Cary, Illinois haunted abandoned "ski lodge"

Absolutely nothing to do with this website aside from
being a Chicagoland question. Any information on
abandoned ski lodge, park district venue with
swimming pool in the midst of a forest with no
evidence of roads or parking lots. Alledgedly
haunted.
Cary, Illinois Cary Road St. Barnabas

This is going way back in time but I think you are talking about what used to be a ski area called Fox Trails, built in the early 1960's. The A-frame building later housed a night club called Harry Hopes. I remember going to HH last in 1978 and I used to ski there in 1967 or so, it was a pretty good ski run but since we don't get much snow and they had to rely so much on man-made, I don't imagine they made much money. There was an attempt to make it a year around attraction with a pool, etc., I thought it was bought years ago and turned in to home sites because I was a pretty property.

LikestoEatout wrote:This is going way back in time but I think you are talking about what used to be a ski area called Fox Trails, built in the early 1960's. The A-frame building later housed a night club called Harry Hopes. I remember going to HH last in 1978 and I used to ski there in 1967 or so, it was a pretty good ski run but since we don't get much snow and they had to rely so much on man-made, I don't imagine they made much money. There was an attempt to make it a year around attraction with a pool, etc., I thought it was bought years ago and turned in to home sites because I was a pretty property.

Harry Hopes...now that brings back some memories! I worked there many a time when I was in the music biz.

I can confirm LikesToEatOut's assessment of the place as I used to live directly across Cary-Alonguin Rd. from said abandoned building in the years 1990-1994. I found it a very strange twist of fate that I should end up living at that location given that I learned to ski at Fox Trails when I was 5. It did later become Harry Hope's. When I was living there, the main activity that went on across the road seemed to be illegal hunting.

Ahhhh. . . . Harry Hopes. I have fond memories of that place. It doesn't get much better than sitting in a small semi-circle of folding chairs watching Muddy Waters perform. It also doesn't get much scarier than trying to drive back to Schaumburg with fog so thick you couldn't see 2 dotted lines in front of the truck. Yikes!

So is the ski lodge or Harry Hopes still there in some type of condition or is it torn down. Me and my friends were just talking about the times we use to go there and see concerts. They had some great entertainment there like Muddy Waters, BB King, Ursala and the last one they had there I believe was one we were at when Steve Goodman played and a huge fight started down in the corral for a better word where they sold refreshments. Acouple people started shoving each other and the next thing you know it broke out into a huge fight with the rails of the corral being all busted up. The show went on once things settled down but being the building was starting to fall apart I think that might have been the last concert there and if not one of the last ones of Steve Goodmans as he died soon afterwards. But yes it does bring back fond memories of the small concert halls and excellent talent they had at those type of places years ago. The Good Ole Dazes.....

Interesting to see this brought up again! I grew up in Algonquin and lived there until 1969 or so but I returned frequently to Harry Hope's later on. I remember seeing Brownie McGee and Sonny Terry, Muddy Water's and others. It was a great place to see people because you were so close up. My friend once brought her young daughter to see Mary Travers and Mary brought the little girl up on stage and sang to her. We'd often stay afterwards and you could always hang out and talk to the musicians.

where exactly was it located again, over the years I have forgotten the exact place and thought about going by there to check it out.

It was on Cary Road about half the way between Cary and Algonquin on the river side of the road. I did a google aerial map of it and the remains are visable,

If you take the NW Highway to Cary - just before Crystal Lake and after Fox River Grove you'll come to a 4 way intersection (stop light) with a Walgreens on the coner. That street is Cary-Algonquin. There you will make a left turn and head past the Cary Fire Dept (on left). You'll cross over another 4 way with light called Main Street.

Continuing forward on Cary-Algonquin you'll dip down past a horse barn and pature on you left. Back up the hill you'll see a road on the left called "Cold Springs". That road is the Eastern boarder of the property which goes nearly all the way to the Fox River. You cannot mis this because there is a giant water tower near the spot where the HarryHopes/Ski Lodge once sat. Prior to that it was a farm of the area's most prominent family - Lowe.

About 25 yards further down the road you wll see the entrance to the facility - two brick pillars with fencing attached. This entrance was also used for the Fox Trails Swim and Tennis Club which back in the day was expensive and exclusive. It was located down the hill and further West on the property and boasted a large white colonial club house and coach house. Shower and locker buildings. Large, medium and kitty pool and two tennis courts. The club had it's own swim team - known for it's oftern green water because as time passed and members moved to other newer clubs, the infrastructure began to fail. I believe it held on until 1989 or 90 before being sold to United Builders who fortunately went under.

Since then the property was acquired by the McHenry Conservation District and is open to anyone season round.

Additional Buildings....

Pump House - Between the Ski Lodge and Club there was and old pump house - actually it was quite large. The chief of police used to store his fishing boat there.

Out Buildings - Many Out Style houses used to dot the landscape. These shanties were used to manage power to out door lights and tow ropes.

Snowmobiler House - Not sure what it was for but it was about 10X30 feet – again located in the Club area.

Residential Home – 200 Yards past the main entrance (on the left again) is a long drive way – still exists. That drive led to a beautiful home which over – looked a brook and stream that eventually led to the Fox River. This part of the property is beautiful in that the brook appears to be fresh water and the waterfall which leads to the stream provides a great back drop for a picnic. There are also plenty of dirt bike trails back here – if you’re biking it’s the best place on the property.

Screen House – After the entrance above and still on the left side, Cary-Algonquin road starts dipping downwards again. Just before the base of the dip – again about 200 yards and before you get to a red barn alongside the road, is another entrance to the property. This is a long and winding road – heavily damaged. It leads to an opening where you can see the reminants of the Fox Trails “Screen House”. This was essentially a huge screened porch with concrete floor, large kitchen and bathrooms. Here the club members would congregate for lobster boils and so on. The building over looked a pond which ran off into the Fox River – about 50 yards through some thick brush.

It’s important to note that all the entrances mentioned are blocked off and unaccesible by car. If you are interested in visiting on bike or foot you’ll need to turn left on Cold Springs – just before the water tower. Heading down hill (winding road) you will see the parking lot on the right. Accessing the areas above on bike will be tricking as the MCCD has not built pathways to these locations on the property. If you’re on bike your best bet is to park in the lot and ride back up Cold Springs onto – turning left back onto Cary-Algonquin. If your’re on foot and don’t mind burrs then I would recommend walking parallel to Cold Springs from the lot towards Cary-Algonquin. Eventually you will either come to the rope swing & Snowmobile hut – which is still there or the base of the Ski hill (which is further on your right). If you manage to find the Snowmobile hut walk towards Cary-Algonquin and just to your left you’ll see the drive way of the club entrance. You should also see the tennis courts. If you head left of then (West) you’ll find a path that will take you first to that beautiful fresh brook and later to the area of the Screen House.

If you make it to the base of the Ski Hill head up towards the water tower and you’ll find the foundation. You’ll also find the main entrance and if you follow that down the hill you’ll end up and the tennis courts (they’ll be on your right).

Bring bug spray – it’s a great day!

When you're done head back on Cary-Algonquin to your first 4 way light (remember this is Main Street). Instead of going straight - the way you came, hang a right down historic Cary Main Street. It will annex itself with NW HWY (Rt 14) eventually but just before you get to the Metra Tracks park you car in front of a place called "The Tracks". This place has some of the best burgers, salads and general food I have ever had! Good service and good prices.

BTW - nothing haunted at all there - no where period. I spent 20 years running around that place and the Meadowdale Raceway and it's about as peacful as it gets for Illinois.

Hey - since I am here - google "Harry Hopes", Anyone know a good recepie for sweet italian red sauce?

Harry Hopes brings back lots of memories. Way back when we were dating we used to drive way out into the boonies to this little folk club to see folks like Steve Goodman, Jim Post, Corky Siegel, Loudon Wainwright, and such folks perform there.

Like so many of the folk venues we patronized back then, they are all gone now. Most recently we were semi-regulars at Off Square Music until they ended their concerts last February. If any one knows a folk club in the far NW suburbs (McHenry county or surrounding area) Let me know.

The irony is that 30 years later, we live a few miles from what's left of Harry Hopes. Every time I drive down Cary Algonquin road, I look for the place. I've seen the stone pillars, and thought that's where it was, but it's so overgrown that we can't see back into the area. I guess some time I'll have to stop and wander back.

Now we regularly see the group Small Potatoes. Jacki used to be a waitress at Harry Hopes and occasionally performed there.

The buildings have since been torn down. Here's a great history of the site:
http://chicagolandhistory.angelfire.com/foxtrails.html