The Eagle Hotel (pictured at right) was constructed circa 1836 by David Lizer, in the same year the town in which it is located, Wilmington, Illinois was founded. The premises, which served as a cornerstone for the developing new town, contained a limestone warehouse in addition to the hotel. Both catered to customers of the saw- and gristmills located there on the Kankakee River, as well as travelers passing through on riverboat or stagecoach lines. Located at such a crucial and active intersection, the hotel was a key component in the pre-Civil War development and settlement of the northeastern part of Illinois. Ensuing years saw the Eagle serving the community not only as original warehouse and hotel, but also as tavern, and, after its charter in 1863, as the original site for the First National Bank of Wilmington. Sometime later, the warehouse and storefront spaces were opened to accommodate larger business concerns, including a restaurant and mercantile store. The oldest building in Will County, and probably the oldest hotel in all of the State of Illinois, the Eagle has served the area in myriad facets over the last 165 years. Indeed, the Eagle’s history as a chronicle of the development of the area is as rich as it is long.

By the end of the 20th century, however, the Eagle property found itself teetering on the brink of extinction. Years of insufficient funding, combined with a devastating fire in 1990 which heavily damaged a significant portion of the building, had left the structure with a leaky roof and crumbling walls. Indeed, due to the extent of this deterioration, the City of Wilmington was forced, for purposes of public safety, to seriously consider demolition of the historic hotel. With its foundation walls still sound and many of the key architectural features, (including the original balustrade) still intact, the Eagle has been struggling against long odds this last decade to remain standing. So laden with the silent voices of past pioneers and important to the history of this part of the state is it that it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places (see picture below, taken after the fire of 1990) and has been nominated for 2002’s 10 Most Endangered Buildings in Illinois. But without a benefactor to come to the building’s aid, the Eagle would have in all probability become but a notation with pictures in the history books, rather than the living, breathing icon of the earliest settlers’ efforts and lives it struggles to remain.

It was at this precarious stage in the building’s history that we first discovered the Eagle Hotel, in April of 2001. The ensuing months have been spent working to save this historic treasure and return it to its place of prominence. To highlight the historical significance of the Eagle Hotel, and to fill a most urgent need for historical lodging, particularly in northeastern Illinois along the various Heritage Corridors, it seemed the obvious highest and best use for the property was to return it to its place as an historic lodging and dining establishment. Through sensitive preservation, the Eagle will be resurrected as a magical historic inn, offering guests the true feel of its historic charm (see architect’s rendering at the top of this page for a glimpse of the future Eagle).

The Historic Eagle Inn & Restaurant will feature ten finely-appointed rooms, each with private bath, as well as a reading room and common area, a stone-walled meeting room with the original cooking hearth and crane preserved, and a tranquil garden courtyard. A meticulous attention to detail and a quiet setting will culminate to provide atmosphere guests will find upscale without any pretention. The facilities will also feature a restaurant and bar, offering a dining experience to match the essence of the inn, and serving Midwestern cuisine, but with a decidedly French bent. Featuring a menu which will change with the seasons, but priced competitively, the restaurant will offer guests something simply not available in the area… yet.

Situated in the southwestern corner of Will County, the Eagle is surrounded by an area rich with a bounty of recreational activities and land set aside for that use, including five state parks, several state DNR recreation areas, the Historic Illinois and Michigan Canal Corridor, and the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Park, all within just a few minutes’ drive of the Eagle! Guests will find some of Illinois’ best hunting and fishing, as well as abundant opportunities for naturalists, hikers, cyclists, and much more. The Eagle is also the oldest hotel on all of Historic Route 66, and but a scant eleven miles from the Chicagoland Speedway, and only eighteen miles from the hugely successful casinos of downtown Joliet. In this sleepy town, just a short drive outside the Chicagoland area, lies a perfect opportunity to escape the melee of the city to a quiet retreat and experience some of nature’s beauty, from the comfortable lodging of the Historic Eagle Inn & Restaurant.

First, however, the building must be rehabilitated, and thereby saved from the nasty bite of the bulldozer’s blade. Construction plans for the renovation are in place, and contractors aligned. Interior design, ad layouts, a sampling of menus to be used in the restaurant, and much more are also finished. Having raised working capital to be used once the inn and restaurant are opened, and just recently completed negotiations with the City of Wilmington, we are now working to align the funding required to complete the physical rehabilitation of the property, the last hurdle to be crossed before renovation can begin.

Thank you very much for your interest in the Eagle and our plans to preserve its heritage. While adding to its already rich history, rehabilitation of the Eagle will assure that this historic treasure will once again assume the rightful place of prominence it so surely deserves. With time and dedication, we will help the Eagle soar again!

Please check back often for updates on the project as we near opening…
Thanking you again for your interest, I am,

Bill Scales