Homes Builds Luxury Custom Homes in Lake Forest
Lake Forest was founded in 1861 with cornerstones dedicated to family, education, tradition and philanthropy. These four values persevered throughout the years and are known today as the things that matter most to the people who live there. Building a custom home in Lake Forest will give your family the opportunity to live in a community rich in history where children receive exceptional education steeped with traditional values. Residents are known for their generous philanthropy donating to local churches, schools, arts and cultural groups and numerous non-profit organizations. Lake Forest spans 19 square miles, partially siting on a bluff overlooking the waters of Lake Michigan. Generations of residents continue to call Lake Forest home, impressed with its natural beauty, amazing architecture, award-winning healthcare, excellent public schools and strong community bonds. Skycrest Homes can help you create the custom home of your dreams in this exclusive North Shore Chicago suburb.
Building a Custom Home in Lake Forest – Local Tips
Schools
The public schools in Lake Forest are among the best in Illinois. Lake Forest District 67 includes three elementary schools and one middle school, all of which are recognized both state-wide and nationally for their innovative instructional practices and solid education programs. Graduates of Lake Forest Community High School District 115 enjoy small class sizes and world-class education preparing them for their future studies at some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country.
Parents interested in private education will find exceptional opportunities in Lake Forest. Lake Forest Country Day School offers private education from pre-school through 8th grade. The Montessori School of Lake Forest educates children from infancy through adolescence. For the ultimate college preparatory experience, selected candidates can attend Lake Forest Academy. This highly selective and very prestigious school educates students from around the country in grades 9 through 12.
These renowned educational opportunities are one of many reasons homebuyers choose to build a custom home in Lake Forest. Graduates receive top honors winning many impressive scholarships and going on to attend the most respected colleges and universities in the country including Ivy League and Big Ten Universities.
Parks and Community Events
The Lake Forest Parks & Recreation Department brings activities, education and events to residents of all ages. Buying a home in Lake Forest gives you access to an exciting line-up of park district offerings such as early childhood enrichment classes and the Kinderhaven Preschool Academy. There are programs dedicated to swimming and athletics, dance and gymnastics, performing arts, martial arts, summer camps, golf, fitness and more. The Lake Forest Fitness Center offers state-of-the-art equipment and personalized training to residents for a very affordable monthly membership.
A wide variety of special events throughout the year offer opportunities to be active in your new community. Summertime brings Movies at the Beach, the Lake Forest Day Run and the popular Lake Forest Farmers’ Market. Autumn blows in the Annual Art Fair on the Square and Halloween Spectacular Regatta. Wintertime welcomes Santa along with the Annual Holiday Art Sale and the popular Holiday Extrav-A-Danca-A. No matter what time of year there is always something exciting happening in this tight-knit community.
For enjoying outdoor recreations, the Lake Forest Park District maintains nearly 200 acres of parks, 11 miles of bike trails and 20 miles of nature and walking trails. Building a new home in Lake Forest offers an abundance of outdoor attractions all just minutes from home. In total there are 12 parks within the community offering amenities such as playgrounds, pavilions, sports courts for basketball, tennis and soccer plus a seasonal ice-skating rink.
Another local environmental treasure is Lake Forest Open Lands, an independently funded conservation and educational organization responsible for over 800 acres of open space, including woodlands, wetlands, prairies, ravines and savannas. Visitors can enjoy the great outdoors at one of its six nature preserves and discover 12 miles of trails open to the public year round.
Golf and Outdoor Recreations
Chicago’s North Shore offers exciting golf courses for players of all levels. The Deerpath Golf Course in Lake Forest is one of the oldest public courses in the country featuring beautiful landscaping, a driving range and a lovely clubhouse with a golf shop and restaurant. The private Knollwood Club in Lake Forest was founded in 1924 and has been host to USGA and PGA events. Members enjoy a beautiful clubhouse, on-site dining, sports courts for tennis and platform tennis, a swimming pool, skeet shooting and cross-country skiing. The Conway Farms Golf Club also in Lake Forest is an award-winning Tom Fazio course offering members a world-class golf experience. The Onwentsia Club is yet another prestigious Lake Forest golf course where elite members experience country club living at its finest.
Aside from golf Lake Forest is known for its beautiful beach on the shore of Lake Michigan. Access to Forest Park Beach is complimentary for residents and open to non-residents for a daily fee. Features include a large sandy beach, pavilions, a fishing pier, boat launch, walking paths and concession stands. Visitors can sign-up for sailing classes and camps or rent kayaks, paddleboards or sailboats.
Another distinctly Lake Forest destination is the Lake Forest Wildlife Discovery Center, a living natural history museum featuring interpretive trails and nature-based educational programs. For a stunning example of estate farm architecture, ELAWA FARM is a must-see attraction dating back to 1917. The buildings, including designs by David Adler and Alfred Hopkins, have been meticulously preserved, while the gardens and grounds feature a farm market, farm to table dinners, plant sales and special events such as the summer solstice celebration and the annual holiday market.
Lake Forest is located within the Lake County Forest Preserve district. The Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest is a rare 25-acre tallgrass savanna considered one of the finest of its kind in the nation. Here visitors can enjoy miles of trails, woodlands, prairies, meadows and marshes.
Lastly, Lake Forest is also home to Halas Hall, the headquarters and training facility of the NFL’s Chicago Bears.
Libraries and Museums
Inside the stately historic doors of the Lake Forest Library is an impressive facility graced with traditional elegance. This small local library offers luxurious spaces to settle down with a classic read and a vibrant children’s space for kids to experience the joy of learning. The lower level of the library is dedicated to children with vibrant colors, an activity room and youth-sized reading tables and chairs. Adults enjoy relaxing in cozy spaces adorned with rich woods and leather chairs. The lovely architecture of the Lake Forest Library takes patrons back in time while the collection of materials is consistently modernized. A new media lab offers the latest equipment and software for working with graphics, videos and music. Owning a new home in Lake Forest will put you within minutes of this local treasure.
The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society is a non-profit organization with over 500 members and an extensive local collection dating back to historic treasures from 1860. The society offers unique exhibitions, publications and programs designed to remember and celebrate the heritage of Lake Forest and neighboring Lake Bluff. A visit to the historical society is a must for anyone considering building a custom home in Lake Forest.
Shopping and Dining
Lake Forest offers wonderful options for shopping and dining whether you’re looking for that something special or for simple, everyday conveniences. In the heart of Lake Forest is the Historic Market Square. Known as the “first artfully designed shopping center in the country”, the English inspired market center was built in 1916 and is now home to 25 fine stores and restaurants including Talbots, J. Crew and Williams-Sonoma.
Lake Forest residents enjoy easy access to popular retailers and a nice assortment of fine and casual dining establishments. Restaurants dotting the landscape of Lake Forest offer gourmet beverages and warm baked goods, casual fare served up with live entertainment and elegant, fine dining restaurants perfect to cozy up with loved ones.
Beyond Lake Forest, nearby suburbs such as Northbrook are prime destinations for exceptional shopping. Northbrook Court offers high-end retailers including Neiman-Marcus, Macy’s, Burberry and Louis Vuitton along with delectable restaurants. Westfield Hawthorne in nearby Vernon Hills is a traditional shopping mall with an exciting collection of shops and restaurants. Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is another fantastic opportunity to enjoy some of the finest shopping in the country, just for the day or for a weekend retreat.
Transportation and Accessibility
About 30 miles north of downtown Chicago, Lake Forest is one of the largest communities on the North Shore of Chicago with a population of more than 20,000. Discerning homeowners choose to build custom homes in Lake Forest in-part for its accessibility to downtown Chicago, O’Hare International Airport and the Waukegan National Executive Airport, in addition to convenient access to rail systems and interstate highways. Several large companies have corporate headquarters within or near the city of Lake Forest such as Brunswick and Hospira. Two Metra commuter stations serve Lake Forest including the Union Pacific/North Line on the east side of town, bound for Chicago’s Ogilvie Transportation Center, and the Milwaukee District/North Line station on the west side of town, bound for downtown Chicago’s Union Station. Both reach their city stations in just over an hour.
As one of the most exclusive suburbs of the North Shore area, Lake Forest residents enjoy living among elegant estates with award-winning schools and strong hometown traditions. World-renowned architects built gorgeous estates in Lake Forest dating back to the Henry Ives Cobb estate built in1890. An amazing setting along the shores of Lake Michigan make this picturesque town ideal for building a luxury custom home in Chicago.
Contact Skycrest Homes today for more information on building a new construction custom home in Lake Forest.