The Dole

The Dole mansion was built in Crystal Lake, Illinois, in 1865 and has since evolved into one of the area’s most significant historic buildings. The Victorian-era Italianate was constructed using all local materials, though it has been modified over the years. Some efforts have involved restoring the Dole to its original state. At the same time, other modifications have brought about greater change, such as converting the former bedrooms into residency studios for local creatives. The home and the surrounding 1,000 acres, known as Lakeland Farms, have influenced local commerce for decades, including original owner Charles Sidney Dole’s lucrative ice business, Crystal Ice Company.

Today, Lakeland Farms is home to the Farmers Market+ At The Dole, voted the top farmers market in Illinois in 2021 and 2022. The market is one of many special and annual events hosted by the Lakeside Legacy Foundation, a non-profit that has managed the mansion and surrounding grounds since 2002. The foundation operates to preserve the mansion, the 12-acre waterfront property, and several additional Lakeside buildings.