Chain O'Lakes
Encyclopedia
The Chain O'Lakes is a waterway system in northeast Illinois
composed of 15 lake
s connected together by the Fox River
and man-made channels. Encompassing more than 7100 acres (28.7 km²) of water, 488 miles (785.4 km) of shoreline and 45 miles (72.4 km) of river, the Chain is the busiest inland recreational waterway per acre in the United States. Located on the border of Lake County
and McHenry County
, about an hour's drive from the cities of Chicago
, Milwaukee, and Rockford
, the lakes are popular with boaters and fishermen drawing weekend crowds of 30,000 and holiday crowds of 100,000 people. Additionally, the Chain O'Lakes includes Chain O'Lakes State Park
which borders three lakes at the Northwest corner of the system. The Fox Waterway Agency, a special local governing body, is responsible for oversight of the Chain O'Lakes.
The Chain O'Lakes system begins at the Illinois
/ Wisconsin
border. The Fox River travels down near the border between McHenry County and Lake County in Illinois as it flows from the state border to the first lake in the Chain, Grass Lake. Grass Lake is the shallowest lake on the Chain with an average depth of 3 foot (0.9144 m). Grass Lake is also the third largest lake on the Chain, with an approximate area of 1360 acres (5.5 km²). Pistakee Lake and Fox Lake are the two largest lakes on the Chain, each with an area of 1700 acres (6.9 km²). Grass Lake directly connects to Fox Lake and both lakes connect to Pistakee Lake through Nippersink Lake. The Fox River exits the Chain O'Lakes at the southwest corner of Pistakee Lake.
In the 19th century, a few European's began to settle the area. Included in these early settlers were the Dunnill family and Converse Marble, both of whom settled near the border between Pistakee Lake and Nippersink Lake. At that time, the only connection between the two lakes was the Fox River (commonly referred to as the "long channel.") In order to benefit both of their properties, the Dunnills and Converse Marble dug by hand a new channel between the two lakes which became known as "the Cut" (most likely meaning "shortcut.") The "Cut" caused a strong current and fresher water along the east shore of Nippersink Lake. Today, the channel has become deep and wide, being heavily traveled by boaters.
Until the 1880s, European settlements remained sparse in the area due to the difficulty of travel resulting from the wet areas surrounding the Chain. Starting in the 1890s, the area started to become a popular retreat destination for Chicagoans, with many visitors traveling to the region to take boat trips to see Fox Lake's "Egyptian Lotus" beds.
The Chain O'Lakes region saw a boom in development at the turn of the century with the introduction of the Milwaukee Road railroad in 1901. The railroad crossed the Chain at its narrowest point between Pistakee Lake and Nippersink Lake, the current location of the US Route 12 crossing. A station was built near the crossing, named Nippersink Point, which would become the center of the Fox Lake community. The railroad provided effective access to the area for Chicago residents, leading to a boom in tourism. This boom in tourism led to the development of several new resorts, which supplemented older resorts such as the famous Mineola.
Soon, however, the boom in tourism drew the attention of Lake County leaders, who ordered raids on the numerous unlicensed drinking and gambling establishments. To avoid further raids and fines from the county government, several resort leaders united, incorporating the town of Fox Lake in 1907. When it was incorporated, Fox Lake only had a few hundred residents but its summer season population was estimated at 20,000. The new town government placed very few restraints on its resorts with 48 liquor licenses issued just prior to prohibition. Even after the start of prohibition, enforcement was relatively low in the region, helping to draw Chicagoans interested in drinking and gambling.
The region is also famous for its hosting of prohibition gangsters, including the infamous Al Capone
. Al Capone owned a summer house on Bluff Lake near Antioch. He was also known for frequenting the famous Mineola Hotel in Fox Lake. Additionally, Al Capone's major rival, George "Bugs" Moran
, supplied beer and alcohol throughout the Chain O'Lakes region with stories of him staying at a liquor partner's home on Channel Lake and being arrested at Elizabeth Cassidy's resort on Bluff Lake. The region saw its worst prohibition violence on June 1, 1930 when a mob-related hit was carried out at Manning's Hotel in Fox Lake. Five people were shot with a machine-gun including members of the Druggan gang, of which three people were killed. Occurring a year after the Saint Valentine's Day massacre, the shooting represented the intensity of the battle to control the Chain's lucrative gambling and liquor business. The crime was never solved.
hit the area hard. The numerous resorts around the Chain began to disappear signaling the end of the region's heyday as a tourist destination. During this time, many of the summer cottages began being converted to permanent residences, a trend which continued as soldiers returned home from World War II
. Following the war, the area began to modernize, transitioning to a middle-class community. In addition to bringing in weekend vacationers, the trains now serve the growing suburban worker population who travel into Chicago. As of the 2000 census, the population of Fox Lake was estimated at over 9,000 people, a major growth from the few hundred permanent residents when the town was incorporated in 1907. The area now reflects a unique blend of year-round residents and summer vacationers.
, hunting
, fishing
, birdwatching
, swimming and water skiing. To complement these activities are many local businesses (including numerous marinas and restaurants) that serve the needs of weekend and summer vacationers. Many of these businesses sponsor special events throughout the summer, including boat races, fishing tournaments and live musical performances. Boating horsepower is unrestricted on the Chain and there are more than 28,000 registered boats on the Chain (as of 2009).
Recreational opportunities are also provided through Chain O'Lakes State Park
and the adjacent conservation area. Established in 1945, Chain O'Lakes State Park includes a free boat launch and a variety of hunting, hiking and fishing areas. The park includes Turner Lake, a small 44 acres (178,061.8 m²) lake in the park isolated from the Chain itself. Inside the park are four different trail systems, including a quarter-mile trail designed for disabled individuals and an eight mile (13 km) equestrian trail. Chain O'Lakes State Park also offers a number of camp sites and cabins available for a low nightly fee. Horse rentals and boat rentals are provided throughout the summer months.
The Chain O'Lakes is a preferred destination for fishermen as well. Species found in the Chain O'Lakes include walleye, largemouth bass, muskellunge, yellow perch, bluegill, catfish, black crappie, bullhead, white bass, yellow bass, carp, and northern pike. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources report that approximately 10% of their annual muskie samples are over 3 foot (0.9144 m), 6 inches long. Northern pikes and muskies in the trophy class are occasionally caught on the Chain. A status of the sport fishery of the lakes regarding these fish from 1954 to 2001 can be seen here.
The Chain O'Lakes also hosts a variety of winter activities, including snow mobiling, ice skating, cross-country skiing and ice fishing.
Blarney Island is a large bar on Grass Lake that is only accessible by boat. The bar is built about a mile from shore on a series of pilings embedded in the shallow lake bed of Grass Lake. Although many facts about the establishment have been lost with time, local legend has it that Blarney Island evolved from a poker bet between Jack O'Connor and Shorty Shobin. In the very early 20th century, Jack and Shorty were rival businessmen on the Chain operating lotus bed tours only a hundred yards apart. The competition between the two came to a head one evening during a poker game in which each man bet his business. Ultimately, Shorty Shobin lost the hand and his business, at which point he got up from the table and entered the backroom of the bar where he took his own life. Sometime later, after Jack O'Connor lost his establishment to a fire, he used Shorty's location to form Blarney Island (as it was known by 1923.) The bar began a boat shuttle service to the island in 1972, started hosting live music in 1975 and started its famous boat races in 1978. The bar has continued to grow its business throughout the years and totes the slogan "A Mile Away from Reality" reflecting both its location and its mentality. Blarney Island embodies the overall free party attitude present throughout the Chain and has become a staple of the region.
Another well known business on the Chain is the stately Mineola Resort. The Mineola Hotel was built in 1894 by Chicago businessmen and has 100 rooms. It is the largest wooden structure in Illinois and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The resort was popular with the gangsters of the 1920s and the Chicago Tribune stated that the Mineola was "probably the most vicious resort" in the area. The Mineola still displays Al Capone's hat in a glass case in the lounge of the hotel. Today, the Mineola continues to operate as a restaurant and banquet facility while illuminating the area's past as a resort town.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
composed of 15 lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s connected together by the Fox River
Fox River (Illinois River tributary)
The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near...
and man-made channels. Encompassing more than 7100 acres (28.7 km²) of water, 488 miles (785.4 km) of shoreline and 45 miles (72.4 km) of river, the Chain is the busiest inland recreational waterway per acre in the United States. Located on the border of Lake County
Lake County, Illinois
Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
and McHenry County
McHenry County, Illinois
McHenry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 308,760, which is an increase of 18.7% from 260,077 in 2000. Its county seat is Woodstock. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the sixth largest county, in...
, about an hour's drive from the cities of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Milwaukee, and Rockford
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
, the lakes are popular with boaters and fishermen drawing weekend crowds of 30,000 and holiday crowds of 100,000 people. Additionally, the Chain O'Lakes includes Chain O'Lakes State Park
Chain O'Lakes State Park (Illinois)
Chain O'Lakes State Park is a Illinois state park at the inlet of the Fox River into the Chain O'Lakes in Lake and McHenry counties, in the suburban wildlife of Chicago, Illinois, USA....
which borders three lakes at the Northwest corner of the system. The Fox Waterway Agency, a special local governing body, is responsible for oversight of the Chain O'Lakes.
Geography
The Chain O'Lakes is composed of ten lakes connected by the Fox River and another five lakes by small canals and channels (with limited access). Of the ten lakes connected by the Fox River, three of the lakes are natural lakes. The three natural lakes are Grass Lake, Lake Marie and Nippersink Lake. The other seven lakes connected by the Fox River are Bluff Lake, Fox Lake, Pistakee Lake, Channel Lake, Petite Lake, Lake Catherine and Redhead Lake. The remaining five lakes of the system are Duck Lake, Long Lake, Spring Lake, Dunn Lake and Brandenburg Lake.The Chain O'Lakes system begins at the Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
/ Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
border. The Fox River travels down near the border between McHenry County and Lake County in Illinois as it flows from the state border to the first lake in the Chain, Grass Lake. Grass Lake is the shallowest lake on the Chain with an average depth of 3 foot (0.9144 m). Grass Lake is also the third largest lake on the Chain, with an approximate area of 1360 acres (5.5 km²). Pistakee Lake and Fox Lake are the two largest lakes on the Chain, each with an area of 1700 acres (6.9 km²). Grass Lake directly connects to Fox Lake and both lakes connect to Pistakee Lake through Nippersink Lake. The Fox River exits the Chain O'Lakes at the southwest corner of Pistakee Lake.
Lake sizes
The following table lists the sizes (and depths if given) of nine of the fifteen lakes on the Chain. The information provided is from the Fox Waterway Agency website.| Lake Name | Area (acres) | Avg. Depth (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Catherine Lake | 155 | 45 |
| Channel Lake | 352 | - |
| Lake Marie | 480 | 14 |
| Bluff Lake | 86 | - |
| Petite Lake | 167 | 12 |
| Grass Lake | 1,360 | 3 |
| Fox Lake | 1,700 | - |
| Nippersink Lake | 420 | - |
| Pistakee Lake | 1,700 | - |
Grass Lake
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Grass Lake was a "stretch of wild rice and lotus," and lotus beds blossomed in this lake that constituted over half of the total in all of the lakes. In the early 20th century some boats, due to the shallow water and density of lotuses, had to use a pole ("poling") rather than oars ("rowing"). During the 1950s through the 1970s much of the lotus disappeared, but there there has been a revival in recent years. A historical location derived from the tourist who came to see the lotus. At first this location was known as Rohema, but also known by Shorty's, after the owner Shorty Shobin. Shorty, however was not the only entrepreneur on the lake. Jack O' Conner owned a house boat about 100 yards from Shorty, and one night in a card match they wagered their businesses, O'Conner won. O'Conner moved his business to the island naming it Lotus Lodge Hotel, then Hotel Blarney, and then Blarney Island.Local communities
Several towns and cities surround the Chain O'Lakes System. Although open to some interpretation, towns bordering the Chain O'Lakes include Fox Lake, Fox Lake Hills, Lake Villa, Antioch, Spring Grove, Pistakee Highlands, Johnsburg, Volo, McHenry and Ingleside. Central to the system is the town of Fox Lake, in between Pistakee Lake and Fox Lake.Major roads
Several major highways and state routes cross over and travel around the Chain O'Lakes. The following table lists the major roads in the Chain O'Lakes region and a brief description about the location of the route.| Sign | Route Number | Local Name | Location Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
US Route 12 | Rand Road | Crosses over the Chain between Pistakee and Nippersink Lake |
 |
Illinois Route 59 | Fox Lake Road | Follows the eastern edge of the Chain O'Lakes |
 |
Illinois Route 132 | Grand Avenue | Dead ends at the east side of Fox Lake |
 |
Illinois Route 134 | Big Hollow Road | Follows the south edge of the Chain |
 |
Illinois Route 173 | Kenosha Street | Crosses the Chain between Channel Lake and Lake Marie |
Early history
The Chain O'Lakes were formed when the Wisconsin glacier melted, leaving behind many of the lakes now present in the Fox River Valley, including those in the Chain. The Chain O'Lakes region was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes. During the first European visits to the area, the central Algonquian Tribes inhabited the region including the Miami, Mascouten and Potawatomi tribes. The first European explorers to the region were French trappers and traders in the Mid-17th century, including Joliet and Marquette.In the 19th century, a few European's began to settle the area. Included in these early settlers were the Dunnill family and Converse Marble, both of whom settled near the border between Pistakee Lake and Nippersink Lake. At that time, the only connection between the two lakes was the Fox River (commonly referred to as the "long channel.") In order to benefit both of their properties, the Dunnills and Converse Marble dug by hand a new channel between the two lakes which became known as "the Cut" (most likely meaning "shortcut.") The "Cut" caused a strong current and fresher water along the east shore of Nippersink Lake. Today, the channel has become deep and wide, being heavily traveled by boaters.
Until the 1880s, European settlements remained sparse in the area due to the difficulty of travel resulting from the wet areas surrounding the Chain. Starting in the 1890s, the area started to become a popular retreat destination for Chicagoans, with many visitors traveling to the region to take boat trips to see Fox Lake's "Egyptian Lotus" beds.
Early 20th century
Soon, however, the boom in tourism drew the attention of Lake County leaders, who ordered raids on the numerous unlicensed drinking and gambling establishments. To avoid further raids and fines from the county government, several resort leaders united, incorporating the town of Fox Lake in 1907. When it was incorporated, Fox Lake only had a few hundred residents but its summer season population was estimated at 20,000. The new town government placed very few restraints on its resorts with 48 liquor licenses issued just prior to prohibition. Even after the start of prohibition, enforcement was relatively low in the region, helping to draw Chicagoans interested in drinking and gambling.
The region is also famous for its hosting of prohibition gangsters, including the infamous Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
. Al Capone owned a summer house on Bluff Lake near Antioch. He was also known for frequenting the famous Mineola Hotel in Fox Lake. Additionally, Al Capone's major rival, George "Bugs" Moran
Bugs Moran
George Clarence Moran , better known by the alias "Bugs" Moran, was a Chicago Prohibition-era gangster born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Moran, of Irish and Polish descent, moved to the north side of Chicago when he was 19, where he became affiliated with several gangs...
, supplied beer and alcohol throughout the Chain O'Lakes region with stories of him staying at a liquor partner's home on Channel Lake and being arrested at Elizabeth Cassidy's resort on Bluff Lake. The region saw its worst prohibition violence on June 1, 1930 when a mob-related hit was carried out at Manning's Hotel in Fox Lake. Five people were shot with a machine-gun including members of the Druggan gang, of which three people were killed. Occurring a year after the Saint Valentine's Day massacre, the shooting represented the intensity of the battle to control the Chain's lucrative gambling and liquor business. The crime was never solved.
Mid 20th century to present
Following the roaring twenties, the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
hit the area hard. The numerous resorts around the Chain began to disappear signaling the end of the region's heyday as a tourist destination. During this time, many of the summer cottages began being converted to permanent residences, a trend which continued as soldiers returned home from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Following the war, the area began to modernize, transitioning to a middle-class community. In addition to bringing in weekend vacationers, the trains now serve the growing suburban worker population who travel into Chicago. As of the 2000 census, the population of Fox Lake was estimated at over 9,000 people, a major growth from the few hundred permanent residents when the town was incorporated in 1907. The area now reflects a unique blend of year-round residents and summer vacationers.
Recreation
The Chain O'Lakes allows for a wide range of outdoor recreational activities, including boatingBoating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
, swimming and water skiing. To complement these activities are many local businesses (including numerous marinas and restaurants) that serve the needs of weekend and summer vacationers. Many of these businesses sponsor special events throughout the summer, including boat races, fishing tournaments and live musical performances. Boating horsepower is unrestricted on the Chain and there are more than 28,000 registered boats on the Chain (as of 2009).
Recreational opportunities are also provided through Chain O'Lakes State Park
Chain O'Lakes State Park (Illinois)
Chain O'Lakes State Park is a Illinois state park at the inlet of the Fox River into the Chain O'Lakes in Lake and McHenry counties, in the suburban wildlife of Chicago, Illinois, USA....
and the adjacent conservation area. Established in 1945, Chain O'Lakes State Park includes a free boat launch and a variety of hunting, hiking and fishing areas. The park includes Turner Lake, a small 44 acres (178,061.8 m²) lake in the park isolated from the Chain itself. Inside the park are four different trail systems, including a quarter-mile trail designed for disabled individuals and an eight mile (13 km) equestrian trail. Chain O'Lakes State Park also offers a number of camp sites and cabins available for a low nightly fee. Horse rentals and boat rentals are provided throughout the summer months.
The Chain O'Lakes is a preferred destination for fishermen as well. Species found in the Chain O'Lakes include walleye, largemouth bass, muskellunge, yellow perch, bluegill, catfish, black crappie, bullhead, white bass, yellow bass, carp, and northern pike. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources report that approximately 10% of their annual muskie samples are over 3 foot (0.9144 m), 6 inches long. Northern pikes and muskies in the trophy class are occasionally caught on the Chain. A status of the sport fishery of the lakes regarding these fish from 1954 to 2001 can be seen here.
The Chain O'Lakes also hosts a variety of winter activities, including snow mobiling, ice skating, cross-country skiing and ice fishing.
Commerce
The Chain O'Lakes is home to hundreds of businesses. Businesses on the Chain include marinas, boat vendors, resorts, campgrounds, restaurants and bars. Among the most famous of these are Blarney Island bar on Grass Lake and the Mineola resort on Fox Lake.Blarney Island is a large bar on Grass Lake that is only accessible by boat. The bar is built about a mile from shore on a series of pilings embedded in the shallow lake bed of Grass Lake. Although many facts about the establishment have been lost with time, local legend has it that Blarney Island evolved from a poker bet between Jack O'Connor and Shorty Shobin. In the very early 20th century, Jack and Shorty were rival businessmen on the Chain operating lotus bed tours only a hundred yards apart. The competition between the two came to a head one evening during a poker game in which each man bet his business. Ultimately, Shorty Shobin lost the hand and his business, at which point he got up from the table and entered the backroom of the bar where he took his own life. Sometime later, after Jack O'Connor lost his establishment to a fire, he used Shorty's location to form Blarney Island (as it was known by 1923.) The bar began a boat shuttle service to the island in 1972, started hosting live music in 1975 and started its famous boat races in 1978. The bar has continued to grow its business throughout the years and totes the slogan "A Mile Away from Reality" reflecting both its location and its mentality. Blarney Island embodies the overall free party attitude present throughout the Chain and has become a staple of the region.
Another well known business on the Chain is the stately Mineola Resort. The Mineola Hotel was built in 1894 by Chicago businessmen and has 100 rooms. It is the largest wooden structure in Illinois and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The resort was popular with the gangsters of the 1920s and the Chicago Tribune stated that the Mineola was "probably the most vicious resort" in the area. The Mineola still displays Al Capone's hat in a glass case in the lounge of the hotel. Today, the Mineola continues to operate as a restaurant and banquet facility while illuminating the area's past as a resort town.