Nestled among the most beautiful hills and valleys in the Midwest, The Galena Territory is a 6,800-acre planned residential and recreational community with award-winning Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa at its heart. Property owners and their guests enjoy a variety of amenities that include boating and fishing on Lake Galena, hiking on 23 miles of trails through pristine woodlands and prairies, 63-holes of championship golf, and horseback riding at the Shenandoah Riding Center.
Eight miles away is the town of Galena. Bisected by the Galena River, Galena lies within a National Register Historic District and is renowned for a downtown Main St. lined with shops filled with antiques, collectibles, artwork, wine studios, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, dining facilities and more. You can spend hours browsing on your own or take a narrated trolley tour (May through October). Periodic housewalks enable you to peer inside fascinating old houses and mansions. The Galena River Trail follows the river for 3.5 miles of scenic cycling or walking, leading to breathtaking views of the Mississippi River.
Another 20-minute drive will take you to across the mighty Mississippi to the vibrant river city of Dubuque, Iowa. If casino gaming and/or dog racing is your thing, this town has some of the best facilities of their kind in the Midwest. If that’s not your thing, Dubuque has a number of other attractions going for it, including a top-notch River Museum, riverfront festivals, modern movie theaters, symphony orchestra and other cultural attractions – along with the region’s best modestly-priced restaurant. (That’s one of the secrets you’ll find in a special “Insider’s Guide Book” provided to our rental guests.) Take a few minutes to take a $1 ride on Dubuque’s “fernicular,” a unique mode of transportation up and down the town’s steepest hill.
Do you like to ski or snowboard? The Chestnut Mount Resort is only 20 minutes away. Overlooking the Mississippi River, this renowned Midwestern ski retreat offers 19 ski runs amid fantastic views of three surrounding states and “Old Muddy” itself. In the warm weather off-season, treat your kids and yourselves to Chestnut Mountain’s “Alpine Slide.” It’s a fun-filled sled ride down the mountainside via chutes, with a ski lift ride back to the top.
Closer to home, during wintertime the South Golf Course in the Galena Territory turns into the Winter Wonderland Nordic Center, featuring cross country skiing, downhill sledding/tubing, and ice skating on a nearby pond. You can rent equipment for a small fee, and the Nordic Center is barely a hundred yards from our home.
Spring and summer offer even more recreational opportunities within the Galena Territory. It houses 63 holes of challenging golf, including “The General,” a regular on Golf Digest’s “Top 100 Resort Courses” list. Or, try out one of several nearby courses that are less challenging and more modestly priced.
If tennis is your game, you’ll have access to TWO separate private tennis facilities, free of charge. One is at the Territory Club, the other at a property owners’ marina.
Territory Club facilities include an indoor/outdoor pool (to open Summer 2012), fitness center, game room, gymnasium and reading/TV room and tennis courts. Visit www.thegalenaterritory.com for hours and more information.
The property owners’ marina is open May through October for boat rentals. You can also rent fishing gear if you don’t bring your own. The marina sits on Lake Galena, a serene man-made lake three miles long that teems with panfish, bass, crappie, muskie and a few other species.
Horseback riding also is available with guided trail rides via the Shenandoah Riding Center. Or, simply enjoy free-of-charge dozens of picturesque miles of paved hiking trails that wind throughout The Galena Territory.
Feel like going up, up and away! Hot air balloon rides are available when weather permits for breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside from up to 4,000 feet above ground. Summertime also brings with it periodic outdoor concerts and hayrides.
A children’s sand-filled playground is easily accessible from our home, and we will guide you to numerous fun-filled activities for children of all ages.
Whether it’s rest and relaxation you crave, or more vigorous activities, our Friendly Retreat is the place for you.
