Long Lake

The community of Long Lake, northwest of Chicago, offers a selection of homes spanning over a century in a lovely environment with nature preserves nearby. "There's a lot of wildlife, and you occasionally see a bald eagle flying by," Jim Cacioppo, Managing Broker with Grand Realty Group, Inc., says. "It's quiet; an approximately 350-acre lake used for recreation: water skiing, boating, fishing."

Cacioppo, who lives on the lake, describes the area as semi-private. "Getting to the Chain O'Lakes is not that easy, though it can be done," he says. An advantage for Long Lake residents is that there's not much traffic. The resulting calm streets are suitable for a stroll, even though there aren’t always sidewalks. Home lots are nicely spaced, with plenty of room for yards and tall trees like maples, pines and aspens.

Builds from the early 20th century to the present are represented. "There's a mixed range of housing, some older cottages and new builds in the area," Cacioppo says. You can choose from cozy 1920s bungalows, midcentury ranch-style homes and traditionals from the decades that followed up until now. A one- to two-bedroom of less than 1,000 square feet can go for under $100,000 and a 1,500-square-foot town house for about $190,000. When you exceed 2,000 square feet and add more bedrooms, prices go as high as $475,000.

Public school options include Big Hollow Elementary, graded B by Niche; Gavin South Middle, graded C; and Grant Community High, graded B-plus. Soccer, tennis and volleyball are just a few of the sports students enjoy. Other activities include the dance team's dance-off and culinary challenges for a Golden Spoon victory. Specialized career training is available at Lake County Tech Campus, one of the best career and technical education facilities in the Midwest.

On the north shore of the lake, there's a canoe, kayak and boat launch at the edge of the Grant Woods Forest Preserve. "That's a no-fee launch for public usage," Cacioppo says. "As far as powerboats, there is one spot where you pay to launch and a couple that are neighborhood launches." Though these are not private per se, Cacioppo explains that there's nowhere to park vehicles or trailers. "They mostly are used by property owners from the neighborhood," he says. If you like to fish, possible catches include largemouth bass, northern pike and black crappie. Long Lake Park, as you'd expect, is right alongside the lake. The accompanying nature trail takes you through just a portion of the 68 acres of space. Throughout the area, there are vast amounts of woodlands and wetlands in nature preserves, and with many lakes in the area, you'll have endless opportunities to get your feet wet.

Even if you don't venture into the water, after wilderness wanderings you've surely whet your appetite. Head to Las Tres Islas Marias, a site for seafood delights. And just north of State Route 134, Main Street is where you can find some small businesses, shops and bars. Ready to socialize while indulging in a bite or brew? Yvonne's the Other Place is right next door to Roy's Long Lake Inn, Home of NASCAR, a hangout for party animals who like pool tables, video games and a rocking jukebox. About 3 miles away in Fox Lake, you can find retail, including Jewel-Osco for your groceries, Menards for home improvement and some casual eateries. If you're in the mood for a movie, get a ticket at Classic Cinemas.

The Long Lake Metra Station gives you an easy way to get around throughout the area, including commutes to Chicago on the Milwaukee District North line. For car travel, U.S. Route 12 and state routes 134 and 120 are nearby. Route 120 links up with Interstate 94, and you can continue south to downtown Chicago, about 50 miles away, or to Milwaukee, about the same distance in the opposite direction. Once you live by this lake, you may long to stay for a hundred years.

Written By

Robin Silberman

Photography Contributed By

Brett Bulthuis

Video By

Mary Desmond