Lake Forest 'Polohouse' Offers Comfort In Historic Space

LAKE FOREST, IL — A former polo barn steeped in Lake Forest history and converted to single family home can be yours for $1.7 million. Known as "The Polohouse," it sits on nearly 1.5 acres on Polo Drive, its namesake street, according to the home's Realtor.com listing.

Lake Forest was once one of the top polo hotspots in the country, winning notoriety as after a wild 1933 match between teams from New York and Texas. It was remembered as the northeastern establishment versus Western cowboys, the founder of the Chicago Polo Club, the late Dick Tauber, said in a 1998 report.

"One player was knocked out, another broke his leg and one man was served with paternity papers during the game," before the West ended up winning two of the three games played Onwentsia County Club before crowds of 15,000. The legendary game ended up solidifying Lake Forest's place in polo lore.

Built as a 20-acre farm by the Carney family of Lake Forest, the property was known as Evergrove Farm and has most been maintained for the past 14 years by current owners Alison Sherman, an interior decorator, and her husband Harry, according to a 2017 Daily North Shore report.

Historically the home would host "lively" dinner parties and was rumored to have a special guest room upstairs for those to tipsy to make it home.

A portion of one of the clubs where the Kennedy family and other socialites would practice polo while in town has been converted into the home at 1125 Polo Drive, according to listing agent Maureen O’Grady-Tuohy.

The home, she said, has old-world charm mixed with modern updates — showing it's possible to mix comfortable living with a historic space.

Formerly a polo barn, stables and living quarters for caretakers, the home was built in 1939 by Ralph Millman, who also designed the Gorton Community Center and many other stately North Shore homes, and converted in 1974 to a family home.

» Check Out More Photos Of The 'Polohouse' At Realtor.com

The 6,300-square-foot six-bedroom home has three and a half baths. According to O'Grady Tuohy, the home's original cedar paneling remains intact, the renovated kitchen has a gorgeous island and the decor aligns perfectly with the home's "classic equestrian style."

Check out the two-story living room windows and the exposed barn beams and high ceilings in a second family room.

There's as master suite, formerly a hayloft, with vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors, featuring large closets and an updated bathroom. The three and a half bathroom home has been completely updated since it was converted to a single family home, according to the listing.

» Check Out More Photos Of The 'Polohouse' At Realtor.com

The 13-room home a single interior wood-burning fireplace, a five car garage and an extra game room.

Located just north of Old Elm Road beside the North Branch of the Chicago River, the home was last sold in 2003 for $1.17 million. It was listed last June for $1.65 million.

Check out the property from the air in this drone video:

• Address: 1125 Polo Dr, Lake Forest, Illinois
• Price: $1,650,000
• Square Feet: 6300
• Bedrooms: 6
• Bathrooms: 3 Full and 1 Half Baths
• Built: 1939

This listing originally appeared on realtor.com. For more information and photos, click here.