicago area Lakelubbers. Located on the famous Fox River Chain of Lakes in the Chicagoland Region of Illinois, Pistakee Lake has been welcoming visitors since the mid 1800s. The southernmost large…
Crooked Lake IL
In a landscape dotted by glacial lakes and wetlands, Crooked Lake is in the aptly named Lake County of Illinois. Situated in the Chicagoland tourist region, it is where nature’s beauty meets good old fashioned American fun. Surrounded by the…
Lake Petersburg
Something in human nature seems to require a water body to feel complete: Lake Petersburg fills that need. The people of Petersburg on the border between Illinois’ Central and Western Regions felt the lack and created a lake. Lovely Lake…
Lake Springfield
Lake Springfield at Springfield, Illinois is the largest municipally owned lake in Illinois at 4,234 acres. City Water, Light & Power built the reservoir primarily as a source of drinking water for the city and a source of condenser cooling…
Lake Taylorville
Completed in 1962 by the City of Taylorville, Illinois, Lake Taylorville is the city’s source of water and a major recreation facility. The reservoir was created by damming the south fork of the Sangamon River. With more than 50 miles…
Lake Mattoon
Surrounded by farmlands in the Central region of Illinois is Lake Mattoon. A quiet and tranquil retreat for many Illinoisans and out-of-towners, the lake is also a dynamic and lively location for the bustles of summer. Fishing tournaments, waterfowl hunting…