Is Fabyan Forest Preserve open?
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The museum and garden are open from May through mid-October. Please check the Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley website for visiting hours. To tour the windmill, please refer to the Forest Preserve District of Kane County website.
Who is George Fabyan?
“Colonel” George Fabyan (1867 – 1936) was a millionaire businessman who founded a private research laboratory….

George Fabyan | |
---|---|
Born | 15 March 1867 Boston, Massachusetts |
Died | 17 May 1936 (aged 69) Geneva, Illinois |
Burial place | Forest Hills Cemetery, Boston, Massachusetts |
Title | Colonel |
How did George Fabyan make his money?
He ultimately amassed quite a fortune and began to purchase land in Geneva. George would then meet and marry the Marinette, Wisconsin-born Nelle Wright and the two would move to a 10-acre parcel of land purchased from part of the Joel Harvey farm south of Geneva and begin what was then known as the Riverbank Estate.
How big is the Fabyan Forest Preserve?
Share ‘Fabyan Estate and Forest Preserve’ Created by Colonel and Mrs. George Fabyan, who lived on the 600-acre estate from 1905 to the 1930s, the estate includes a restored villa with diverse collections, a Japanese garden and a Dutch windmill.

Who is Fabyan Parkway named after?
As he ambled past the lighthouse, the windmill, the laboratories and Japanese gardens, Col. George Fabyan must have known even then that his eclectic kingdom of fantasy and science would one day be the stuff of history.
What is the exact location of Fabyan Villa?
/ 41.87111°N 88.31194°W / 41.87111; -88.31194 Fabyan Villa was the home of George and Nelle Fabyan from c. 1908 to 1939. The house is notable because of its remodelling in 1907 by Frank Lloyd Wright. It was the centerpiece of the Fabyans country estate, which they named Riverbank.
What makes the Fabyan Villa Museum so special?
The captivating combination of significant architecture, military intrigue, Japanese culture and personal exploration makes the Fabyan Villa Museum a unique experience for all ages.
How long does it take to tour the Fabyan Villa?
A public tour of the Fabyan Villa museum is led by trained docents, lasts approximately 45 minutes, and visits the 1st and 2nd floor. The first floor visitors are introduced to the Fabyan history, Frank Lloyd Wright design and be able visit the living quarters and admire the Asian art and mounted animal collection.
When does Fabyan farmhouse open to the public?
George Fabyan, having inherited his father’s cotton-trading fortune, purchased a mid-1800s farmhouse and 600-acre estate as a country retreat from his Chicago home. Open to the public May – October with tours available. Wright was commissioned to enlarge and remodel the existing structure.