Deerpath Inn
National Register of Historic Places

Deerpath Inn

Lake Forest, Lake County, Illinois
Listed
May 10, 1992
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
92000482

About this property

The Deer Path Inn is a historic hotel. Originally named Deerpath Inn because of its previous location on Deerpath Road, it is now located at 255 E. Illinois Road in Lake Forest, Illinois. The oldest inn in Lake Forest which is still in operation today as The Deer Path Inn, was established in 1894 in a residence for Col. William Sage Johnston. Shortly afterward, the house was moved one block to the north to make way for the Gorton School. It came under ownership of Kate Lancaster Brewer, who first operated it as a hotel and gave it its present name. A new building was completed in 1903 at the corner of Deerpath and McKinley Roads, since demolished. Its current building was constructed in 1928–29 by then-owner Edwin Burgess on Illinois Avenue. Architect William C. Jones designed the hotel in the Tudor Revival style; his plan was inspired by a 15th-century manor house in Chiddingstone, England. A fire in 1938 damaged the building and required extensive repairs to the third story; the renovation work was conducted by architects Anderson and Ticknor. The hotel functioned as an apartment hotel and served as a permanent home for many wealthy Lake Forest residents, particularly older ones who were unable to maintain private homes. The hotel's single front door and interior spaces were designed to resemble a large home or club rather than a multi-resident complex, separating it from many other apartment hotels of the era. While apartment hotels were common in Chicago and Evanston, The Deer Path Inn was the only apartment hotel of its type in the other communities of the North Shore. The hotel still operates as a resort and wedding venue. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 11, 1992.

Location

255 E. Illinois Rd.
Lake Forest, Lake County, Illinois
42.24964, -87.84096

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Deerpath Inn

This page lists Deerpath Inn. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Deerpath Inn report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Vine-Oakwood-Green Bay Road Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Bennett, Edward H., House and Studio
Industrial
0.2 mi
Judah, Noble, Estate
Listed
0.5 mi
West Park Neighborhood Historic District
Industrial
0.5 mi
Lake Forest Historic District
Listed
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Deerpath Inn listed on the National Register?

Deerpath Inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 10, 1992.

What type of historic resource is Deerpath Inn?

Deerpath Inn is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Deerpath Inn?

The period of significance for Deerpath Inn is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Deerpath Inn?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Deerpath Inn will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Lake County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Lake County.

Explore LakeCounty ›

More historic places in Illinois

Browse all historic places in Illinois.

View Illinoishistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Illinois history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Illinoishistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Deerpath Inn will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report