Inverness maintains a quiet elegance
A quiet community of upscale homes on large lots, Inverness features natural beauty, rolling terrain and residential streets that meander through the countryside.
"I think the larger acre-plus lots, rolling landscapes and picturesque views are big attractions for home buyers," said Chris Jacobs, broker-associate with Century 21 Roberts & Andrews. "It has a rural feel with all the conveniences of an urban area - close to shopping, the tollway and the train."
Other areas have a rural feeling, but they're a lot farther out, said Sandy Heinlein, Realtor with Baird & Warner. "I think Inverness is the closest to the city. And it's just five minutes to Woodfield and 15 minutes to the airport."
With homes spaced so far apart, some people think residents don't know each other, but there are many social groups such as the Inverness Women's Club, Inverness Association, Garden Club and Book Club, Heinlein said. "A lot of people moving into the community do get involved with these groups."
Just as the Inverness Golf Club was the center for recreation in 1939, it's a center of social life today. The private club offers golfing, gourmet dining, tennis courts, swimming facilities and a spectacular view of immaculate greens and fairways. "It's a magnet for people," Jacobs said.
In the 1920s when developer Arthur McIntosh acquired a large amount of land for development, he and his associate Way Thompson worked to design a New England-like setting while preserving the natural landscape of Inverness.
They set strict standards for construction prohibiting curbs, streetlights and fences in order to emphasize the landscape. They designed roads that wove their way around the hills with few roads leading in or out of the village. This provided Inverness with a certain exclusiveness and privacy while also protecting it from traffic in neighboring towns.
Today Inverness real estate includes many estate-sized properties, unique custom designs, townhouses and condominiums in neighborhoods that maintain the rural character and natural beauty that attracted McIntosh to the area more than 70 years ago.
"Homes now on the market range from $525,000 for a four-bedroom Colonial to $3.3 million," Heinlein said. "Some homes go up to $3 or $4 million in the north end of town where homes are larger. It's not unusual for residents to have a tennis court or pool, and with the larger lot sizes, it's nice because they don't take up the whole yard."
"In Inverness, most homes feature custom designs, and owners have gone to great lengths to make their residence unique," Jacobs said. "I find that even in this market, a certain segment of people desire this community and gravitate to it because of its golf club lifestyle and all the amenities it offers."
Although some homes have a resort-like environment with lots of amenities, there are still Inverness residents who, during the winter, head to Naples, Fla., where they have golf tournaments, Heinlein said.
The bedroom community has no commercial development, and the only business district in the village is Williamsburg Village, which offers professional services in a collection of Colonial style buildings with scenic ponds and bridges. Three beautiful parks - Maggie Rogers Park, North Park and South Park - operated by the Inverness Park District offer outdoor recreation for residents. The park district also offers sports leagues and classes for children and adults and hosts summer concerts and annual holiday events.
Of historical interest, the Inverness Village Hall at 1400 Baldwin Road is a landmark and gateway to the community. Four former grain silos topped with towers have been converted to offices and are part of the village hall.
The silos are said to be a former hideout and hooch storage of Al Capone. From hidden windows, he had an unobstructed view of the countryside and approaching lawmen.
<p class="News"><b>Facts and figures</b></p> <p class=factboxtext12col>Population: 7,500</p> <p class=factboxtext12col>Favorite annual event:</p> <p class=factboxtext12col>Fourth of July celebration</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>Historical timeline</b></p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>1836:</b> The area known as Deer Grove was first settled by George Ela. Other early settlers include Thomas Atkinson, Thomas Falls Wilson, and Ezekial Cady.</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>1840: </b>The U.S. government offered land in the area for sale at $1.25 per acre.</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>1854:</b> Rail service was established to Deer Grove and in 1859 incorporated into the Chicago and Northwestern railway system.</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>1926: </b>Land developer Arthur McIntosh acquired a large amount of land and farms for development. He named the area Inverness after the McIntosh clan home in Scotland.</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>1939:</b> The Inverness Golf Club was the center for recreation. Other clubs established later also were important to the social life of residents, and all are in existence today.</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>1939:</b> The first new homes were occupied by this time with most circling the Inverness Golf Club.</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>1944:</b> Twenty families founded the Inverness Association with dues of $1 per year. Today about 700 families are members of the association.</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>1962:</b> Inverness incorporated as a village.</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>1970-80s: </b>The village experienced residential growth with larger homes and varied designs.</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>1981:</b> The only business development in Inverness, Williamsburg Village opened offering a variety of professional services.</p>