Chain O' Lakes Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
group of lakes located in the Lake County, Illinois near the Wisconsin border
About Chain O' Lakes
Originally formed as a result of the Wisconsin glacier melt off, the Chain O' Lakes were fed and connected by the Fox River. The area as a whole is marshy, which inhibited early development until the Milwaukee Road Railroad was built through the area in the early 20th century. The first station was at the location of the current Metra Station in Fox Lake. This spurred the first major growth in the area as tourists from Chicago began arriving. Many resorts were built including the now closed Mineola. However, the remote location proved to be a boon not only to tourists but also crime. The resorts eventually banded together to create the Village of Fox Lake to stop interference from Lake County. During prohibition, the area was renowned in the Chicagoland region for having very lose li
Chain O' Lakes Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 10 sections including: