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Van Doren Shaw’s stately ‘Thorndale Manor’ in Lake Forest returns with new price

Designed in 1916, the sprawling North Shore home features no less than 25 rooms

Photos by Griffith, Grant & Lackie/Estately

Afters years of hopping on and off the market, Lake Forest’s historic Thorndale Manor is back again with a new, lower asking price. Commissioned by railroad tycoon Darius Miller in 1916, the 25-room mansion was designed by renowned architect Howard Van Doren Shaw and originally stood on 19 acres. Though the Thorndale estate has since been subdivided into seven smaller lots, the original manor is still surrounded by six acres of well-maintained grounds featuring a large lawn, a pond, and gardens designed by Garfield Park landscape architect Jens Jensen.

The giant 10,000-square-foot home sports six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, five fireplaces, and multiple sunrooms and porches. While many of Van Doren Shaw’s trademark architectural detailing remains in good condition, the property has also seen a number of tasteful updates. Recent additions include an updated kitchen, central A/C, refinished hardwood floors, and a four-car garage. The stately home was asking $3.6 million back in 2015. It returns today for a cool $2.7 million