History

A Brief History of Port Barrington (Formerly known as Fox River Valley Gardens)

The original section of Port Barrington has kept the former Village name as it’s title – Fox River Valley Gardens. It is located in both Nunda and Algonquin Townships, with approximately 200 single-family homes built on 1/4 acre lots with private wells and sanitary sewers served by Northern Moraine Wastewater Reclamation District. It is bordered on the West by the Fox River, including a series of man-made channels known as the “Nielsen’s Channels,” which are noted as one of the best fishing spots in the entire Chain-0-Lakes. Village residents can use a free launch located on Park Drive.

The Village annexed a 240-acre parcel of land in 1980 located West of Roberts Road and lying on both sides of Rawson Bridge Road. The “River Walk” development will consist of 260 single-family homes upon completion. These homes are built on 90 acres, with 8.6 acres set aside for a future commercial shopping center, and 26 acres which are for walking trails and retention ponds. More than 100 acres will remain as open space. The Fox Trail Park, adjacent to River Walk at the end of Willow Road, boasts two baseball diamonds, a soccer field, and walking trails.

A second annexation, The Moorings, in 1989 brought in 250 acres (west of Roberts Road, south of Center Street) of both Cuba and Wauconda Townships. All but 20 acres of this property is now owned by the Lake County Forest Preserve and is officially known as the “Fox River Preserve” (847-381-0669). The remaining 20 acres were subdivided into 16 one-acre home sites called the “Moorings Subdivision.”

The next annexation took place in 1992 and consists of 23 acres in Cuba Township along the Fox River, formerly occupied by a marina, a sports shop, and the Dockside Restaurant and Bar. This property was purchased in 1994 by developer Greg Loesch. After razing all the existing buildings and docks, major shoreline improvements began, including dredging the channels, new modem docking facilities, and seawalls. This parcel now includes 36 luxury condominiums with options for docking rights, walkout basements, and river front views. The marina, boat shop and Port Barrington Bar & Grille opened in 1998. This area is referred to as “Port Barrington Shores.”

In 2001, another parcel was annexed in Wauconda Township at the northeast comer of Darrell and Roberts Roads. Deer Grove, a 39 home subdivision, borders a forested wetland area surrounded by a walking trail and retention ponds.

A few years later, Deer Grove North  was developed.  Deer Grove North is located off Darrell Road, east of Roberts Road and consists of 26 homes surrounded by many acres of preserved wetlands.

A around the same time the Crossroads Community Church was annexed into Port Barrington and is located at the Roberts/Darrell Roads intersection . Syder’s Gas Station, at the corner of Roberts Road and Center Street, is the most recent annexation in 2007.