Fish Lake Beach is one of the largest, privately owned campgrounds in Illinois, with over 500 seasonal sites occupying the majority of the 113-acre property along with 60 overnight campsites.
Purchased in 1939 by Alfred (Al) Keil while his wife, Emilie, and daughter, Yvonne, were visiting relatives in Switzerland. Al, a butcher, eagerly awaited their return to show them the new business, Fish Lake Beach a “fishing camp”.
Emilie felt she knew the property he raved about and proclaimed “I hope it’s not that godforsaken Fish Lake!” ……(It was!)
Emilie moved herself and Yvonne, aged nine, from their comfortable city apartment to an old house on the Fish Lake property to help run the business full-time. Al stayed in the city during the week at his butcher shop and traveled to Fish Lake in Volo, Illinois on weekends to assist the “other” family business.
Yvonne went to college in Valparaiso, where she met and married her husband Del. While Yvonne and Del began their careers as teachers, they eventually decided to devote all of their time and energy to the family business, Fish Lake Beach.
As owners of Fish Lake Beach and stewards of the land on which it resides, our family is humbly aware that our resort is a “home away from home” for generations of families, including our own.
We’re grateful for Grandpa Al’s decision to buy Fish Lake and realizing an enduring vision through the hard work, ingenuity, and perseverance of him, Emilie, Yvonne, and Del.
Over the years, Fish Lake Beach’s original concept of wholesome family fun is as simple and relevant today as it was in 1929. More than just a campground, Fish Lake Beach is an affordable and serene place to create family memories filled with love, laughter, and togetherness.
As always, we wish you were here.
Your Fish Lake Beach Family
32223 N. US Highway 12
Volo, IL 60073
Get Directions
(847) 546-2228
camping@fishlakebeach.com
