A couple from Springfield, Illinois, purchased the historic Gillett Mansion that sits atop of prominent hill just east of the Route 66 town of Elkhart, Illinois.
The couple plans to keep the mansion open to the public, including for events.
According to a report several days ago in the Springfield State Journal-Register:
Court and Karen Conn, the proprietors of the eponymous hospitality group that operates The Inn at 835, Wm. Van’s Coffee and Obed and Isaac’s Microbrewery & Eatery, purchased 30 acres — including the Gillett House, a carriage house, water tower and seven barns.
Last year, 576 acres of the farm sold at auction for $3.9 million. The minimum bid for the tract that included the mansion and accompanying property had been set at $400,000. […]
The Conns will take possession of the property in September and plan to live there, but also plan to operate commercial endeavors there as well. Logan County property records show the sale price was $505,000, which she confirmed.
Conn said they have “a lot of ideas” for the property, such as putting a distillery in one of the barns and utilizing the property for barn weddings and concerts. But she said the couple has no specific project ideas yet.
“We feel that this property needs to be available for the public to enjoy. There’s so much history and it’s so beautiful,” said Karen Conn. “It’s the highest point between Chicago and St. Louis. And when you look out of your vista on the top of that hill, you can see almost 180 degrees all that way around you. So that needs to be shared with people.”
Parts of the Old Gillett Farm were auctioned last year.
Cattle baron John Dean Gillett built the mansion in 1870. Over the years, the farm has hosted figures such as actor Cary Grant, author Ernest Hemingway and entrepreneur Marshall Field.
The house isn’t on Route 66. But on the Mother Road, it’s hard to miss Elkhart Hill on which the mansion sits. It rises 200 feet above the surrounding prairie and reputedly is the tallest hill between Chicago and St. Louis along the Interstate 55 corridor. On a clear day, one can see the tallest buildings of downtown Springfield from more than 20 miles away.
The hill is a leftover mound of earth from thousands of years ago when glaciers flattened the rest of the surrounding area. A bison trail also crossed a part of the property that became the Edwards Trace — a precursor to Route 66.
The town of Elkhart never has boasted more than 600 residents. But its downtown just off Route 66 remains well-preserved, and it contains a surprisingly lively business district.
Just why would anyone have trees so close to such a house – and around all four of its sides? Is the countryside so boring that it is not worth looking at? In Australia, such tree growth would be an invitation to the building being burned to the ground in bush fire conditions.