Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake, Illinois, located 50 miles northwest of Chicago, is a short drive from O'Hare International Airport, near several major highways and interstates. The Union Pacific rail line provides easy access to Chicago. As a result, Crystal Lake residents enjoy the many employment, cultural and recreational opportunities of a major metro city, yet live in a pleasant, friendly, small-town atmosphere.
Crystal Lake has much to offer, all year long, such as boating, sailing and fishing on Crystal Lake; major newly renovated Raue Center for the Arts, featuring major Broadway productions, community theater and more; antiquing at many local shops; over 50 local restaurants; indoor ice skating at The Ice House; the historic Dole Mansion; Downtown "Cruise Nights" car show; top-quality local golf courses; indoor playgrounds; over 50 miles of local bike paths.
Historic buildings in Downtown Crystal Lake showcase the community's history. During the late 1800's and early 1900's, Crystal Lake enjoyed nationwide fame through the manufacture of architectural terra cotta and TECO pottery. Downtown Crystal Lake has several buildings adorned with locally produced terra cotta including the newly renovated Raue Center for the Arts. This 1929 Spanish Mission style theatre features local and national productions.
Downtown Crystal Lake is a designated Illinois Premier Main Street Community. The Main Street program is an economic-development, preservation-based program to restore and revitalize historic downtown districts.
