South Elgin

Hugging the banks of the Fox River about an hour east of Chicago, Whispering Trail offers large homes and a residential lifestyle. Located in South Elgin, less than half an hour from the historic area, the neighborhood is close to parks while also sitting just across Randall Road from two major shopping centers. Residents are never far from taking care of general shopping needs, grabbing a bite to eat or embracing the history of the Elgin community. “There’s an abundance of growth in South Elgin, including a lot of newer homes,” says Courtney Caraway, a real estate expert with Gallery Realty, Inc. “The community also has theaters and museums nearby. Residents don’t have to travel far to experience all that is offered there.” The southern half of Whispering Trail is almost entirely residential and consists of Silver Glen Estates, where most of the homes here are located. Whispering Trail and Bristol Road make up the encircling thoroughfare, with cozy residential streets winding in and around each other and numerous cul-de-sacs branching outward. Stately, modern custom homes can be found here, with large, traditional styles the most common architecture. These large homes can also feature elements of Queen Anne or Cape Cod designs, as well as brick or stone detailing and wraparound porches. Well-manicured lawns are complemented by long driveways and multi-car garages, and prices typically begin in the $600,000s range and can span as high as over $1 million. The Becketts Landing community, in the northeastern corner of Whispering Trail, is currently in progress and there are also homes available there, some that have yet to be constructed. Education for Whispering Trail neighborhood residents can begin at Corron Elementary School, which scores an A with Niche, and continues at Thompson Middle School. Thompson Middle also receives an A grade from Niche and is rated in the top 50 middle schools statewide. St. Charles North High School completes the schooling arc for students here, garnering a grade of A-plus from Niche and rated highly for its athletic and STEM programs. Its sports programs include football, lacrosse, cheer and dance, and all three schools are located outside of the neighborhood boundaries. The Blackhawk County Forest Preserve makes up the southeastern corner of the neighborhood, encircling the bend of the Fox River that loops upward against Whispering Trail. Along its trails, visitors can enjoy the sights and sounds of flowing streams and rushing waterfalls, and the River Bend Bike Trail also meanders its way through the park. In the northeastern section of the neighborhood, the McLean Fen Forest Preserve is dotted with prairie flowers and other foliage, though public access is prohibited. Several other parks, including Jim Hansen Park, Mulberry Grove Park and Ralph E. Tredup Park West, are all located in the surrounding area. Directly across the western boundary of Whispering Trail, comprised of Randall Road, sit South Elgin Crossing and South Elgin Commons. “South Randall Road has everything: grocery stores, restaurants and shops,” Caraway says. At the Crossing, stop in to Best Buy, PetSmart or the Home Depot for big-box needs, while restaurant chains include Red Robin, Starbucks and Buffalo Wild Wings. Supplies are available at the Home Depot. The Village Tavern & Grill and Coffee Haus provide local flavor. At the Commons, various shopping needs can be fulfilled at the Ross Dress for Less or Target, residents can break a sweat at LA Fitness and a medieval dining atmosphere can be found at the Village Squire. Just south of the shopping centers sit Encourage, which offers shakes, tea and more, and F45 of South Elgin, where residents can sign up for planned workouts and programs. Fresh groceries can be picked up at Aldi, to the north, or Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets, situated close to the shopping centers. Just under half an hour northeast is the historic Elgin area, where older buildings, churches and homes can be found. Both St. Mary’s Church and the First Universalist Church were built in the late 19th century and, respectively, in the gothic and Romanesque styles; the latter is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Several museums are located in Elgin as well, including the Fox River Trolley Museum, Elgin Fire Barn No. 5 Museum and the Elgin History Museum. The trolley museum showcases railway relics of the past, while the fire barn was one of the first of its kind in the area. At the Elgin History Museum, find overviews of the city’s past, interactive exhibits for a truly hands-on experience or a scavenger hunt for all ages. Illinois Route 31 and Stearns Road are the primary thoroughfares in and around the Whispering Trail area. Route 31, which takes motorists from Elgin to such areas in Illinois as Montgomery and Crystal Lake, aligns with the curvature of the Fox River and borders the Blackhawk County Forest Preserve. Stearns Road cuts through the northern half of the neighborhood and connects with areas such as Wayne and Bartlett, crossing the river just east of Whispering Trail. Downtown Chicago is about an hour east of the neighborhood, and the Pace Suburban Bus system has one line that makes its way to Whispering Trail along Randall Road.