Northern Illinois Paddlers: Mineola Hotel

The great Mineola Hotel is one of the most noticeable and historical buildings on the Chain o Lakes. This hotel is tucked into the Southern end of Fox Lake in Mineola Bay. The hotel has not been used as a hotel for decades now, but the bar is still open. They just took out a wall that had covered the original bar also. If you are in the area, it is certainly a place to stop and see. This is also still a working marina, so make sure that you respect the area and keep your canoe out of the main traffic area.



The view from the water is amazing. You really get a feel for how large of an operation this place was at one time. It is also rumored that this was a gangster hang out back in the 20's.