Metrovisions Realty, Inc.

Weather you’ve recently moved to Crystal Lake or have lived there for years, it never hurts to find something new. Crystal Lake is a great place to find a home, you can always find a house for sale or a house for rent in Crystal Lake. There are amazing schools in Crystal Lake, and it’s won the Governor’s Home Town Award. The most famous part of Crystal Lake would have to be the lake itself, it’s name being infamous with Jason Voorhees and the Crystal Lake Camp.

Crystal Lake is the largest town in McHenry County with over 40,000 residents. The town has three high schools and many subdivisions, and lots of shopping areas both along Route 14 and in the downtown area of the town. Crystal Lake’s stretch of Route 14 is home to Sam’s Club, Super Wal-mart, Menard’s, Gamestop, Sears, Barnes & Noble, Pier One, Hobby Lobby, Target, and countless other shopping opportunities. The downtown area offers a variety of small business shopping in a quaint village setting.

Veterans Acres

Located off of Walkup Road and Route 176 this 140-acre preserve offers lots of fun! From sledding and ice skating in the winter to walking trails and volley ball in the summer, picnic shelters, Rotary building, outdoor athletic fields – this park offers it all! Visit the Crystal Lake Park District Veteran’s Acres website to see all they have to offer.

Main & West Beaches on Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake was named in 1835 by Ziba S. Beardsley who had come to the shores of the lake and commented that the “waters were as clear as crystal”, which gave the lake its name. The lake offers two beaches, Main Beach and West Beach. The beaches are open to residents and non-residents during summer months and features a boat launch, boat rental, fishing, concession stand, picnicking, and swimming at the beaches. There are fees to enter the beaches and the rates can be found on Crystal Lake’s Park District website.

Dole Mansion

This mansion was built in the late 1860′s as a summer home by Charles S. Dole, a wealthy Chicago businessman. The Dole family lived on the property for more than thirty years. After Charles’ son-in-law purchased the property for $1 in the late 1890′s, and was used as an ice harvesting office for the ice taken in the winter from Crystal Lake to be shipped into the city. After it’s stint as an ice house, the property was converted into a country club, a seminary, a community activities center, and finally The Lakeside Legacy Arts Park, providing a home for nearly a dozen arts education programs and over 16 artists. The building is open for tours, visit The Lakeside Legacy Arts Park website for more information.

Raue Center for the Performing Arts

Originally named “El Tovar” when built in the late 1920′s, this first opened as a movie theater and vaudeville stage. Over the years the theater fell into disrepair and was renovated by a generous donation from a Crystal Lake resident, Lucile Raue, who the theater is now named after. The theater is located in historic downtown Crystal Lake and seat 800 patrons. The Raue Center hosts numerous events each year from musicals and comedy acts to ballets and concerts. Visit The Raue Center online to see their schedule of events.

Three Oaks Recreation Area

The south side of Crystal Lake features several gravel quarries, some of these quarries are already exhausted, and have been allowed to fill with water, forming an area known as the Vulcan Lakes. In October of 2010 this area was dedicated as Three Oaks Recreation Area with a beach, children’s park with a spray park, volleyball field, boat rentals, stock of fish for catch and release fishing, picnic areas, and walking paths. This facility is free to Crystal Lake residents and $5 per vehicle for non-residents. Visit the Three Oaks Recreation Area’s website for hours of operation.

Visit our blog again as we discover more things to do in Crystal Lake, Illinois…..a great place to live, a great place to buy or rent a home. The home prices are right, mortgage interests are low, and spring is almost here! Visit our website for more information on Crystal Lake or to find a house for rent in Crystal Lake.