Hunter's Farm, Fox River Grove feel like home
For Libby and Gary Whitworth, there's no place like home.
Before the couple moved to the Chicago area from St. Louis, Libby Whitworth made several house-hunting trips to the Chicago suburbs.
"I looked at many, many houses," Libby Whitworth said. "But when we found the house in Hunter's Farm, we fell in love with it because it reminded us of our home in St. Louis. It just felt like home."
The couple also liked the rural feel of the Fox River Grove neighborhood while still being close to area conveniences. And new construction with a big open floor plan and high ceilings was a big draw for my husband, Whitworth said.
"After living here, I love it even more. It's like a small village, and people are close. We have lots of activities and enjoy being together.
"What surprises me is how many conservation areas are tucked away in the most unlikely areas. We have one in front of our subdivision with a pond, ducks and cranes. They must be unique to this area, as we didn't have that in St. Louis or in the surrounding areas. It's really fantastic."
Hunter's Farm features 81 semi-custom homes with 3,415 to almost 4,400 square feet. Most homes have a side-load garage, and a few homes offer a four-car garage, said Pat Loftus, real estate agent with Keller Williams Success Realty in Barrington.
"Thirty-four hundred square feet for $650,000 is very reasonable," Loftus said. "You can't get that in Palatine. One of the reasons transferees come into the neighborhood is because the pricing is so great for the quality home they get, and they're in the Barrington school district.
"Also there is a project underway to develop the neighborhood playground as a real park with updated facilities," Loftus said.
Located on Route 22 just west of Kelsey Road, Hunter's Farm offers country style living with large home sites, sidewalks and street lights. Loftus says traveling roads that bypass congested areas, residents are only 20 minutes from four major shopping malls -- Woodfield, Westfield Hawthorn, Spring Hill and Deer Park -- and just minutes from Crystal Lake and Cary.
Some say Fox River Grove seems like a long way out, yet when you think about the towns that have developed along the Northwest Highway corridor, Fox River Grove is just the next town over, Loftus said.
Residents of Hunter's Farm are a close-knit group that enjoys all kinds of neighborhood activities. There are monthly morning coffees, book club, couples euchre, bunco club, men's poker club, babysitting co-op, and more.
The community offers an abundance of recreation on and along the Fox River including fishing, boating, swimming and picnicking as well as a full schedule of sports activities. There are also many riverfront parks and playgrounds for families to enjoy.
Fox River Grove hosts several annual events where community organizations work together to provide food, drink, music and games. There is a Venetian night boat parade, all-star baseball day, road rally, 5k run, haunted house and holiday tree lighting.
The town is also home of the semi-annual Norge Ski Jump, which attracts about 10,000 visitors.
The town developed from an agricultural community and resort destination to a year-round residential community along the Fox River that continues to grow.
Fox River Grove sits 50 miles northwest of the Loop with easy access to the Northwest Tollway and Northwest Highway. Drivers reach the Loop in 90 minutes while O'Hare is 45 minutes away. For commuters, the trip from Fox River Grove to the Loop takes about 70 minutes.