By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

What once was an overgrown campground has been transformed into a peaceful and perfect setting for weddings and other events.

Shadow Lake is surrounded by nature and is located at 27340 East 1350th St., 10 minutes north of Geneseo, off Illinois Rt. 92, and directly behind the Antique Engine and Tractor property. There are locked gates, and for a viewing of the property, appointments can be made. For more information, visit shadowlakevenue.com or email shadowlakevenue@gmail.com.

The 144-acre property, featuring a 90-acre lake is privately owned by Tom Wise, Henry Carius, Drew DeCap, Joe Ballegeer, RJ Carius, Brice Johnson and Jake Hancock.

The property was purchased by the group in 2022.

According to Tom and Tracey Wise, “The property was bought with the thought of using it as a wedding/event venue since there are not many outdoor venues right next to a lake in the QC area.”

Shadow Lake previously was a public campground with a private residence, and the Wise couple added, “When we purchased it you could hardly even see the water in the lake. It was so overgrown that we spent the first several months doing nothing but cleaning up the property. Then we took down a house and two fallen-down barns.”

In addition to taking down the house, multiple old sheds, as well as the old building for the campground, the “cleaning up” of the property included removing trees, overgrown brush and old fences.

“The road system has basically been redesigned and rebuilt and landscaping rock was added all around the lake,” Tom Wise said.

This year, 2024, is the first full year Shadow Lake has been open as a wedding venue and the owners decided to begin by providing a “nice golf course type tent for our venue with the possibility of building in the future. If we do build in the future, we would need to move dirt from other areas of the property to build it up so it is above the flood zone. The previous owners did not have issues with flooding since there is a pump by the river to help control the flow of water.”

The reception tent (see photos) seats 275 people and includes the use of tables and Chiavari chairs as well as access to the property for engagement and wedding photos.

“Everything would be set up and ready for decorating on the morning of the couple’s wedding,” Wise said. “Couples can use any licensed caterer, and we also have a great set up for food trucks. There is an arbor next to the lake that can be used for a wedding ceremony, and there is a fire pit that can be utilized during the reception, as well as when any outdoor games are played, that renters provide for their guests.”

The site has a train car that has been gutted and turned into men’s’ and women’s’ bathrooms, which are air conditioned and heated.