About Us
The Woodlands of Darien (WoD) is located east of Cass Avenue and south of 67th Street in Darien, Illinois, approximately 45 minutes from downtown Chicago. It was once a Christmas tree farm. In the late 1980s its developer, Robert C. Ranquist, a Chicago builder, was chosen “Builder of the Year” for his high-quality work on the Woodlands. Thanks to Ranquist, this beautiful and unique suburb won 2 design awards. According to the Chicago Tribune, he said that the secret to the design of the Woodlands was to “bring the outside, in,” because “when you enter the front door, you look right through the unit and out into the woods”; “the landscaping is our forte in The Woodlands of Darien.”
The WoD has the convenience of being located among 13 different community parks which offer a variety of baseball diamonds, swimming pools, picnic sites, playgrounds, fishing areas, ice skating rinks, as well as bike and hiking trails. Just a few minutes away is the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve. This is a 2,503-acre park for hikers, walkers, runners, and bikers, and those who wish to enjoy the sights and sounds of tiered waterfalls.
The neighborhood schools include Mark Delay Elementary (K-2), Lace Elementary (3- 5), Eisenhower Junior High School, and Hinsdale South High School.
Public transportation is located just off Cass Avenue in front of our beautiful fountain and pond. This transportation can take you to the Metra Westmont Station or to other destinations. O’Hare and Midway International Airports are only a half hour drive. Major interstates like I-55, I-355, and I-290 are just minutes away.
In a nutshell, this briefly sums up our award-winning subdivision, but you really need to see it in person. People are always amazed that such beautiful neighborhoods like ours still exist. It is no wonder that the homes in WoD are in such high demand and do not stay on the market long.