Olympia Fields

Olympia Fields is a village located in Cook County. It’s approximately 25 miles south of the Chicago Loop. Most of the village lies within Rich Township.

It is bordered by Vollmer Road, 211th Street (U.S. Route 30 or Lincoln Highway), Crawford/Pulaski Avenue and the eastern border of Western Avenue.

Neighboring towns include Flossmoor to the north, Chicago Heights to the east, Matteson to the south and Frankfort Square to the west.

Olympia Fields is home to the illustrious Olympia Fields Country Club.

It is one of the nation’s wealthiest majority African American communities.

Olympia Fields has one of the lowest crime rates in all of the Chicago metropolitan area.

Population (2000) – Total 4,732
Density 1,665.3/sq mi
White 42.65%
African American 52.11%
Native American .04%
Asian 3.38%
Pacific Islander .02%
Hispanic/ Latino 1.82%
Other .57%
Median income $94,827

With country clubs flourishing in the neighboring towns of Flossmoor and Homewood, investors started buying up land in 1913. The country clubs were built to cater to Chicago’s elite.

Investor, Charles Beach, had visions of a residential community building up around the golf course. The golf club came to fruition in 1915.

As Charles Beach had envisioned, Chicago’s elite began to take up residence around the club. Initially these settlers stayed only through the summer and were housed in canvas-covered cottages.

In 1919 residential lots were sold but the population stayed very small and grew slowly.

In 1927 Olympia Fields achieved incorporation. It’s local lore that this was only achieved by fudging with the numbers and counting railroad workers temporarily stationed there in train cars as part of the population of 150 needed to meet requirement.

With the stock market crash of 1929, and the ensuing depression, the growth of the community would continue to be stifled until after World War II.

Two of Olympia Fields Country Club’s golf courses were sold in 1944 to make room for residential development. Despite the fact that very few took residence around the club, the residents stayed true to their ideal of being an affluent, elite community.

The population surged from 160 to 1,503 between the years 1950 and 1960. By 1970 the population grew to 3,478.

Olympia Fields is an elite, affluent community offering its residents well-maintained neighborhoods and an old world charm. Successful people take up residence here to live amongst the tranquil scenery of tree-lined streets and abundant green spaces. Residents of Olympia Fields homes also enjoy one of the lowest tax rates in Illinois.

Because of an ordinance enacted in the mid-1950s, Olympia Fields boasts a rich variety of architectural styles. Colonials, Tudors, ranches, split and bi-levels, as well as contemporary designs are spread across its picturesque landscape. Elegance, class and charm are a staple of Olympia Fields homes.

Some Olympia Fields property managers include: R&R Property Management, Ashland Management, RG Enterprises, Chicago Corporation, GJE Property Management and Budmar Investment Group LLC.

Single-family Olympia Fields homes range in cost of $70,000 to $500,000. Olympia Field condos and townhouse range from $130,000 to $300,000. One and two bedroom rental apartments range from $500 a month and up. Search for Olympia Fields Real Estate.

The Village of Olympia Fields is located on US Route 30, two miles west of I-57, making access to the rest of Chicagoland a snap.

Two METRA lines run service to and from the village, with frequent access to downtown Chicago. The Village has partnered with METRA and built a state-of-the-art commuter parking facility located at 203rd St and Kedzie for your convenience.

The local public transit servicing Olympia Fields and neighboring towns is PACE.

The community of Olympia Fields holds its schools to the highest standards. Its schools provide a place for children and young adults to flourish, encouraging their individuality and unique strengths while also encouraging parents to take an active role in their child’s academic growth.

Arcadia Elementary, 20519 Arcadian Way
Huth Middle School, 3718 W 213th Pl, Matteson, IL
Illinois School, 210 Illinois St, Park Forest, IL
Indiana Elementary, 165 Indiana St, Park Forest, IL
Matteson Elementary, 21245 Main St, Matteson, IL
Richton Square School, 22700 Richton Square, Richton Park, IL
Sauk Elementary, 4435 S Churchill Rd, Richton Park, IL
Rich Central High, 3600 W 203rd St
Prairie State College, 202 S Halsted St, Chicago Heights, IL
Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park, IL

As part of Rich Township, Olympia Fields and its neighboring towns offer plenty of options for a great night out. And of course it’s only a short METRA ride away to all the exciting nightlife of Chicago.

Intimo Lounge (7068 183rd St, Tinley Park, IL, 708-444-4470) in neighboring Tinley Park offers residents of Olympia Fields homes a sophisticated atmosphere complimented by an extensive martini list. With creativity and flair, you’ll find something new to try with each visit to Intimo Lounge. Their fun list of martinis includes a Swedish Fish Martini, their Honey Dewtini, a Vanilla Gorilla Martini, and their Funky Monkey Martini.

Papa T’s Nightclub (4660 W 147th St, Midlothian, IL) offers the look and feel of a club without the over-packed clichés of one. At Papa T’s you’ll find live music on the weekends, a mixed-ages crowd, a large beer garden with its own DJ spinning tunes, and great drink specials everyday.

JW Holstein’s Saloon (17358 S Oak Park Ave, Tinley Park, IL, 708-429-7000) offers live music and entertainment every Friday and Saturday nights. You can also treat yourself to tasty pub far like their Sizzling Tenderloin Strips, which are marinated in garlic and herbs and served with a creamy sauce. They also offer fun drinks like the Green Lantern Martini and Hollstein’s Bloody Train Wreck. As well, you’ll find fine hand rolled cigars here.

The heart of the Village is of course the reason it came into existence, and that is the Olympia Fields Country Club. Home to one of the top 3 courses in the Chicagoland area, and generally ranked in the top 50 of the nation, Olympia Fields Country Club offers residents top-notch golfing. On the National Register of Historic Places, the club boasts an enormous clubhouse in the style of an English Tudor. Amenities include a fitness center, an aquatic center, racquet sports, restaurants and more.

In the neighboring town of Tinley Park is the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. The First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre is the largest outdoor concert venue in all of the Midwest. With over 12,000 outdoor seats, the Amphitheatre is also home to the country’s highest reserved outdoor seating capacity. Offering fan-focused services, the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre treats music-goers to thrilling entertainment featuring the likes of Brooks & Dunn to Iron Maiden to the Jonas Brothers and more. The venue also hosts music festivals such as the Vans Warped Tour and Lilith Fair.

The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University delights residents of Olympia Fields houses with family-friendly plays like Peter Pan, musicals like The Wedding Singer, and performances by The Other 3 Tenors. The Illinois Philharmonic and Southwest Symphony Orchestra perform at the Center for Arts and Technology. Many other and various performers can bet found at The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University.

Shopping is abundant in Olympia Fields with Olympia Square, Butterfield Plaza and Olympia Corners. Olympia Fields residents will have no trouble finding exactly what they need all within one easy trip.

With great service, a delectable menu, and award-winning jazz, Flavor Restaurant (3315 Vollmer Rd, Flossmoor, IL, 708-798-3220) in Flossmoor is a cut above the rest. Offering Cajun classics like New Orleans Red Beans and Rice, as well as Red Beans Gumbo, the Flavor Restaurant menu is sure to tickle your Southern taste buds. Their seafood dishes of Cajun Fried Catfish and Salmon Croquettes are also hard to pass up.

Situated next to the train tracks, the Flossmoor Station Brewery (1035 Sterling Ave, Flossmoor, IL, 708-957-BREW) provides its patrons a quaint and comfortable atmosphere. Named a “Best Brewery in Chicago” by Chicago Magazine, the Flossmoor Station Brewery is also known as a family restaurant.  The Brewery offers up creative pub fare like their Philly Flyer Hot Tub (thin sliced Philly cheese steak baked with sautéed onions and peppers in a fresh bread boule, topped with Chihuahua cheese).

Isabella Café (17211 Oak Park Ave, Tinley Park, IL, 708-444-8555) is set inside a converted old home and is the place to go for fresh Northern Italian cuisine paired with a casual and romantic setting. Keeping in touch with the community, Isabella Café displays local artists’ work on their walls. Their entrees include unique options to Italian cuisine such as roasted duck with marsala wine and dried cherry sauce, as well as a delectable roasted lamb shank.

The Village of Olympia fields sprouted from the creation of the Olympia Fields Country Club, but it offers so much more to its residents today than golf. The Olympia Fields Park District is site to 142 acres of parks and open space comprising of 11 parks with baseball fields, soccer fields, playgrounds, tennis courts, trails, sledding hills, and Disc Golf courses.

The centerpiece of the parks is an award-winning gem by the name of Sgt. Means Park. This 20-acre park was designed to take on the shape of Illinois. It’s site to the Park District’s Administration Center, Cull House, which is an 1890s farmhouse, adding charm and character to this rustic landscape. And a working windmill can be spotted along the main pedestrian path. It’s the perfect place for a picnic or a game of catch with the kids. Fun events like Jazz on the Grass and more take place at Sgt. Means Park.

On the campus of Governors State University is the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, a collection of 26 works. Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park sets each piece amongst the wild prairie swales of the campus. Tours of the park are free and there are events and programs available that build appreciation for sculpture and the surrounding landscape.

Fun for the whole family is found at White Water Canyon Water Park. A water-filled wonderland, White Water Canyon Water Park is 5 acres of wet and wild fun. Relax on the continuously floating lazy river, or let the kids run around Spray Ground, a playground of interactive fountains and water canons. And don’t forget to take a dip in the pool or a zip down one of their adventurous waterslides.