Neighborhood in Wonder Lake, Illinois
McHenry County 60097
White Oaks Bay has a distinct rural feel separate from its neighboring subdivisions south or across the water on Wonder Lake. Winding lanes under substantial tree cover connect the inland and waterfront homes. This community, which has private access to the 834-acre lake, is close to some of its most popular amenities, both on its own shorefront and neighborhing docks for sailboats and more.
All homeowners in White Oaks Bay have lake rights to Wonder Lake, and most people with waterfront access head out onto the blue right from their backyards. “There’s a dock with slips for people who don’t have waterfront, but it has a two- to three- year waiting list,” says Larry Hines, Realtor at RE/MAX Horizons specializing in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. “It’s $25 dollars a year if you already have a spot.” White Oaks Park & Boat Launch is the largest of three communal open spaces in the neighborhood with a playground and community center near the slip. The others are smaller green spaces to walk the dog. Members can head onto Wonder Lake Yacht Club Island for picnics and birdwatching. Youth soccer, baseball and softball leagues also play at Jacobson Park directly south of the community.
Wonder Lake Drive and Lake Shore Drive connect at the southernmost tip of White Oaks Bay, while a network of narrow, winding drives create a web throughout. Some homes are surrounded by dense thickets and groves of coniferous trees, while others are out in the open on double lots for a boat house or fire pit. New builds popped up throughout the 20th century, so the neighborhood has renovated options from the 1960s through the present day: one-bed, one-bath cottages, ranch-style homes with attached garages and larger homes overlooking the water with tiered decks and personal boat docks. Prices range from $100,000 to $850,000 depending on size, private amenities and distance from the water. Despite its waterfront amenities and seclusion, checks and balances are placed on the number of people passing through each summer. “The area is no short-term rentals allowed, they just passed that,” Hines says. “Now, a 6- month lease is perfectly fine, but nothing less than 30 days—so no Airbnb.”
White sails are often visible from the White Oaks Bay shoreline and the small yacht club island off its shore—especially on Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, when members race in 20-foot C Scow sailboats from one side of the lake to the other. The boats are lit up when they parade around the lake on Venetian Night, a part of Wonder Lake’s annual Independence Day celebration where residents can cheer from their backyards. Many members join the Social tier of the club to get involved in other year-around events; The Pontoon Progressive Dinner Party is hosted by lakefront homeowners, and participants hop in the pontoon boats to reach each course.
Wonder Lake Marina offers quick concessions at certain points in the year, and the lake is surrounded by a limited number of local businesses and watering holes, such as Horizontals and Alibi Pub & Grub. Both are located in Wonder Center, a small commercial zone on the other side of the lake that also includes the Wonder Lake Marina, a Dollar Tree, a BP gas station and East End Pizza and Ice Cream. For larger grocery runs, White Oaks Bay homeowners can head southwest to the Woodstock Jewel-Osco, Walmart, Blain's Farm & Fleet or other names. Quaint storefronts line the streets here, with the glitzy exterior of Classic Cinemas Woodstock Theatre at the center. Reaching McHenry means heading around the bend of the lake, and may mean pit stops at Rusty Nail Saloon for its big-screen TVs, outdoor patio and firepit and new neighbor as of 2019, Rusty Malts Ice Cream and Coffee. McHenry has more big-box shopping as well as beloved dining options like Bimbo’s Italian Restaurant.
Kids in White Oaks Bay are served by Woodstock Community Unit School District No. 200, along with their peers in other west Wonder Lake subdivisions. Both Greenwood Elementary School and Northwood Middle School score a B-plus from Niche, while Woodstock North High School gets an A-minus. In addition to Advanced Placement courses, District 200 created the "12 in 200" program to encourage students to take at least 12 dual-credit courses before graduating.
“Wonder Lake is far enough away to not really head to downtown Chicago that much, it’s so out there,” Hines says. Residents more often head to Woodstock or McHenry, each about 10 miles away--and while the Windy City is 69 miles away on Interstate 90 and 290, Metra stations save locals the drive from these two town centers on the Union Pacific Northwest Line. Illinois Route 120 runs between the two. It’s about a 49-mile trip to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The closest emergency room 12 miles away at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital.
Larry Hines
RE/MAX Horizon
(224) 864-9728
84 Total Sales
1 in White Oaks Bay
$210,000 Price
Laura Lanz
RE/MAX Plaza
(815) 569-5294
71 Total Sales
1 in White Oaks Bay
$213,000 Price
TC
Thomas Cardoni
Cardoni Real Estate Development LLC
(224) 864-9568
23 Total Sales
1 in White Oaks Bay
$148,900 Price
Lisa Jensen
Keller Williams North Shore West
(815) 887-6722
409 Total Sales
1 in White Oaks Bay
$850,000 Price
Victoria Suthers
Keller Williams Success Realty
(224) 334-3914
75 Total Sales
1 in White Oaks Bay
$108,000 Price
Margaret Labus
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate
(262) 755-1434
16 Total Sales
1 in White Oaks Bay
$520,000 Price
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | White Oaks Bay | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 2 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 2 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 2 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in White Oaks Bay, Wonder Lake sell after 35 days on the market compared to the national average of 48 days. The average sale price for homes in White Oaks Bay, Wonder Lake over the last 12 months is $350,319, up 20% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Bike Score®
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This McHenry County village is well positioned for getting around
Historic charm, small-town living, proximity to Chicago
Home to Chain O'Lakes' oldest restaurant and dozens of scenic waterfront houses
