12418 W Crescent Ave.
Waukegan, IL 60085

Family Fun

Visit the largest Hollywood car collection in the world at the Volo Auto Museum or spend the day swimming at KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort. See the beautiful Chicago Botanic Garden or take the family to Lambs Farm. If you're looking for historical and educational fun, visit the Great Lakes Naval Museum or the Lake County Discovery Museum. For family fun activities, look no further then Lake County. 

Waukegan’s lakefront, marina and beaches are undeniably a major draw for residents; but the city is not just fun in the sun. The community has built a thriving art scene as well.

The property is located along Lake Michigan midway between Chicago and Milwaukee, once a center of shipping and manufacturing, has reinvented itself in the post-industrial age.

A massive lakefront revitalization project included an Arts and Theater District and re-opening of the long-shuttered historic Genesee Performing Arts Theatre. The movie palace was built in 1927, sparing no expense in the hopes of drawing Chicagoans to the community. Despite its opulence and grandeur, competition from multiplex cinemas eventually led to its demise, forcing its closing in 1989. A decade later sale, the city purchased the building and investing $23 million to return it to its former grandeur, re-opening in 2004. 

Artspace transformed the historic Karcher Hotel, which also had fallen on hard times and long stood vacant, into a mixed-use arts facility. The facility includes space for artists and their families, arts and nonprofit organizations, as well as retail and gallery space.

The celebration of the monthly “ArtWauk” which includes paintings, sculptures, dining, comedy and music. The community also celebrates the holidays with its annual “Holiday Wauk” event.

Waukegan has an airport in addition to its marina and industrial port. Waukegan’s Metra station offers commuters convenient service to downtown Chicago via Metra’s Union Pacific/North Line.

 

 

Property Near

Bowen Park has been transformed into a public park with the widest possible range of recreation facilities. The park houses the Waukegan History Museum and the John L. Raymond Historic Research Library. The park also features Grosche Baseball Field, Waukegan Skate Park and a 2008 award-winning playground. The playground, themed 'Forest Findings' is equipped with modern playground amenities, combined with several environmental learning stations that represent a forest ecosystem. Children can splash in the water spray area, observe animal footprints, sit on the fungi bench, slide down the forty foot tunnel slides or climb a spider web. Bowen Park is also the home for the Jack Benny Center of the Arts that opened in February 1987.

A massive redevelopment project to revitalize Waukegan's lakefront area included the reopening of the Genesee Performing Arts Theatre. The Genesee is a concert hall and movie theatre, which originally opened in 1927, closed its doors in 1989, and then underwent a $25 million renovation to reopen again in December 2004. Many new popular restaurants have also opened in the lakefront business district and historic buildings dotting the downtown area have been restored. “ArtWauk” is a popular event that takes place the third Saturday of every month, featuring paintings, sculptures, food, comedy and music in Waukegan's art district. “Holiday Wauk” is the community's annual holiday festival. 

The iconic late comedian, Jack Benny, and science fiction writer Ray Bradbury have both called Waukegan home. The city's Amstutz Expressway has been used as a shooting location for the filmsGroundhog Day, The Blues Brothers, and Batman Begins.

In addition to Six Flags Great America, Gurnee boasts one of the largest shopping malls in Illinois, Gurnee Mills. The indoor mall features a number of retailers and is one of the village's biggest attractions. Each summer, the community also hosts its annual festival Gurnee Days, which features a wide range of activities and events including a farmers market, golf tournament, fireworks, parade, and talent show.