The Chain O' Lakes
Water is a central point of life in Johnsburg, Illinois. Here, Pistakee Lake meets the Fox River on its way south through the eastern side of town, Dutch Creek runs inland west to feed into McCullom Lake, and tributaries run through the blocks, occasionally welling into ponds. This northwest Chicago suburb is in the southwest corner of Illinois' Chain O' Lakes and 55 miles northwest of the Loop. "Johnsburg has such great small-town charm," says a longtime village resident, Sarah Hagen. "The people here are loving and welcoming, and there's no other place I'd rather be."
Forested bungalows and lakeside mansions
Johnsburg is quilted with agricultural fields, giving the village a rural atmosphere while allowing its residents all the conveniences of suburban living. Waterfront homes, streets lined with mature oaks and pines, and woodsy subdivisions comprise the bulk of housing stock. Home prices in Johnsburg range from $150,000 for quaint, two-bedroom ranch-style or Craftsman homes to $1.9 million high-end neo-colonials with Tudor elements with 8,000 square feet, finished basements and indoor pools on the beautiful Pistakee Bay. Carsten Schwab, an area Realtor with Welcome Home Real Estate Group, says, "There's not much new construction right now." However, some new subdivisions like Remington Grove are being constructed. These new townhouses are expected to be finished by the end of 2024 and are listed for between $300,000 and $350,000.
Above-average schools with great extracurriculars
Johnsburg Elementary School, home of the Bloodhounds, received a B on Niche. Next door, Johnsburg Junior High School also received a B. Sixth graders at JJHS have the opportunity to join the school's outdoor club, where they can kayak and canoe along the area's extensive waterways. Johnsburg High School received an overall C-plus on Niche but was given an above-average rating from GreatSchools for its college preparatory curriculum. Johnsburg High offers unique sports, including bass fishing, bowling and sideline dancing.
On the southern tip of Glacial Park Conservation Area
There are several parks in Johnsburg. On the village's western side, Petersen Park has a public beach on McCullom Lake. The park is connected to the wildly popular Glacial Park Conservation Area, which hosts 65,000 visitors every year for birdwatching, hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing and more. Sunnyside Memorial Park has soccer and baseball fields and a sand volleyball court. Across from Sunnyside Park on the other side of the Fox River, the Weingart Road Sedge Meadow is 50 acres of protected Meadowlands occupying a peninsula jutting out into Pistakee Lake. Johnsburg Public Library has been serving the village since 1982. Library programming includes Monday movie screenings, quilting, photography, and, of course, book clubs.
Homemade biscuits and lakefront dining
On the southwest corner of town are several grocery stores and shops, including Walmart, ALDI, Old Navy and HomeGoods. On the first Saturday of the month from May to October, locals can head along Chapell Hill Road to The Markets of Remington Farm to support local vendors while shopping for fresh produce, plants, handcrafted goods and more. Fox Lake Family Restaurant is a local favorite. In the northeast, alongside the river, The Lakehouse on Pistakee features classic pub bites and, in 2021, was voted one of the best waterfront dining options in McHenry County in the Northwest Herald Readers' Choice Awards.
A picturesque Metra ride
Johnsburg is a couple of miles north of one of the last stops on the Union Pacific Northwest line on the Metra commuter train. During rush hour, the train from McHenry Station reaches downtown Chicago in an hour and 15 minutes.
#lakelife
"We have the most waterfront properties here than any other Chain O' Lakes community, so people have a lot of fun out on the water during the summer months," Hagen says. Even if you aren't living on the water's edge, it's a quick drive to one of the area's public boat launches for an after-work paddle out on the water.
Written By
Jillian Pillow
Photography Contributed By
Otto Rascon
