Photo 36-LLA-18

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The Rustic Manor

Before the Great America theme park and the Gurnee Mills shopping mall, it was the Rustic Manor restaurant that put Gurnee on the map. Located on the corner of Grand Ave. and Kilbourne Rd. the log cabin style Rustic Manor started as a tavern between 1945 and 1947 by Victor Trybom (1895-1981) and Marian (Kotarski) Trybom (1903-1991). Almost directly behind the restaurant was the Mother Rudd House. Over the decades, the Tryboms added to the size of their restaurant which eventually became a spawling sized structure. The Tryboms used the Native American and Western theme which drew in customers, sometimes by the busloads, to enjoy the antiques, decorations and water falls. In 1986, the Des Plaines River overflowed its banks and flooded the restaurant. When renovations were completed after the flood, a fire broke not long after their reopening in 1987 severely damaging the building. The Rustic Manor was closed for good. The 4-acre property was donated to the Village of Gurnee and in 1995 a new park was created and named "Esper A. Petersen Foundation Park".

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