Private waterfront living in Candlewick Lake
Candlewick Lake is a guard-gated private community surrounding its namesake lake, a hub for water sports. “A lot of people move here for the lifestyle and the affordability,” says broker Rion Tovar-South of Weichert Realtors-Tovar Properties, who lived in Candlewick Lake for 20 years. “In Chicago, $400,000 doesn’t get you much. Here, you get a lakefront property.” Lake Michigan and Chicagoland are about 2 hours east, and many city residents use Candlewick Lake as a part-time retreat. “About 50% of lakefront homeowners live here permanently. The other half use it as a weekend getaway,” Tovar-South says. Residents of the resort-style community have access to a private beach, a recreation center and a golf course.
Single-family homes on and off the lake with HOA rules
Candlewick Lake is lined with waterfront homes built between the 1980s and early 2000s. Ranch-style, A-frame and New Traditional houses range from $290,000 to $425,000, most with grassy backyards, trees and private boat docks. Similar homes, other than the A-frames, are located inland on the community’s winding streets and cul-de-sacs, where homes on quarter-acre lots range from $160,000 to $450,000. Additional HOA fees come in around $1,500 a year. “It’s not like living in a subdivision,” Tovar-South explains. “There are rules, like you can’t have a fence. But a lot of them are reasonable: Take your cans after garbage day, don’t leave Christmas lights up all year. It’s just all normal things people do anyway to maintain their homes and be a good member of the community.” Nearly 90% of residents own, and the community has a CAP Index Crime score of 2 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4. Candlewick Lake's maintenance department also takes care of salting and plowing roads in winter.
Water sports, parks and a private golf course
The 210-acre lake is the heart of the community. “There’s boating, fishing and just about everything that comes with lake life,” Tovar-South says. “There are rules, though, such as engine size and horsepower for boats.” Aside from privately owned docks, locals can launch from one of four boat ramps around the lake, including one at the rec center. The community also has a lottery system for non-lakefront homeowners who can apply to keep their boat in a slip at the rec center. Summers at the center bring people to the lakeside beach, community pool and tennis courts, plus indoor basketball and a fitness center. In winter, locals enjoy ice fishing and ice skating on the lake. Friendship Park is also next to the lake, where kids can play on the playground and basketball court. The private nine-hole Savannah Oaks Golf Course lies on the north side of the lake. The golf course offers youth leagues, tournaments and a clubhouse with a sports bar that hosts events, including bingo and trivia.
Shopping and Dining
Small shopping centers line Illinois Highway 76 just outside the development. They feature stores, restaurants and other convenient businesses, including a pharmacy, bank and auto repair shop. Locals can get groceries at Pacemaker Foods Countryside Market and other essentials at Dollar General. For dining out, there’s Hydeout, a local sports bar with bingo nights and live music. Boone County Family Restaurant has been a community staple since 1982, serving homestyle food. More big-box retailers and restaurants are less than 15 miles away in Rockford.
Split by Belvidere and North Boone community unit school districts
The Belvidere Community Unit School District 100 serves students who live on the north and west sides of the lake. Caledonia Elementary School and Belvidere Central Middle School both receive a C-plus from Niche, and Belvidere North High School receives a B-plus. In 2025, the high school cheerleading team won its fourth state championship in eight years.
North Boone Community Unit School District 200 serves the east side of the lake. These students attend Manchester Elementary School, rated B-plus, followed by North Boone Upper Elementary School, rated B-minus, and North Boone Middle School, rated C-plus. B-rated North Boone High School offers a Running Start program, allowing juniors and seniors to take courses at Rock Valley College, partially paid for by the school district.
Lake events and a Fourth of July celebration
The community has several events throughout the year, including fishing tournaments and water skiing shows. For the Fourth of July, locals gather along Candlewick Drive for a parade that ends with a party at the recreation center. “The whole lawn area is full of tents, and people bring their grills and hang out all day until the fireworks go off,” Tovar-South says.
30 minutes to Rockford and 2 hours to Chicago
The two main roads just outside the gated community are Illinois Highway 173 and Illinois Highway 76. It’s about a 30-minute drive to Rockford, home of Chicago Rockford International Airport. It can take about 2 hours to drive 85 miles to Chicago.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
