The Stunning Illinois Park That Looks Just Like An English Garden
From the rock formations at Garden of the Gods to the waterfalls at Starved Rock, Illinois is full of gems you would never expect to find in the Midwest. Here is one you’ve probably never heard of, and it will transport you to the setting of an 1800s Victorian novel.
For a whimsical journey you only ever get to read about in fairy tales, take a trip to this enchanted estate. Keep reading for all the charming details.
Allerton Park was originally built as a private estate in 1900 by a Chicago native, and it was called "The Farms." Today, the public is welcome to visit for free daily from 8 a.m. until sunset.
All together, the estate consists of 1,500 acres of woodland and prairies. There are also 14 formal gardens that astound and amaze, transporting you to a setting fit for a queen.
Visitors may even stay the night on the grounds to get the full experience. Guests may stay in the Allerton Mansion, Gate House, the House in the Woods, or Evergreen Lodge.
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
