Neighborhood profile: Loch Lomond, Mundelein
“Come live in the garden spot of Mundelein” and “Find the home site you've dreamed of in Loch Lomond.” So said the promotional postcards to attract people to the Loch Lomond subdivision when Arthur T. McIntosh developed the area and began selling lots in the 1950s.
Homes built in the '50s were typically 1,200-square-foot ranch houses, which most people were building at that time. Then, through the 1960s when most of the homes were built, split-levels and raised ranches became predominant, said Steve Kovac, co-owner of Century 21 Marketplace and also a resident of Loch Lomond.
“Many people came to Loch Lomond to purchase a small starter home, then traded up or added on because of their love for the subdivision,” he said.
More recently — three years ago, when Mary Hanson took her husband Harold on a fall color tour, it turned into a real estate tour.
“I walked over to the kitchen sink in this house in Loch Lomond and saw the sloping lawn out to the beautiful lake and trees and birds, and I said, “I want this house,' ” Mary said.
“It was a con job,” Harold joked. “We'll celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary this year. And she's been right about most things.”
The couple quickly put their large house in Arlington Heights on the market and moved to Loch Lomond. Their home isn't large, but with the well-designed open floor plan and a 40-foot patio, it can easily accommodate up to 50 people.
The couple loves living on the lake in Loch Lomond. “You relax the minute you drive in here with the winding roads and the trees. You feel like you're camping. We actually sold our camper when we moved here because all we need to do is walk out the back door,” Harold said.
“It's so peaceful,” Mary said. “Every morning I have an hour to read and look at the lake. It's just idyllic. I love being here.”
In fact, the couple loves it so much they're making a major investment and will be the first on the lake to have a paddle wheeler, a small version of those old Mississippi River boats. It will hold six to eight people and can accommodate people of any age or physical condition because a person can just walk right off the deck onto the boat, Harold said.
Lake Loch Lomond — it's a big draw for the subdivision, Kovac said. “It's great having your own private lake with two beaches, gate guards and lifeguards on duty all summer long. And it has exceptionally good fishing.”
The subdivision sits adjacent to Community Park with sports fields, tennis courts, hockey rink and sledding hill. Other park district amenities include Barefoot Bay and Splash Park and the Park View Health & Fitness Center. The public library is on Midlothian Road.
If golf is your game, Mundelein is known for its fine golf courses with seven public courses within or adjacent to the community.
The Hansons also like the subdivision's convenient location. “Even though we like nature, we didn't want to live in the country,” Mary said. “I'm just a few minutes from area amenities and shopping. And our four kids all live about an hour away. So it's very nice for us.”
Loch Lomond has a very active property owners' association with a water carnival coming up, the annual Loch Fest — a giant celebration of the lake. “We find the neighbors here are a bunch of wonderful people, and so many volunteer to work with the association,” Harold said. “They give so much time and effort to keep the community going well and make this place happen.”
Listing sheet
Price range: $150,00 to $500,000
Age of homes: Up to 50 years old
Schools: Washington Early Learning Center, Mechanics Grove Elementary and Carl Sandburg Middle schools in Mundelein Elementary District 75; and Mundelein High School in Mundelein High School District 120
Parks: Mundelein Park and Recreation District