Brothers John and George Gage sold plots of land around an unnamed lake in the 1840s, attracting residents from Chicago looking for a waterside summer home. The lake and neighborhood around it were named Gages Lake, honoring the brothers' initial development. The area has changed substantially since its earliest days, with almost all its land developed with houses, schools and parks. "There are older homes, newer homes and million-dollar homes in Gages Lake now," says Stacy Johnson, a broker associate at Baird & Warner and longtime resident of Chicago's Lake County. Gages Lake is now home to about 10,000 permanent residents who enjoy being close to well-rated schools, shopping and entertainment. The biggest draw, however, is still the lake. "There are beautiful homes alongside it, community beach parks and neighborhood events," Johnson says.
Original cottages, modern styles and million-dollar homes
Subdivisions in Gages Lake are densely lined with homes and streets that wind around one another. Styles range from Cape Cods from the 1920s to bi-level and split-level homes from the mid-1900s to recently built new traditional and modern Craftsman mansions. "Many homes in the area were originally vacation cottages that have since been remodeled or have had additions," Johnson says. "There are also some teardowns, where people buy a lake cottage and build a million-dollar home in its place." Except for those few homes that sell at around $1 million, houses sell between $190,000 and $650,000. Townhouses and condos sell between $200,000 and $450,000. The median price is $315,000, and, according to Johnson, taxes tend to be cheaper because the area is unincorporated.
Boating, fishing and neighborhood events at Gages Lake
Waterside parks along the lake include Pebble Beach, Willow Point and Sunset Beach. Wildwood Park District oversees the lake and its parks, and the Gages Lake Conservation Committee controls weed, algae and lily pad levels. The committee also restocks fish and tests water quality levels. Events at parks along the water include Harvest Fest, an ice fishing derby and an ice golf tournament.
Warren Township Park has sports courts and fields, a big playground, a skate park and a designated hill for sledding in the snowy winter months. Golfers have many nearby options in courses, with four courses within a mile drive of the lake.
More than 200 stores and restaurants are at Gurnee Mills
There are a few local restaurants, bars and shops near Gages Lake, and Jewel-Osco is a short drive west. Large shopping plazas with national retailers, grocers and a big mall are along West Grand Avenue, 4 miles northeast, next to Interstate 94. Gurnee Mills is one of the largest retail shopping destinations in the state. The mall has over 200 restaurants, shops and department stores, not including the additional stores and restaurants around its perimeter.
Millions of people visit the area each year, but it's not a nuisance
Six Flags Great America is on the other side of Interstate 94 from the mall and an even closer drive to the neighborhood. The amusement park attracts between 2 million and 3 million residents yearly. Six Flags has concerts, family rides, Hurricane Harbor water park and 16 rollercoasters. The park is less than 3 miles from the neighborhood, but "It's far enough away that it doesn't cause any problems at all," Johnson says. "The interstate does a great job of keeping traffic away from the surrounding neighborhoods and suburbs. I've lived here for 25 years and have only been stuck in Great American traffic twice."
Attending six different school campuses before graduation
Woodland Primary School teaches prekindergarten and kindergarten students and is rated B-plus by Niche. Woodland Elementary School teaches first through third-grade kids and is rated A-minus. Woodland Intermediate School is a B-plus school for fourth and fifth graders. Woodland Middle School is rated B. Warren Township High School divides students between two campuses for lower and higher grades. The two schools receive a collective grade of A.
Interstate 94 is a main connective highway nearby
Pace bus route 572 goes through Gages Lake, and other routes stop nearby. Downtown Chicago is 42 miles southeast, and while some residents commute to the city, "The neighborhood is close to Interstate 94, and there are so many businesses and companies along the throughway where people work," Johnson says. Chicago O'Hare International Airport is 30 miles south. Advocate Condell Medical Center and Lovell Federal Health Care Center are each about 9 miles away.
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Jeffrey Padesky Studied Environmental Sustainability at Augustana College where he was recruited to be a top athlete on the track and field team. After two years he decided to expand his education and challenge himself on the Division One level. Jeffrey Padesky transferred to Western Illinois University and added a lot to his plate for athletics and academics. Jeffrey Graduated with a double major in Geography and Geographic Information Systems, he also attained a double minor in Environmental Sciences and Conservation Agriculture.
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