Proximity to Chain O’ Lakes
While still on the northwest fringes of the Chicago suburbs, the village of Lakemoor offers a retreat of sorts while only 55 miles northwest of downtown. “One of the appealing aspects about living here is the proximity to the Chain O’ Lakes area and all the boating and water activity that goes along with that,” says Lori Progar, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage with 42 years of real estate experience. There are still bodies of water for recreation in Lakemoor that are not part of the official chain.
Lakemoor lake is not part of the chain
Lily Lake is located along the main east/west road in Lakemoor. Route 120, or Rand Road, skirts the 90-acre facility to the north. Boating of all kinds is permitted, including vessels with less than a 10-horsepower outboard motor. Some of the fish that can be caught on the lake include bluegill and largemouth bass. Morrison Park is on the eastern end of the lake and has a skate park, playground, basketball court and picnic pavilion. It’s also the site of Lakemoor Fest, a two-day party in early August. The 2024 dates are August 9 and 10, and live music, fireworks and a fishing derby are all part of the fun. Heritage Community Park has a place to play baseball or softball and hosts an Easter Egg Hunt, usually a week before the holiday. The Volo Bog Nature Preserve is the state’s only open-water quaking bog to the north, meaning the ground vibrates when walking close to it. The bog was formed thousands of years ago when a glacier became stuck in sand and gravel.
Homes by Lily Lake
Most of the houses close to Lily Lake in Lakemoor are older, built between the 1930s and ‘50s. The living space is between 800 and 1300 square feet and are primarily workers’ cottages priced between $150,000 and $230,000. More recent houses built within the last 30 years with over 2,000 square feet are between $300,000 and $400,000 and are mainly contemporary two-story houses. Townhouses constructed within the past 20 years have over 1,500 square feet and two bedrooms priced between $200,000 and $300,000. Lakemoor has an overall 2 in the CAP crime score index, well below the national average of 4.
Part of the McHenry School District
Some of those who choose a public school education can attend classes as part of the McHenry School District 15, which includes Hilltop Elementary, with grades kindergarten through third. The school gets a B-minus grade on Niche. Chauncey H. Duker is the next step in the elementary school process through fifth grade. The student-teacher ratio is 13-to-1 and has an overall grade on Niche of a B-minus. McHenry Middle School has a B-minus overall grade. McHenry Community High School gets an A-minus Niche grade, and their dual credit program offers credit for high school graduation and McHenry Community College. The credit is also transferable to other two and four-year universities.
Lakemoor grocery destination
No matter the time of day, an emergency grocery run can happen at Woodman’s Food Market. “They’re open 24 hours a day, and I think they’re even open on Christmas and Thanksgiving. It’s a huge store, and they have a gas station on-site,” Progar says. “It’s like a Costco, but I think it’s even bigger. It’s a luxury to have that in the area.” It’s an estimated 244,000 square feet and covers more than 5 acres. Sweet Melissa’s Pizza and Pub has homemade pizza, sandwiches and pasta in a casual atmosphere. Long Shot Sports Pub overlooks Lily Lake and has a large outdoor patio with live music on Sunday afternoons during the summer, starting Memorial Day weekend.
Still not far from Chicago
Although some aspects of Lakemoor will not seem like suburban living, it’s still not far from downtown Chicago. “Route 12 is a route to take south to Chicago,” says Erin Weber, a broker associate with RE/MAX Plaza with almost 15 years of experience. Living in the neighborhood necessitates being car-dependent as it’s a short drive west to McHenry to take advantage of public bus service or catch the Metra commuter rail into downtown Chicago.
Written By
Jeff Stapleton
