Park Forest, Illinois: The Chinese House
Beginning in 1992, homeowner Mark A. Reed transformed his 1950s suburban home into what the locals call The Chinese House.
- Address:
- 428 N. Orchard Drive, Park Forest, IL
- Directions:
- I-57 exits 340 or 340A. Drive east on US Hwy 30 for three miles. The house will be on the right, at the corner of Orchard Drive. Look for the golden yellow roof. Private property; visible from the street.
- Admission:
- Free
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Legend of the Chinese House
Each day hundreds of Lincoln Highway travelers take note of the house with the golden yellow roof at Orchard Drive, the entrance to the Village of Park Forest. The common speculation is the home was created for its Chinese owners, a myth, as the urban legend continues. The truth: an African American transformed the exterior of the home to complement the home's interior designed with international themed rooms. A message board arch above the garage with different messages posted each week are to challenge the traveler to "THINK." The international flags in the front yard represent some of the international countries the owner created themes for in the interior spaces.
[mark a. reed, 06/20/2013]Nearby Offbeat Places
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Owner Mark A. Reed moved into the house in 1981 and began its exterior transformation in 1992.