Ferris Bueller fans and real estate enthusiasts will have the chance to tour the historic estate of the late filmmaker John Hughes Jr. this spring.
The Lake Forest Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago announced Tuesday that Hughes’ 11,000-square-foot mansion will serve as the location of the 16th biennial Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens. Since 1985, the chapter has opened the doors of a historic Lake Forest home to the public every other year, raising more than $3 million for the Infant Welfare Society in the process.
Built in 1929, Hughes’ east Lake Forest home was designed by architect Edwin Hill Clark. He also designed the homes of many other prominent Lake Forest residents, as well as the Lake Forest Library, Ferry Hall, Grove School Campus, Plaza del Lago and the Lincoln Park and Brookfield zoos, according to the Lake Forest Preservation Society.
Before the home opens to the public for daily tours from April 25 through May 17, more than 30 designers and architects will complete an extensive renovation, the Infant Welfare Society reports. That includes a kitchen redesign, upgrades to multiple bathrooms and restoration of the grounds.
Located within a block of Lake Michigan, the Hughes home has seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms, four half baths, a library, office suite and three-car garage. Historic details include hardwood floors, millwork, wall paneling and wood-beamed ceilings, according to the Infant Welfare Society.
Beyond “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” Hughes is also famous for “Pretty in Pink,” “The Breakfast Club” and “Home Alone,” among other movies, many of which were filmed and set on the North Shore. He died of a heart attack in 2009 at age 59.
Hughes’ widow, Nancy, donated the English Tudor style home and surrounding two-acre property to Lake Forest Hospital in October 2014. Proceeds from the eventual sale of the home will support the $426 million renovation and expansion of the hospital.
During the showhouse, tours will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Tickets are $35 per person online and $40 per person at the door. A shuttle will be available from downtown Lake Forest, and special events and lectures by notable interior designers are also planned. Find out more information at www.lakeforestshowhouse.com.