Viking school and Viking House Gurnee

Located on Old Grand Ave. (originally Grand Ave.) to the right of Viking Junior High School was the home of the Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL) and provided appropriate education for children with disabilities. The Independent Order of Vikings of Chicago, in 1912, purchased this 42 acre estate from David Beidler. The Vikings ran a nursing home from 1925-1967 for the Swedish-American retirees in this building. The property included an "elegant manor house", which was converted to their clubhouse and hotel, a guest house for a caretaker and an outside open dance hall. The facility was used as a retirement home for 37 years. Then in 1968 the Village of Gurnee purchased the Viking property from the Independent Order of Vikings Valhalla Assoc. Gurnee Park District was officially created in 1968 and in 1971 the park district purchased 29 acres of the Viking Park property. The large house was razed in 1973 because of the poor condition. SEDOL moved in 1995 to Gages Lake, vacating the brick building. Because of flooding issues, the Gurnee School District purchased the adjoining land and red brick building in 1996 for additional space of Viking Junior High. The SEDOL building was razed along with the Viking Junior High building and a new school building was erected.