With nearly 7,000 acres of pristine countryside, Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa is a one-of-a-kind Midwest destination, located just outside the historic Galena, Ill., in The Galena Territory. This golf and spa resort is an ideal spot for a family vacation, a trip away with friends or a romantic getaway with your partner.
The resort recently welcomed new ownership in 2019, when local Mark Klausner purchased the resort. Since then, there has been a steady pace of improvements made to the property, including a new restaurant and a soon-to-open wellness destination spa. This scenic resort has amenities that the whole family will enjoy, including four beautiful golf courses, and has 80 guest rooms and over 100 rental homes and villas.
Eagle Ridge Resort is home to four immaculate golf courses; in fact, it has received a number of awards in the past few years, including The Stella Award in 2019 and 2021 and was voted the best golf resort in the Midwest. The four unique courses include–North, South, East and The General–totaling 63 holes of championship golf. The rolling hills of the courses are a draw to any and all golf enthusiasts. The courses open for the season between March and May (weather permitting) with different packages that guests can choose from during their stay. The oldest one, the North Course, was opened in July 1977, with The General being the most recent to open in May 1997 and celebrating 25 years this year.
During your stay at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, you will never be short of activities (even if you don’t golf). There are over 23 miles of hiking and biking trails to allow guests to get out and enjoy the beauty the property has to offer. If you’re a water enthusiast, Eagle Ridge has many options for you. Guests of the resort can partake in complimentary paddle boats, kayaks and canoe rentals. Pontoon boats are also available for an additional fee. There is also access to an indoor pool, fitness center, game room and business center. For the kids, there is a playground on the property, movie nights at the indoor pool and campfires and s’mores, to name just a few of the family-friendly activities. (Be sure to check with the front desk for resort activities during your stay.)
Other amenities of note: Many of the rental homes and rooms at the resort include a wood fireplace with complimentary firewood for enjoying a cozy night in. And due of the size of the property, there is also a complimentary 24-hour shuttle service throughout the resort, as well as a daily shuttle service that will transport guests into Downtown Galena and back to Eagle Ridge.
The resort is home to several restaurants and bars, with one of the newest additions to the property being the Highlands Restaurant and Lounge 289 complex. This new restaurant and lounge are located on The General Golf Course, which makes it perfect for golfers to grab lunch, dinner or drinks while they enjoy a round of golf. Highlands has a breathtaking view of The General with a patio to take in the nice weather. There is also a new golf pro shop and Country Store that is reminiscent to a small grocery store for guests to grab snacks, drinks or anything else they may need during their stay. Woodlands Restaurant has a breakfast buffet each morning for guests to start their day off right. Woodlands Lounge, a bar adjacent to Woodlands Restaurant, opens in the evening for guests. Enjoy a beverage or two and order a pizza. Best of all, Woodlands has a beautiful view of the lake side of the property.
Stonedrift Spa promotes relaxation and rejuvenation for guests. There are nearly 90 different services available at Stonedrift spa, including gentleman’s treatments, junior spa treatments (for those 12 to 17 in age) and mother-to-be treatments. Once you are greeted and checked in by a friendly member of the staff, you are taken to the locker rooms to undress to your comfort and change into a robe. From there, you are whisked back to the relaxation room where you can enjoy complimentary beverages and snacks while you wait for your service. There is a building currently under construction where the Stonedrift Spa will move to later this fall upon completion and will feature over 12,000 square feet, 13 treatment rooms, two halotherapy salt units, bridal studio, and numerous luxury services available.
Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa can also accommodate large weddings, meetings, and team-building activities for professional development. A recent addition to its wedding venue has now allowed weddings for over 250 guests. This new deck, Point Patio overlooks Lake Galena, which makes for picturesque wedding photos.
When staying at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, you will want to take time to explore and enjoy Galena. Downtown Galena has the charming and quaint feel that you will find in a historic town. There are many shops, bars and restaurants to enjoy while you discover the downtown area. Fun fact: many scenes of the “Field of Dreams” movie were shot in Downtown Galena! A few other must-dos are the Thunder Bay Falls for spectacular sightseeing; Shenandoah Riding Center for a horseback ride; and the Hoof-It Galena, a goat trek experience where you will take a trek in the woods, while a group of goats follow along and enjoy hand-fed treats.
For more information on Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa or to book your stay, visit eagleridge.com.