The grounds here are beautifully maintained with perfectly cut lawns, plenty of flowers, and interesting sculptures throughout. The Portincula chapel is beautiful on the outside, with a colorful stone mosiac and the peabody estate features tutor revival style architecture. read more

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The Mayslake Peabody Estate is a nice area to walk around and learn. My husband and I went when the buildings were closed but wanted to stretch our legs before going to our next event. This is part of a forest preserve with different walking trails you can take. The buildings are nice and I suggest going when they are open and you can go on a tour. read more

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This gem of a property represents what life must have been like for the "Rich and Famous" back in the day. Beautifully restored and very well maintained, the estate and grounds are well worth a visit. Tours are offered, and the docents can add interesting insights about the history of the property and its first owners. It would be a one of a kind experience to reserve the mansion for a special private event, party, or even small wedding/reception. read more

Super cool venue! We went to a play at the First Folio Theatre at Peabody Estate, We were able to check out the house at intermission. Impressive is an understatement! Great detail, spacious estate rooms. Can't wait to get back on a summers night to check out the grounds. read more

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I like this venue very much both for the programming it provides and the convenience of the location. The history of this estate is fascinating and it's so exciting to see this space continuing to thrive with present-day audiences. They really do a fabulous job with programming and it's never difficult to get there or find a place to park. Beautiful, serene atmosphere. read more

If you live in the Western burbs- you know about the Peabody estate as it was always rumored to haunted which entertained kids for generations of ghost stories. Empty for years- it has now been taken over by the park district who is working to restore this lovely old home and grounds. A bit of history. Francis Peabody (the original owner) made his money in coal. And like many well to do Chicagoans, he wanted a country house worthy of a man of his stature. Mayslake is done in the Tudor Revival style and is fashioned after a 15th century house in Warwickshire, England. It originally sat on 848 acres, has 39 rooms and cost a whopping $750,000 to build in 1921. Back in the day- this estate was the site for drag hunts (where a scent is dragged for the hounds to follow but no animals are killed) and elaborate parties for the elite of Chicago. Want a little more Chicago trivia? The firm that designed and built Mayslake (Marshall and Fox) also did the Drake hotel and the Blackstone hotel. So they were well acquainted with the opulence of the time. The really sad news? Peabody finished the house in 1921 but unfortunately died in 1922 (heart attack at a drag hunt) so the house was back on the market for a little under $2 million. They couldn't sell it, so the Franciscans (a Catholic order) bought it two years later for the bargain price of $450,000. Fast forward to today. Much of the land was sold off over the years for subdivisions in the area and in the 90's, the Franciscans wanted to sell the remainder to another developer who was going to tear it down and build 130 new homes. At that point- historians from around the area stepped in and the Du Page Forest Preserve bought the land and buildings for $17.5 million to save the house and restore it to it's original grandeur. The property today is used for weddings and other functions (I attended an art show there recently) The house has a long way to go to be totally renovated but the grand hall is done as is the living room and the chapel that make for a lovely setting. And the prices to rent the space are about half of what you would find at other venues. Plus- you know that your rental is helping to restore the grounds and house. You can also take guided tours of the house and grounds for about $5 (times are posted on their website) The grounds have hiking trails, a dog park, and a large lake that is stocked for people to fish on. There is also a small chapel, and an outdoor stage. I love that this bit of Chicago history was able to be saved. I marvel at the craftsmanship that is evident everywhere you look. And that future generations will also be able to enjoy this snapshot into the way things were back in the early 20th century. read more

I had my wedding here. Amazing locale- gorgeous spot to get married! We had the ceremony in front of the chapel and the reception inside the mansion. If you are looking for a very unique and gorgeous place to get married, check this place out! Pretty affordable too (compared to most, esp. in the city!) read more

Mayslake Peabody Estate - Dancing in the library. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

My husband and I had an amazing wedding at Mayslake Peabody Estate. We had our wedding in the chapel and the reception at the mansion. Sherry the event planner was wonderful through the whole wedding planning process. She is low key and relaxed but still on top of things and professional. The wedding itself was wonderful. The chapel at sunset was breathtaking. And the ceremony inside was intimate and very romantic. The reception in the mansion was beautiful too, We had candles every where and everyone was enchanted by the location. I had so many guests ask how we found this location and a lot of them wanted to come back to some of the cultural events. There are so many wonderful photo ops for photography from the Italian style chapel, giant weeping willows, mansion, the lake, spiral staircase and wildflower fields. We took alot of pics under the weeping willows and they were amazing and so romantic. Sherry was very sweet and tracked us down before our shuttle left Mayslake to wish my husband and I the best and thank us for having our wedding there. She also sent a nice letter to us after a few weeks with our full deposit and again thanking us for choosing Mayslake. Our experience was amazing and I can't wait to go back to experience some of the events or to volunteer. read more

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Took the "restoration in progress" mansion tour here. Our guide was Linda, who knew a shit ton of historical info about the estate and the Peabodys. If you like old buildings, you will enjoy this, although no furniture is present in 99% of the living areas. The front entryway with opulent dark walnut(?) staircase was particularly stunning. The basement is not included on the tour, but the first and second floors are covered. Tour takes about an hour, and was very well narrated as I earlier mentioned. 39 rooms...who could have such money?!! read more

Myself and a girlfriend attended a jewelry/art show at the estate, just prior to Christmas 2012. This is an amazing facility! I am SO glad the locals opted to save and refurbish this piece of history. Honestly, walking around the estate was more fun than the show and I plan to get in line with one of their tours to learn more about the history. My understanding is they hold weddings in this facility and I would love to attend one. To my engaged friends...Hint Hint read more

We just had our wedding and reception here and it was honestly the best place for us. Sherri was fantastic from start to finish. Nancy was also great to work with. It had everything we wanted for our wedding. Nature, elegance, a historic vintage feel, it was unique and I greatly appreciated having the Chapel so close to the reception. Only one wedding party per evening. The money goes to a good place. Guests didn't need to travel or have a gap of time to kill. So many of our guests were amazed with the Peabody Estate. It even exceeded our expectations. read more

Mayslake Peabody Estate - The Chapel on the Mayslake grounds. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Oak Brook, Illinois

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My husband and I had our wedding & reception at Mayslake this past September. Sherry was our coordinator and we couldn't have asked for anyone better. She gets things done and does a great job guiding you into receiving exactly the wedding you dreamed of. There was never any problems with the venue (it was only beautiful and photogenic) but when we did have a pretty big issue with our caterer Sherry took the reigns and got it settled for us. We had a small-ish wedding (70 people) and it was perfect - although it would have been just as comfortable with around 100-125. We danced like crazy and everyone had the best time. This venue has great warm feel to it and is very intimate while still providing space for everyone to be comfortable. read more

Another stop along the wedding venue search. According to the information I received ... The Chapel rents for $550 and seats 62 at the most. Depending on your choice of space for your reception, if it is not taking place in the Event Hall, then you may plan to hold your ceremony there for $750 for the 4 hour period with seating for up to 200. Same goes for the Library, with a rental rate of $550 with seating for approximately 100. A Chapel Grounds ceremony is $750 and includes up to 100 white garden chairs, with additional chairs (up to 130 max) available for $3 each. For receptions, the Event Hall will accommodate 120 guests on the main floor plus a head table (up to 20 guests) on the stage, for a plated dinner, with space for a dance floor. The rate for this space is $1250 for the 4 hours. An additional hour is available for $175. They didn't make the list because the space has no air condition. Cant get married in Chicago with no AC. Oh well... I will keep looking! read more

Hell ya Peabody! You scared me half to death when I was a youngin' but now I enjoy this place. It was or is still known as peabodys tomb and some kids like to say it haunted.When I was younger just driving past the entrance sign would scare me hehe! I know what a nerd but my brothers were older and mean and liked to tell me stories, damn them! Anyways, This place is so cool and beautiful. Its located in Oakbrook and is part of the forest preserve.On the grounds is a gorgeous mansion that you can take a tour of. If you are into architecture or restoration you would love this tour! You can also volunteer to be a gardener or help in the restoration of the mansion. If you have talent in these areas give em a call. There is a stage built on the grounds, that they put on plays at in the summer. I've never been to one but Ive seen the stage and I bet its pretty cool and a fun activity in the summer time. You can also tour the gardens or walk the trails.Dogs are welcome and one of trails takes you to a dog park.Bonus! read more

A beautiful venue for a wedding! I know, because I went to one here last weekend :) My friends got hitched at a church close by, and had a 4 hour reception at Mayslake following. It was lovely - so many rooms for people to go in and mingle, and an idyllic setting outside for drinks and chatting by the pond (although there were a lot of mosquitoes, but that isn't the fault of the estate I suppose!). Minus one star for not being in tip-top shape; I noticed quite a bit of peeling paint on the walls in many rooms. Other than that, I appreciated the uniqueness of this kind of setting for a wedding party. It easily accommodated the 200 - 250 guests who were in attendance. read more

My husband and I celebrated our wedding ceremony at the Mayslake Event Hall. The ceremony was perfect. Sherry and Sam, the event coordinators, are wonderful people to work with. The mansion is beautiful. What a great place for pictures! Not only is Peasbody a beautiful place, it is also very historical. I definitely would like to go back for their theater events. Thanks, Sherry and Sam for making our wedding so special!!!! :) read more

Where have all the negative reviews gone? I seem to remember last time I came to yelp to see reviews of this place, I saw a lot of bad ratings, and especially comments about how unhelpful Sherry was. But since they're all gone now, I guess I'll write my review because I had my wedding reception here. Based on the grounds, this place is 5 stars. It's beautiful, cheap, and fun. My guests loved it and my wedding day was perfect here! Based on how easy it is to work with Sherry, one (or zero) stars! Sherry never returns calls, never is in her office, can't remember what she tells people, and likes to take a tone with people. We asked how many people we could have at the receptions, since she said approx 156 ppl fit. What was the *real* maximum she gave us? On one occasion she said 196 would be OK, another time 182, another time not one person over 156, and finally she settled on 172. Now, if that doesn't cause a nightmare for planning a wedding when you've over - invited because your wedding coordinator allowed you to do so several months prior, I don't know what does! On the day of my wedding, she was wearing pants (hardly appropriate attire) but fortunately left before anything really got started (??!??). As an aside, my caterer also told me that she was hard to work with. So I guess this place gets 3 stars, since at the end of the day, I refuse to let a sour attitude rain on my parade. read more

beautiful location * very helpful staff a great choice for a smaller event I would highly recommend this property. read more

Last June my husband and I got married at this very special place. We had our ceremony outside the chapel and the reception in Mayslake Hall. This venue (part of the Dupage County Forest Preserve) is quite beautiful with all of its big trees and beautiful gardens. The rental rate is a great bang for the buck (and your money is going to the restoration of a historic building)!!! Our guests couldn't say enough about the place. Really a hidden gem!!! read more

I was there about a month ago to watch the merchant of venice at the first folio theatre, the wooden stage just yards from the Peabody mansion...I was using public transport, the Metra and myself mainly for transport....I found myself walking around the underbrush and over the highway on a rainy evening and was just about done with the lack lof light, cold and the rain. But I thought I was already pretty miserable and should just get on with it anyway and I called the theatre for directions.....I think I got lost a little too......when I told them where I was and that I was on foot, David, their bossman immediately jumped up and came to get me in his own car.....good man...and also dropped me off at the Metra station after the play...he also gave me a blanket and coffee for free during the play.....I must mention that I also had to reschedule my visit and they were very accomodating with my ticket and which is why I had made that journey in the first place.....I have seldom seen such customer service and care shown to fellas like me who know little better than to tramp around the suburbs without a car.... I'd definitely go back and am ever so grateful for the kindness shown to me. Thanks First Folio theatre! They have indoor performances too or so I learnt, during the winter...but the summer time evening plays ar something different altogether... Hari Rao read more

We had our wedding ceremony at Mayslake and it was absolutely beautiful! The mansion is insanely gorgeous, such a great back drop for our special day and our guests and photographers just raved about how beautiful it was. Sherry was a pleasure to work with and was very helpful throughout the entire process. We couldn't have asked for a better or smoother experience for our wedding ceremony. read more

As a non-native to the Chicago area, I was surprised to find that a place like the Peabody mansion existed. I attended a wedding here and was truly impressed with not only the building and grounds, but the incredible service provided by the staff and employees. They setting was great, and the team there made the experience even more memorable. read more

Thanks to Sherry, Event Manager, for helping us plan an amazing rehearsal dinner last weekend. All of our family and guests loved the venue. The upstairs tour option was enjoyed by everyone who took it. Mike Elmhurst read more

I had my wedding at Mayslake. They were supper accomodating in letting me use the chapel space as I wanted to make my day perfect. The setting and grounds are lovely and at a great prize. My biggest complaint was that once in the parking lot, guests did not know which way to go. Many went to the estate and not to the chapel. There needs to be signs directing folks to the the wedding chapel. And it would be nice to have a little space for the bride to wait as guests arrive. read more

I recently rented a room at Mayslake Peabody Estates for a company meeting. I have nothing but great things to say about the property and the staff. They were great and totally flexible with my schedule. After a date was set for my meeting, due to unforeseen circumstances, it had to be changed three different times. As busy as Sherry was, she always found time to get back to me and was very accommodating and patient. Sherry sent me detailed information as to the restaurants that have delivered to Mayslake in the past. This helped me make my decision in choosing a caterer for lunch. I chose one of the restaurants she recommended and everyone was extremely happy with their meal. When I arrived early, Mark met me outside and helped me unload my car, along with helping me set up my equipment. He stayed with me until the meeting started to make sure I had everything I needed and even gave me a quick tour before I left. Beautiful property and great staff made my experience a success. Thanks to the Mayslake Staff! read more

We had our wedding ceremony and reception at Mayslake Peabody Estate on August 11, 2019, and everything was absolutely PERFECT in every way! I had called a number of different venues when we were first deciding where to have the wedding. In my first conversation with Sherry Brookes, the Public Program Coordinator, I knew that Mayslake was the place for us! Sherry is very professional, organized, and friendly, and she made all of the planning stages easy and fun. She was always accessible and flexible in working with us. The list of vendors that Sherry gave us was very helpful in selecting a caterer for our reception, and we really appreciated Sherry's expertise and helpful suggestions based on past weddings that had been held at Mayslake. We were initially planning to have an outdoor wedding, but several weeks before the ceremony, we decided to move the wedding inside. That was not a problem for Sherry and the Mayslake staff, and we even got a refund because the charge for an indoor wedding is less! Sherry made sure to be at the rehearsal so that every detail of the wedding and reception could be reviewed. The Mayslake staff graciously accommodated all of our requests and treated us like royalty! On the day of the wedding, everything was PERFECT! Many of our guests commented on what a beautiful and unique venue we had chosen. We had about 65 guests, and it felt like we had the mansion and grounds all to ourself! The library was beautiful for our wedding ceremony and for dancing during the reception. And the table set-up in the adjoining living room and dining room was lovely and intimate for the buffet meal. The lovely grounds outside provided many photo opportunities for us and for our guests. Our guests also enjoyed looking at the paintings in the art exhibit that was there. In addition to being a wonderful venue inside and out, the cost for Mayslake was cheaper than the other venues I called, and we had use of the venue for a longer time! My husband and I are so happy the we chose Mayslake Peabody Estate for our special day, and we highly recommend it for any event you may be planning! read more

I have notice that most of the reviews here have been from guests point of view. And don't get me wrong. This place is beautiful and our wedding was gorgeous. My husband and I had our wedding at Mayslake just a few weeks ago. While it is a gorgeous venue, we had a horrible experience with the staff. Sherry, the event planner, was really nice and accommodating up to the day of our wedding. The day of the wedding she was such a B**. I really don't like saying that about people and I wasn't a Bridezilla. I am one of the most easy going people you could ever meet and to treat us the way they did on our wedding day was horrible. It was pouring rain when we had to make a decision about having the ceremony inside or out so I chose inside, with the possibility of having guests stand if it got nice out and they couldn't put up chairs. Within an hour (and an hour left until the ceremony) it was beautiful and sunny. However, they wouldn't put up chairs outside anymore because they had sent the staff home. We even offered to do it ourselves and she laughed at us and told us no. This didn't bother us to much (except the part where she cackled), but she wouldn't even let us have chairs for our Grandparents and other elderly family members! Two of which can barely walk! One of our ushers had to beg and eventually just started pulling chairs outside himself for the elderly attendants. She was also very rude when we wanted to move some tables around last minutes because of the rain and she yelled at some our guests for being in the way. Our DJ mentioned that she was a total B* and I don't even know what happened between them. I also saw her yelling at some of the catering staff about leaning stuff against the walls. When she called a few days later to see how the night went (she left early and someone else took over) she told us our deposit check was in the mail. She flat out lied to us. Three days later, our deposit was withdrawn from our account (causing a myriad of overdraft fees and late payments for us). When I called to check on what had happened, she wouldn't return my phone calls and when she finally did she wouldn't even talk to me and directed me to someone else. Turns out they cashed the check because there was a damaged door knob, which apparently happened at our wedding. Although I still don't believe this was caused by our guests, if it was, I wouldn't have minded forfeiting the deposit. But she flat out lied to us and told us we were getting our money back! I didn't appreciate that too much. It still makes me angry to think about what a B she is. I would love to recommend this place, being and archaeologist and historian; however, I just can't given the crappy service. read more

My Fiancé and I were planning on having our wedding ceremony at PeaBody Estate. We called and emailed numerous times starting just less than 18 months from our wedding date to setup an appointment. Sherry is the event coordinator there. She is out of the office and unavailable more often then she is in. No one else would give us information, let us book a room or even setup an appointment. They said it had to be Sherry. When we finally got a hold of her we informed her of the date we wanted our wedding and she then emailed us ALL the available dates for the room we were interested in. We immediately told her what date (again) and that we'd be in AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to see the room in person and pay the deposit (which she said paying then was fine). She told us the room was on hold for US and that the next available date for her was 10 days away, even though we offered to take off work to meet her at any time. Somehow between the times we emailed, spoke and were waiting for our appointment, which again was 10 days away because that was the earliest for her. Someone else booked over us!!! How is that possible when we spoke with her the date and room was on hold for US until our appointment at her earliest convenience, yet again 10 days away! The worst part about it was she never even contacted us about it. We called the morning of our appointment because the drive was at least an hour for us. She informed us someone else booked over us for our date/room and then started listing other available dates. She didn't even seem to care or apologize for her mistake. What HORRIBLE service and why would we change our date to get married there after that experience? How is a room and date on hold for you but yet someone else can book over you while you wait for your appointment? I have heard from others that had events there Sherry is horrible to work with. Brides beware!!! In the end I'm glad we dodged a bullet and ended up NOT working with Sherry. I would have been more upset if our wedding day was messed up. However, I gave Peabody Estate 2 stars only because the grounds are beautiful and if you're willing/able to deal with someone like Sherry then go for it, your wedding will be beautiful. read more

Not too long ago I attended a concert presented by the Chicago Gay Mens Chorus. It was their spring Diva concert. It was the first time I had been to the Estate but had heard a lot about it. Well, the concert was great, the staff was extremely helpful in getting around, and the whole experience was fun. One of the staff even took the time to explain the story of how the estate came to be and about the renovations that were taking place. I volunteer with a nonprofit and we are thinking of what type of event we could hold there. I also hope to take the tour of the grounds one of these days. read more

We just had our wedding at the Peabody Estate! I have to say we had a great time! Our overall experience was pretty good! Sara was great to work with! She was so nice and helpful! She made the whole day easy! The other people who work there are nice, but communication isn't always there. But ask for Sara to help you and you will be in good shape! The Estate is beautiful and for any event it is a perfect place! read more

I teach creative writing classes at the Mayslake Peabody Estate. The grounds and buildings are wonderful--so conducive to creativity. And the staff is extremely helpful and friendly. It's also conveniently located for my students, who come from throughout the Chicago area. I recommend it to other teachers looking for interesting class venues. read more

First rate staff. Couldn't have been more helpful. I have planned and participated in numerous events at Mayslake Hall and could not be happier with Sherry and the rest of the folks there. Not sure what Jennifer H. is talking about. read more