Landscape attracting buyers to Prairie Woods

A wooded landscape with rolling terrain and mature trees is attracting buyers to Prairie Woods, 87 semi-custom homes in Island Lake.

Winding streets and plus-sized home sites nestle amid acres of ponds and wetlands.

Hills allow many homes to have look-out or walk-out basements. Some of the homes back up to a nature conservancy.

Within the 27 Arbor Series homes, buyers can choose from five plans with 3,220 to 3,825 square feet on approximately one-half acre lots.

Priced from the low $400,000s, the Arbor Series includes many upgrades as standard.

Buyers can have a three-car garage, full basement with ten-foot walls, nine-foot first-floor ceilings, brick and Hardiplank® siding facades, oak railings, ceramic tile or hardwood floors in the kitchen, solid surface countertops, oversized master bath with soaker tub and separate shower, Moen® chrome faucets, and a wood burning masonry fireplace.

One of the most popular homes is the Oxford, a 3,800-square-foot, four-bedroom, 2½-bath plan featuring a two-story entry foyer, two-story family room with fireplace flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows, and a study.

For single-level living the 2,200-square-foot Victoria is a ranch plan featuring a foyer leading into a 22-by-17-foot great room with floor-to-ceiling picture windows.

The community will have 29 acres of open space, and a park with a playground close to a large pond.

Island Lake has fishing and boating facilities and a swimming pool, as well as five beaches. Moraine Hills State Park is less than a mile away.

To reach Prairie Woods from Rand Road and Route 176, go west on Route 176 for 1½ miles, then north on Darrell for 2½ miles, then left on Dowell for three-quarters of a mile to the entrance on the left side. The sales center is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For information, call Kenneth James Builders at (815) 759-9898.