Nearby development hasn’t changed Grandwood Park’s tranquil charm
Grandwood Park stays grounded and slow-paced while the cities and neighborhoods around it rapidly expand. "It has a small-town feeling, where you know your neighbors, your neighbors know your kids and people do favors for one another," says Leslie Cassidy, manager of Grandwood's park district and a resident for 30 years. The census-designated place in Warren Township is not officially a part of Gurnee. Still, the suburban extension has all the perks of the village next door without the same traffic and noise. "When my husband and I first moved here from Chicago, we were attracted to the quiet," Cassidy says. "The area has changed a lot since then, with lots of new housing, but Grandwood Park is still nice and peaceful."
Tower Park includes the Grandwood Park water tower.
Lake Park includes a large grass field with a gazebo.
1/2
Tree-lined sidewalks and ponds border diverse housing options
Apart from a few businesses on Grand Avenue, Grandwood Park is entirely residential, with winding roads that end in cul-de-sacs. Sidewalks shaded by planted trees wrap around the area and connect behind homes to paved trails around small ponds. Ranch-style homes, split-levels and Cape Cods are the oldest styles, ranging between $170,000 and $400,000. "Many of our homes were built in the 1960s," Cassidy says. "So, they're older than most in the immediate area, but they're made well and more affordable than in other Lake County communities." Modern Craftsman and New Traditional homes, including a few with up to 5,000 square feet of living space, sell for $370,000 to $790,000. Condos and townhouses built in the late '90s and early 2000s cost $220,000 to $310,000. HOA fees are standard and go towards maintaining the area's curb appeal.
Visitors relax by the calm waters of Grandwood Lake in Lake Park.
Wide sidewalks run alongside homes throughout Grandwood Park’s peaceful neighborhoods.
1/2
Students attend schools with high marks and big class sizes
Children living in Grandwood Park attend either Woodland Community Consolidated School District or Millburn Community Consolidated School District until eighth grade. The two districts lead into Warren Township High School, rated A by Niche. "Both my girls went through Woodland schools and then Warren for high school, and they did very well," Cassidy says. "The districts are huge though. Each class is very big, so they separate the grades across more schools." Woodland School District has a four-school pipeline and earns an overall B-plus by Niche. Millburn School District earns an A-minus and has two schools. Warren Township High School has two campuses to separate the younger and older grades. It offers over 80 sports, clubs and afterschool programs.
Warren Township High School – Almond Campus serves students from Grandwood Park.
Millburn Elementary serves families living near Grandwood Park with early education programs.
1/2
A massive mall and big-box stores anchor the retail scene
"We're a small subdivision, so we don't have much ourselves in terms of parks and shopping," Cassidy says. "But we're close to some other places that do." The Backyard Steak Pit is a steakhouse and seafood restaurant that cooks veggies and proteins over a large charcoal pit. Retail shopping is just next door to the community, at Gurnee Mills. The shopping mall, which has department stores, a movie theater, indoor recreation spaces and chain restaurants, is one of the largest shopping malls in the state. "It's so nice to have the mall right next to us," Cassidy says. "When my husband and I first moved here 30 years ago, there was nothing nearby. We had to drive an hour to the nearest department store." Plazas with Target, Walmart and Menards share the intersection of Grand Avenue and Hunt Club Road.
Gurnee Mills is a popular shopping destination for residents of many neighboring cities.
Fairgrounds residents have access to large retailers including Marshalls and HomeGoods.
1/2
From quiet ponds to a major theme park, outdoor fun is close
Small green spaces, like Far Park and Deer Path Park, have pond views and playgrounds. Lake Park adds tennis and basketball courts, and Grandwood Lake has a diverse population of freshwater fish, including bass, pike, walleye, perch and bluegill. Local soccer and rugby teams practice at Hutchins Athletic Field, where Grandwood Park Park District holds its Fall Fest. "There are children's activities, food trucks and fireworks free for the community," Cassidy says. Six Flags Great America, an amusement park that attracts almost 3 million visitors annually, is less than three miles southeast of the community. "It's nice to nearby as an option, but it's far enough away from us that it's not a headache or a bother," Cassidy says.
Visitors relax by the calm waters of Grandwood Lake in Lake Park.
Grandwood Park residents have nearby access to Six Flags Great America.
1/2
Grand Avenue buses and nearby highways support regional travel
U.S. Route 45 and Illinois State Highway 132 meet at the neighborhood's southwestern corner, and Pace buses stop along Grand Avenue. Interstate 94 is a short drive east and heads about 46 miles to Chicago and 50 miles to Milwaukee. "We still have some people who commute to the two cities, but I'd say most people work more locally," Cassidy says. Chicago O'Hare International Airport is about 33 miles south. Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville is a major hospital, about 10 miles away.
Buses in Grandwood Park offer easy access for commuters across the community.
Residents of Grandwood Park can travel the world from O'Hare International Airport.
1/2
Written By
Heather Haggerty
Video By
Lucas Dyke
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Rafay Qamar,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Move right in and enjoy! This custom Mill Creek Crossing home offers 4 spacious bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a finished basement, sunroom, three-season room, and 2.5-car garage on over half an acre. Recent updates include a NEW AC (2024), NEW roof restoration (2026), NEW hot water heater (2021), and several NEW windows (2017). Relax on the custom brick paver patio with a gas fire pit and beautifully
Welcome to this beautifully updated 3-bedroom ranch in desirable Grandwood Park! This move-in-ready home offers a warm and inviting layout featuring hardwood floors, brand-new carpeting, and an updated kitchen complete with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and abundant cabinet space. Spacious living areas and 1.5 baths offer comfortable everyday living. Extra deep garage provides
Welcome to this charming 3-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom home in Grandwood Park in Gurnee. This very livable home is being sold as is and is a DIY-ers dream. Currently rented to the same tenants for 10 years, this ranch-style house sits on a large, private lot with a stream that cascades through the back; shaded by beautiful trees with a massive fenced in back yard. The property backs up to protected
Move right in and enjoy! This custom Mill Creek Crossing home offers 4 spacious bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a finished basement, sunroom, three-season room, and 2.5-car garage on over half an acre. Recent updates include a NEW AC (2024), NEW roof restoration (2026), NEW hot water heater (2021), and several NEW windows (2017). Relax on the custom brick paver patio with a gas fire pit and beautifully
Opportunity Knocks! 18.6 acres available for annexation and development in the Village of Lindenhurst with sewer and water available. The size, shape and virtually no wetlands allow for a variety of development plan options. This location, with its direct access to the Interstate Highway System, allows distribution to approximately 9% of the US population within a 5 hour drive time. Acquiring the
BEAUTIFUL LOT IN AN UNICORPORATED GURNEE AREA. Buildable lot. HOMES IN THIS AREA WERE SOLD FOR MORE THEN 35000 - $400,000. LOT LOCATED IN A CUL-DE-SAC AND ALL UTILITIES TO SITE. all improved lot. just pull permit.
PICTURESQUE 19 ACRES WITH MILL CREEK GOING THROUGH THE PARCEL IN UNICORPORATED LAKE COUNTY! This Land is currently zoned Agricultural, so many different possibilities are available with this parcel. The Southern Portion of the property backs up to Single Family Homes, so this could be subdivided for larger Estate Homes. The property sits on Stearns School Road and could be used for Mixed Use,
Welcome to 1675 N Napa Drive. This rare opportunity is located in the Elysian Fields subdivision of Gurnee. Located near I-94 and Gurnee Mills Mall; this home has easy access to shopping, grocery stores, restaurants, and plenty of activities! This home features high ceilings, hardwood floors, new carpet upstairs and in the family room, an open kitchen layout, and a generous living space
Looking for a great place to rent in Brookside Subdivision? Rare opportunity to rent a perfectly located townhome. Brookside Subdivision offers an inviting and enjoyable place to live! This beautiful 2 story townhome with 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms and 2 car garage is located just a few minutes away from shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and I94. It is situated on a cul-de-sac with an extra
There's no place like these homes at Grand Oaks in Gurnee, IL. Practically built just for you, our one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom townhomes come complete with private patios and washers and dryers. Furnished homes are also available. As a resident of our community, you'll enjoy modern amenities like our fitness center and volleyball courts. If you're looking for a home in
Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
