Dunes Manor

Dunes Manor is in Lake County, close enough for a Chicago commute if need be but far enough away to take advantage of a calmer suburban pace. It's part of Zion, a northeastern Illinois city near the Wisconsin border. Founded in 1901 by evangelist and faith healer John Alexander Dowie, the Zion of today has a population of about 25,000, according to Niche.

Those literal dunes come into sight by the shores of Lake Michigan, less than 2 miles away. Though no community parks are close to home, plenty of natural resources are nearby. A strip of protected land spanning about 7 miles alongside the lake includes peaceful sites like the North Dunes Nature Preserve and Illinois Beach State Park and Nature Preserve.

This neighborhood is mixed retail and residential, with dwellings within Zion Senior Cottages, which offers one- to two-bedroom rental homes for those 62 and older. The complex, built in 2006, includes over 100 units, with sidewalks throughout and tidy landscaping, including shrubs and trees. A state-of-the-art fitness center, clubhouse and social activities make this complex desirable for those seeking a retirement community close to the lake. Other apartments for any age residents are available in Dunes Manor as well. And there's some potential for new builds, with the example of an 8-acre site priced at $800,000 in the fall of 2023. Nearby areas with single-family homes have average list prices as follows: $170,000 for South Central Zion, $211,000 for Waukegan and $250,000 for Beach Park.

Public schools include the elementary-level Kenneth Murphy School and Beach Park Middle, both graded C-minus by Niche. Zion-Benton Township High School is graded B. New Tech High – Zion-Benton East, graded B, is a companion school at a separate location. The Network Administrator for both high schools, Joe Fleming, says the main campus enrolls over 2,000 students, whereas New Tech has about 400, divided about equally among grade levels. "They do more collaboration over there," Fleming says. The college preparatory school fosters 21st-century tech skills.

Piggly Wiggly is right here for your grocery needs, and more shops in Zion Shopping Center provide assorted options. Pick up a ButterBurger or some small-batch frozen custard at Culver's, a Midwest favorite for fresh ingredients from regional family farms. Yorkhouse Commons, nearby in Waukegan, includes a Jewel-Osco for pantry stocking, a Target and assorted shops. If you need to stock up on deals, nearly 100 stores are found at Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets, about a 12-mile drive from home. The City of Hope – Lung Cancer Center is located less than 2 miles to the north.

Living in Dunes Manor puts you just east of north of state Route 137. The Pace Bus route 571 provides a selection of useful stops from Waukegan to Zion, and the Zion Metra Station is less than 2 miles to the north. Should you wish to drive or ride to downtown Chicago or Milwaukee, each is about 50 miles away. Dunes Manor is a compact community to choose if you want to be really close to the lake.

Written By

Robin Silberman

Video By

Daniel Quattro