Candlewick Lake

Boone County, Illinois

Candlewick Lake is a private, human-made 210-acre lake ripe for fishing and water skiing outside of Rockford, Illinois. Downtown Chicago is under two hours away.

It’s surrounded by a gated community with a nine-hole golf club, community pool, beach on the southern shore, recreation center, emergency rescue squad, parks, walking trails, and tennis courts as well as a few restaurants.

If that isn’t enough to sell you on the lake, the homeowners association provides 24-hour security and rowboats are available to rent.

Anglers at the lake can expect to catch northern pike, catfish, crappie, bluegill, perch, and bass. The lake freezes in the winter, which makes it an ideal location for ice fishing.

The lake is 15 minutes from Bea Hospital and 30 minutes from Chicago Rockford International Airport.

Nearby Outdoors

The Rock Cut State Park is not far from the lake and includes 3,092 acres and two lakes for swimming, boating, and fishing. The park also offers several miles of trails that are prepared for cross-country skiing. A part of the park is open for deer and turkey hunting in season.

Dining Highlights

At Bravo’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant, customers can order authentic Italian cuisine. The restaurant is praised for excellent service and delicious entrees.

Next door to Bravo’s is the Hydeout Bar and Grill, whose Bloody Marys are the locals’ drink of choice. Hydeout hosts themed nights as well as bingo and karaoke on occasion.

Explore Rockford

The nearby city of Rockford is the second-largest city of Illinois, following the city of Chicago.

Rockford is home to Six-Flags Hurricane Harbor, which just completed a new ride, the Tidal Wave, the Midwest’s first and only tailspin waterslide. Hurricane Harbor is also home to the Double Dare Drop, a seven-story waterslide, and the Tsunami Bay, a large wave pool.

Curious visitors can go to the Burpee Museum of Natural History, which has an internationally known paleontology department and champions the best-preserved juvenile T-Rex fossil in the world.

Shoppers in Rockford can find a unique variety of shops including over 30 antique retailers and over a dozen weekend shows and flea markets.

Rockford foodies love to eat at Beef-A-Roo, which is known for its great burgers, shakes, and cheese friends. If you’re looking for something a little more ethnic, try The Norwegian, which offers a variety of Scandinavian food.

Private Lake with Many Amenities

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent lake experience around a body of water with seemingly countless amenities, take a look at Candlewick Lake for your next lake home!