Neighborhood Highlights
Three Oaks Recreation Area
On the south side of Crystal Lake, a series of old gravel quarries have been transformed into a remarkable space for outdoor recreation. There are many activities to partake in at the Three Oaks Recreation Area, including boating, open water swimming, scuba diving, stand-up paddle boarding, and wakeboarding. And when daily activities get you hungry, you can hit the Lakeside Bar & Grille for burgers, tacos, and more.
Raue Center for the Arts
Situated in Crystal Lake's downtown area, the Raue Center for the Arts has operated since 1929, boasting a gorgeous 750-seat theater originally designed for films and vaudeville shows. Formerly known as "El Tovar," the now-restored Raue Center for the Arts is also famous for its terracotta tiles and adobe-style walls. Today, the theater serves as the epicenter of performing arts in Crystal Lake and the entire McHenry County.
Mellie's Chocolate & Co.
Your sweet tooth will be in command at Mellie’s. Indulge in one of their famously fresh chocolate-covered strawberries, delight your taste buds with decadent dark chocolate salted caramels, or lose yourself in an old-fashioned malted milkshake. Mellie’s Chocolate is on a mission to make the Crystal Lake community just a little sweeter.
History
A pioneer who was passing through the northeastern part of Illinois in the early 1800s stopped to admire a lake whose water was "clear as crystal," and thus Crystal Lake was named.
The first white settlers arrived in 1836 and built a cabin in the location of the current town of Crystal Lake. Numerous businesses prospered in the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and the village of Crystal Lake was incorporated in 1874. One such enterprising business removed ice from the lake and shipped it to Chicago by rail. Of special note was the American Terra Cotta Tile and Ceramic Company, an architectural tile manufacturer that was founded in 1881 and employed most of its workers from Crystal Lake. Its Teco pottery (te-co from terra cotta) is now highly prized as collectors' items.
Today, Crystal Lake has a thriving downtown and has been ranked 10th best US city among cities with a population between 25,000 and 100,000.
