Colonel Palmer House Historic Park, Crystal Lake, IL

Colonel Palmer House Historic Park occupies a 3.5-acre site centered on a restored 1858 Italianate farmhouse at 5516 Route 176 in Crystal Lake. The grounds include a one-mile paved loop trail that circles a 0.8-acre retention pond stocked with bluegill and stocked by the McHenry County Conservation District. Anglers may fish from the shoreline or a small floating dock; non-motorized kayaks and canoes are permitted on summer weekends. The park’s lawn is planted with 30 mature oak and maple trees that provide shade for picnicking, and a reservable 30-by-40-foot shelter equipped with electrical outlets and restrooms accommodates gatherings of up to 40 people. A short spur trail connects to the 4.3-mile Prairie Trail, allowing cyclists and pedestrians to travel north to downtown Crystal Lake’s Metra station in roughly 15 minutes. Parking for 25 vehicles is provided adjacent to the farmhouse, which itself functions as a public museum on weekends.

Restrooms