Longtime Libertyville hotel demolished

The Hitch-Inn Post hotel in Libertyville, a remnant of the 1950s road trip-era, is being bulldozed for eventual development.

Wrecking crews Friday were taking apart the landmark at the southwest corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Peterson Road that opened around the time interstate highways were built.

"The original ma and pa motel, 16 units, was built in 1958," explained Bob Boesch, who worked there for 32 years. He is a consultant to the Young family trust, which owns the building and surrounding property.

Additions were built in 1963 and 1969. In 1981, the largest, an 84-room addition to include a pool, swelled the occupancy to 144 units. That number dropped after remodeling for suites and apartments, and stood at 127 when the operation closed five years ago.

Having been vacant for so long, the buildings were in disrepair.

"We're just trying to clean up the area and make it look as good as we can," Boesch said. The demolition will take about three weeks before the site is graded and seeded.

The area is more than 15 acres, with access from both major streets. According to figures used to market the property, 33,500 vehicles a day pass on Peterson and nearly 24,000 on Milwaukee.

The site is zoned for commercial use, and has been for sale for several years. No specific plans have been presented to the village.

"I think they hope by opening up the property, users will see the potential," said Heather Rowe, the village's economic development coordinator.

The hotel was built by Boesch's stepfather, Earl Young. Young's father, a longtime grocery store owner in Libertyville, bought the property in the 1940s.

Though the hotel was doing well, Young decided to open an adjoining restaurant. The Cabriolet, named after a Pierce-Arrow automobile Young owned, opened in 1973.

For years, an antique car was displayed in the restaurant lobby, and later, several were displayed in the hotel basement.

Several restaurants operated in that space, and the hotel and restaurant holds memories for many Libertyville-area residents.

"My sister actually had her wedding reception there 30-some years ago," Mayor Terry Weppler said.

Facing extensive renovation costs, the Young family decided to demolish the building in 2003. A Wildberry restaurant was built in its place and is still operating.

Boesch said the owners are working with some prospective developers, but there are no solid plans.

"We have had a lot of interest," he said. "Even in today's economy, it's a valuable piece of property."