Date: Saturday, September 27th
Rain Date: Sunday, September 28th
Location of Event: Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva, IL (directions below)
Time of Event: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Fabyan Forest Preserve was once part of the large country estate of George and Nelle Fabyan. They came to the Fox River Valley in the early 1900's, and bought a farmhouse and ten acres south of Geneva on the west bank of the Fox. Over the following 20 years they acquired 300-plus acres and developed the property into a fabulous estate they called "Riverbank". After their deaths in 1936 and 1939, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County purchased 235 acres of the estate and created the preserve. The Fox River Bike Trail, which follows the Fox River, also runs through the Preserve, so it is an easy meander up or down river for fabulous river scenes.
The Villa, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, is now a museum dedicated to the history of Riverbank and the story of the Fabyans, and houses their varied collections, some furnishings, and many historic photographs.
The Japanese Garden has been partially restored and replanted, and is a fantastic subject for painting. On Saturday, there may be weddings going on at the garden. We have the Garden itself reserved from 3-5 pm on Saturday, September 27th, so make sure to bring your camera!
The Windmill, also a National Historic Place, was completely restored in 2003- 4. The Public Visiting Hours for the Japanese Garden are 1-4 pm on Sunday.
Website: http://www.ppfv.org/fabyan.html
Map: http://www.kaneforest.com/fp/map/Fabyan