Lake Holiday is a private community centered around the water
Among the many lake-centered communities within two hours of Chicago , Lake Holiday stands out for its rural atmosphere and private amenities. There's a feeling of exclusivity, with resident-only access to the marina and beaches, and a 24-hour security patrol. However, it's not a gated community, and although golf carts are allowed within the neighborhood, locals have to hop in the car to reach any city amenities. "It's a nice, quiet community where you can get away from the city," says Matthew Clifford, the facilities & operations manager with the Lake Holiday Property Owners' Association. According to him, many of the residents are young families and older couples.
A variety of home styles with a semi-rural feel
The Lake Holiday community began construction in the mid-1960s and steadily added homes until the early 2000s. There are a few properties from after 2010, and some open lots for custom building. With architecture that varies from midcentury ranch-style houses to spacious New Traditional designs, Lake Holiday feels more like a small-town neighborhood than a master-planned community. "Our streets are more wide-open than suburban," Clifford says. "It's kind of a joke around here that we don't have curbs — it keeps things a little rural." Off the water, prices range from $230,000 to $500,000 based on size. Properties with lakefront access typically go from $550,000 to $1 million. "Houses go fast here, especially when they are not on the lake," Clifford says.
To the east of Lake Holiday, the private subdivision of Wildwood is a 55-plus manufactured and mobile home community. Prices for homes range from $45,000 to $120,000. This community does not have access to Lake Holiday's amenities.
Monthly dues support events like the Fourth of July festival
All Lake Holiday residents are part of the Lake Holiday Property Owners' Association, which has monthly dues. Residents who want to get more involved with the association can join a variety of planning committees or social clubs. The Fishing Club sponsors kids' fish tournaments, and the Ladies Club puts on craft fairs and house walking tours. In addition to fishing competitions and garage sales, the association plans a popular Fourth of July festival. "It's just a fantastic show, with the fireworks reflecting off the water," Clifford adds.
Fishing, swimming and jet skiing on a resident-only lake
Private green spaces in Lake Holiday offer wooded walking trails, a skate park and pickleball courts. But the main attraction is the lake, which is accessible at various parks and fishing spots around the community. Kids enjoy the zip-line at one of the sandy swimming beaches, and families can take a vacation without leaving the neighborhood at a private campground. In the summer, the lake is open to jet skis and stocked with fish. In the winter, locals continue to ice fish and can take snowmobiles out on the frozen surface. For those who don't have personal docks, the Lake Holiday Marina has boat slips for rent. “It's life on the beach," Clifford says. He says that his tagline for the community is: "Bring a towel."
Split between the Sandwich and Somonauk school districts
On the eastern side of Lake Holiday, kids are part of Sandwich Community Unit School District Number 430, which gets an overall B rating from Niche. The western side is served by Somonauk Community Unit School District Number 432, rated an overall B-plus. Somonauk schools have slightly higher ratings, but Sandwich schools have the offerings of a larger district, including their own football team.
Homestyle diners and bars, with Walmart for shopping
Locals can take the boat to Lee'z Place Bar & Grill to dine on a waterfront patio. Lee'z serves classic pub food and hosts live bands that play late into the night. Less than 5 miles north, Somonauk has several homestyle diners, and Sandwich has some small city amenities. Sandwich is home to a small grocery store, a movie theater and Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital. By taking U.S. Route 34 towards Plano , residents can reach a Walmart, 7 miles away.
Two Interstates lead 65 miles into Chicago
Downtown Chicago is about 65 miles away, by connecting northeast to Interstate 88 or southeast to Interstate 55. The drive is typically an hour and a half, but it can be around two hours with traffic. Plano, less than 10 miles away, has an Amtrak stop that goes into the city. It's about 60 miles to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
The community is patrolled by a private security force
Lake Holiday has its own security force, which has 24-hour patrols. For emergencies, the community is served by the LaSalle County Sheriff's Department, not the nearby Sandwich or Somonauk police forces. The community has a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Written By
Catherine Lashley
