Lincoln Way Inn

Lincoln Way Stay is a destination property set on 110 acres of prairie, wetlands, and apple orchard in Franklin Grove, Illinois, 80 miles west of Chicago and three miles from the Nature Conservancy's Nachusa Grasslands. The 1912 main house was opened to guests in 2015 and reimagined in 2024 as a fully private retreat centered on the Carriage House Loft and King Suite — a stand-alone building offering a private entrance, heated indoor parking, a full kitchen, a spacious living room, and a king suite with an electric fireplace and Jacuzzi tub. The grounds reflect the owners' deep connection to the natural landscape: a certified National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat water garden with a koi pond, fountain, and flowing creek sits just outside the Carriage House alongside a yoga lawn, fireside pagoda, cedar sauna, and outdoor fireplace. The property has hosted weddings, intimate gatherings, and private celebrations in these outdoor spaces, drawing couples and groups who value seclusion, natural beauty, and a countryside setting that is rare this close to Chicago.