The Brilliant History Behind Pheasant Run Resort St Charles
The beautiful area you are visiting, the City of St Charles and the Fox River Valley, was first inhabited by Native American tribes known as the Potawatomi and the Fox. A settlement known at first as “Charleston” was established on the banks of the Fox River in 1834. As more settlers arrived in the area, they encountered the beautiful scenery that you can also see today surrounding our resort—rolling hills, a wide river and fertile soil for farming. By the 1920’s, when the city of Chicago was well established, the St Charles area was known for its “resort” town atmosphere and became a vacation destination for Chicago area residents looking for an outstanding St Charles hotel experience.
The land on which Pheasant Run Resort was built was originally the site of a 175-acre dairy farm owned by Colonel Edward Baker, local businessman and generous patron of St Charles. Colonel Baker shared his wealth with his hometown of St Charles and built many of the historic structures enjoyed today, including the St Charles Municipal Center, the Baker Memorial Community Center, and the Baker Memorial Methodist Church. He was also known for his legendary racing horse, Greyhound, who was honored posthumously in 1975 as the “Horse of the Century.”
Pheasant Run officially opened on February 15, 1963 under the ownership of Edward J. McArdle. A developer with a vision, McArdle saw the area as a perfect location for a unique entertainment resort, offering a place for leisure and business guests to have fun and unwind while only a short distance from anywhere in the Chicago area. The name Pheasant Run was created due to the abundance of this variety of field fowl that were located on the property. Today, Pheasant Run Resort has become a leader amongst St Charles hotels. It continues to be owned by the McArdle Family, whose strength and vision has allowed them to continually grow and develop real estate and manage hotels and resorts throughout the United States and internationally.
Starting with an upscale restaurant, 184 guest rooms, a golf course and the first indoor/outdoor pool in the United States, Pheasant Run Resort has grown considerably over the years. It now encompasses 473 guest rooms, a championship 18 hole golf course, two professional live theaters, Zanies Comedy Club, Mario Tricoci Hair Salon & Day Spa, several restaurants and lounges, including the award-winning Harvest Restaurant, over 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and a replica of New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, which features a variety of unique shops and entertainment venues. Pheasant Run is now the largest entertainment resort in the Midwest.
Take a look around our historic resort. You will find many charming features along with the best amenities of the 21st century. The brick walk on Bourbon Street was the walkway between the barn and farmhouse. The original barnyard structure is now home to both Zanies Comedy Club and our restaurant, Harvest. The former silo now houses the stairs to Zanies, and Harvest features booths converted from the original cattle stalls.
A truly unique feature of Pheasant Run Resort is the Bourbon Street area. Inspired by the Chicago Streetscape at The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, this two block, two-story street has seen lots of resort activity. From live music, dining and shopping to outstanding theater and comedy productions, entertainment has always been, and continues to be, an important part of Bourbon Street.
Pheasant Run’s Mainstage Theater is located just off Bourbon Street at our St Charles inn. Historically, the first theater at Pheasant Run was called The Pheasant Run Playhouse and opened in 1964. The first star to appear was Mimi Hines, a dancer on the Jack Parr show. Many people can remember visiting the Playhouse in the 60’s and 70’s to see stars such as William Shatner, Phyllis Diller, Betty Grable, Bob Denver, Stephanie Powers and Larry Hagman. The foot and handprints and signatures of many of these stars can be found in cement blocks throughout the property.
In 1988, the dinner theater turned to Broadway musicals and nurtured many stars including Sean Hayes, who is best known for the role of Jack on the popular TV series “Will & Grace”. In the summer of 2002, the dinner theater underwent a $4.5 million transformation into a state-of-the-art 320 seat tiered stadium seating facility. It is now home to productions by the highly acclaimed Noble Fool Theatricals.
Pheasant Run Resort continues to grow to this day. Recent additions include the renovation of the Garden Atrium; a new Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop on Bourbon Street for guests to enjoy a tasty treat; newly expanded golf facilities to include a new practice center and golf academy, and new luxurious whirlpool and tower penthouse suites to enhance guest accommodations.
Whether you prefer a quiet dinner for two at Harvest, a comedy show at Zanies, theater performance presented by Noble Fool Theatricals, shopping on Bourbon Street, practicing your swing on our championship golf course, relaxing in one of our three swimming pools or indulging in Mario Tricoci Hair Salon & Day Spa, the staff at Pheasant Run stands ready with expertise and years of experience in creating a memorable experience for our guests.
Click here to learn more about St Charles Illinois history.