Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Westmont, Illinois

Around 18 miles from the Chicago Loop, Westmont is a community located in the Western Suburbs, established in the 1920s and primarily developed in the 1970s and 1980s.

Two notable former residents of Westmont are musician Muddy Waters, who spent the final decade of his life in the area, and Beanie Baby entrepreneur Ty Warner, who contributed to the funding of a park that bears his name in this suburb.

The roots of Westmont trace back to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 when brickworks emerged along the railroad to facilitate the city’s reconstruction.

During the Prohibition era, Westmont was colloquially known as “Whiskey Hill” due to its underground alcohol production and speakeasies.

For contemporary visitors, the village boasts a variety of independent restaurants along Cass Avenue, as well as its proximity to the Morton Arboretum and beautiful DuPage County forest preserves.

1. Cass Avenue

Downtown Westmont is predominantly traversed by Cass Avenue, which extends from near Ty Warner Park to Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve.

If you are seeking culinary experiences, the blocks north and south of the Westmont Metra station feature an enticing variety of restaurants, pubs, and cafes, reflecting a remarkable range of cuisines.

Dining options include Korean, Balkan, Chinese, BBQ, contemporary and traditional American, breakfast selections, desserts, pub food, and Italian, among others.

This diverse culinary landscape is celebrated annually during the Taste of Westmont festival, discussed further in this article.

2. Morton Arboretum

One renowned attraction within easy reach of Westmont is the expansive Morton Arboretum, established in 1922 by salt magnate Joy Morton.

The arboretum features over 220,000 plants, including an impressive collection of 4,100 different tree species.

This destination serves as both an engaging visitor site and a critical center for tree research, housing the Center for Tree Science.

Visitors should plan accordingly, as there is a wealth to explore across the 1,700 acres, including one of the nation’s oldest prairie and savanna restorations and extraordinary collections of conifers, ornamental flowering trees, willows, maples, birches, ginkgos, beeches, and more.

If you would like direction, a one-hour guided tram tour via the Acorn Express is available.

3. Ty Warner Park

Far beyond a typical neighborhood park, this expansive area in northern Westmont offers an array of attractions for visitors.

In the summertime, the highlight is the expansive splash pad, featuring a multitude of interactive jets and sprays.

This facility requires a nominal fee for entry. Additionally, visitors can enjoy a disc golf course, fitness stations, seasonal concessions, and excellent playgrounds for children aged 5 to 12.

Ty Warner Park also features a large picnic shelter complete with grills, a sledding hill in winter, and well-lit amenities for baseball, soccer, and tennis.

4. Gregg House Museum

The museum operated by the Westmont Historical Society is situated in a charming Second Empire-style house constructed in 1872.

This structure was relocated slightly from its original site to the corner of Veterans Memorial Park in 1977.

The history of the house is intertwined with Westmont’s development in the 19th century. It was originally built by brickmaking entrepreneur William L. Gregg, who strategically positioned it near the railroad tracks to promote his product.

Open from February to December on Sunday and Wednesday afternoons, the museum narrates the community’s history, domestic life in Westmont a century prior, and the intriguing legacy of the building itself.

5. Graue Mill & Museum

Located five minutes away in Oak Brook is one of only two operational grist mills in Illinois. The Graue Water Mill was established in 1852 by Friedrich Graue, a German immigrant who brought his expertise in waterwheel-powered milling to his new community.

This mill exemplifies ingenuity and self-sufficiency, as its bricks were crafted from soil excavated for drainage on the farm. The millstones were imported from France.

As Pietists, the Graue family opposed slavery, and the mill played a crucial role in the Underground Railroad during the 1850s and 60s.

Currently, the site is managed by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and is run by a non-profit organization. Visitors can tour the mill, observe its operations, and explore a collection of preserved rooms within the accompanying residence.

6. Whiskey Hill Brewing Company

Chicagoland is known for its craft beer scene, and an excellent establishment can be found within an industrial park in southern Westmont.

Founded in 2018, Whiskey Hill features a taproom at the brewery, along with a bar located nearby in Woodridge. The brewery’s name reflects Westmont’s historical moniker during Prohibition.

This area had gained a reputation for clandestine alcohol production, notably associated with Mr. Reitmayer, who operated a speakeasy at the Gregg House.

Focusing on quality ingredients, traditional brewing techniques, and small-batch production, Whiskey Hill typically offers ten beers on tap at any given time.

At the time of writing, offerings included an IPA, an American Lager, two Stouts, a Red Ale, two Sours, a Wheat Beer, and a Hard Seltzer.

7. Uncle Bub’s BBQ

Operating successfully for 25 years, Uncle Bub’s is an acclaimed restaurant located on Cass Avenue that specializes in authentic, pit-smoked BBQ.

This family-owned and operated establishment uses premium cuts of beef, pork, and chicken, seasoned meticulously with a proprietary blend of spices, and smoked over hardwood until tender, then generously sauced with Uncle Bub’s award-winning recipe.

The interior features a rustic, road-house aesthetic with ample unvarnished wood and sheet metal décor, and customers can purchase bottles of Uncle Bub’s sauces to take home.

8. Classic Cinemas Tivoli Theatre

A short Metra ride or a five-minute drive leads to downtown Downers Grove, home to a beautifully restored movie palace.

Opened in 1928, the Tivoli Theatre was the second in the United States to showcase sound films. Unlike many vintage cinemas, it has maintained its original layout without partitioning into multiplex screens.

Guests can enjoy films in the spacious main auditorium or the charming secondary screener presenting 33 seats.

This historic venue, part of a complex including a bowling alley and residential hotel, is adorned with an ornate Spanish Revival exterior and a French Renaissance interior.

In addition to first and second-run films, the theater serves as a performing arts venue, having hosted acts such as Neko Case and Los Lobos in recent years.

9. Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park

The internationally recognized adventure activity chain, Go Ape, has a location just a couple of miles away at Bemis Woods in Western Springs.

The main attraction is the Treetop Adventure (minimum age: 10), a high ropes course suspended up to 43 feet above the forest floor.

The course includes 45 exciting and unique challenges, ranging from suspended bridges to Tarzan swings, with the longest zipline extending an impressive 553 feet.

For guests new to high ropes activities, the Treetop Journey is accessible to all ages, presenting 21 lower-altitude obstacles.

The park introduces new attractions each year, and when this article was written, it had recently added Treetop Nets, a suspended playground featuring slides and bouncy nets, along with axe throwing.

10. Taste of Westmont

For four days in July, traffic is restricted on three blocks of Cass Avenue, just north of the railroad tracks, for the village’s most significant annual event.

At the Taste of Westmont, attendees can sample a wide selection of offerings from the village’s esteemed restaurants and food vendors.

In addition, there are two beer tents, and while food and beverages take center stage, the event features much more, including two stages of live music and a carnival running throughout the four-day celebration.

Westmont was the residence of blues legend Muddy Waters (1913-1983) during the last decade of his life, an aspect commemorated through the Muddy Waters Blues Jam and Mojo Morganfield Tribute held on Sunday.

11. Veterans Memorial Park

The flagship park of the Westmont Park District was acquired from the American Legion between 1959 and 1960 with the stipulation that it would always remain a public park.

A popular recreational destination, Veterans Memorial Park is especially favored by families due to its two playgrounds, which include a sand play area and a lengthy zip line.

For sports, the park offers two lighted baseball fields that host little league events, as well as a sand volleyball court.

The space features a picnic shelter with a grill available for rental, along with a lit walking path shaded by trees during the summer months.

12. Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

At the southern terminus of Cass Avenue lies an expansive forest preserve recognized for its ecological diversity in Northern Illinois, featuring 11 miles of trails.

Covering 2,500 acres, Waterfall Glen includes the high-tech Argonne National Laboratory, which employs approximately 3,400 individuals, as well as a 19th-century cemetery, stretching down to the banks of the Des Plaines River.

The preserve is named for a waterfall located within a picturesque ravine created by a dam. Ecologically, Waterfall Glen comprises a mosaic of prairie regions, oak-maple woodlands, and savannas, housing three quarters of all native plants found in DuPage County.

The Bluff Savanna in the southern part of the preserve is particularly significant, featuring hickories, oaks, and black walnuts that are over 200 years old.

13. Suburbanite Bowl

Located on US 34 in northern Westmont, Suburbanite Bowling has been in operation since 1959. The bowling alley offers open and league bowling seven days a week, operating 363 days a year.

Guests can enjoy bowling at a flat rate of $12 for two hours or $16 for three hours; weekend rates adjust to $16 for two hours.

The facility features a sports bar with ten taps, an arcade room, and Nuka Barbeque, serving delicious smoked wings, pulled pork, brisket sandwiches, and smoked mac and cheese.

14. Twin Lakes Golf Club

This local park district course features nine holes across 25 scenic acres of rolling hills with wooded areas and lakes.

It is an affordable option for a round of golf, offering particularly low replay fees for those desiring to play a full 18 holes.

Primarily composed of par 3 holes, the course presents engaging challenges for novice and experienced golfers alike, including a tricky fourth hole that spans over water.

Twin Lakes’ clubhouse provides a selection of beverages and snacks, complete with a deck offering picturesque views of the course.

15. Hidden Lake Forest Preserve

The DuPage County forest preserve, adjacent to the Morton Arboretum, provides a water-rich environment along the East Branch DuPage River, featuring two lakes and dense woodland.

In the 20th century, this 390-acre land belonged to William “Big Bill” Johnson, who amassed wealth during Prohibition through gambling establishments and speakeasies.

Hidden Lake is an excellent location for fishing, with opportunities to catch crappie, bluegill, bass, carp, and more from the 10-acre Eagle Lake and 15-acre Round Meadow Lake.

There are two miles of trails that wind around these lakes and through King’s Grove, a vital remnant woodland that is home to white, red, and bur oaks.