Olympia Fields Cook Illinois - Top Sights 

• Olympia Fields Sights – A Travel Guide by Bloom Township, Cook County
• Olympia Fields Sights & Attractions
• - Olympia Fields Country Club – South Course
• - Olympia Fields Country Club – North Course
• - Olympia Fields Park
• - Beverly Park
• - Olympia Fields Public Library
• - Village Hall
• - Olympia Fields Historical Society
• - St John the Baptist Catholic Church
• - Olympia Fields Sights

Olympia Fields Sights – A Travel Guide by Bloom Township, Cook County

Travelers from all over the world appreciate Olympia Field's attractions because of their unexpected mix of suburban idyll and sublime history, and I must admit that I came to the idea of driving here a few years ago. The town is located in the heart of Bloom Township, embedded in the vast Cook County, and its roots extend back to the 19th century. Century, when farmers bought the land to escape the rough Chicago. Those who dare to venture here today immediately feel the quiet reverberation of that pioneering period, especially when you stroll along the old cemetery in a sunny afternoon – a place that I personally consider to be the best quiet moments, even though it hardly appears in travel guides.

A short look from the car when you take the I‐57 or the Metra railway line immediately reveals that Olympia Fields is not only a suburb, but a small museum of houses ranging from the 1920s to modern bungalows. I don't understand the hype about the chic residential areas, but the surrounding green areas I like to discover when jogging are really great. And when you arrive by car, just park at the town hall – there is enough space and you can taste the local baker whose croissants are almost legendary. For those looking for a bit of authenticity, Olympia Fields offers the ideal setting to experience the real middle-land feeling without swallowing the urban noise.

Olympia Fields Sights & Attractions

This guide invites you to look a little behind the seemingly inconspicuous façade of Olympia Fields – not only because I hid my favorite places here, but because I honestly have a bit of fun to overwhelm the expectations of others.

For me, the Olympia Fields Country Club – South Course. Yes, this is the golf paradise that attracted the PGA Tour to Olympia Fields in 2003, and yes, I don't quite understand the hype about golf, but the vast fairways and the majestic clubhouse have something that even a non golfer like I can't ignore. I was there on a sunny Saturday afternoon, hit a few balls (most of them landed in the water, not a joke) and had to realize that parking at the clubhouse is almost always a children's game – as long as you don't have a tournament, then the field turns into a miniature stadium.

Just a few miles further, almost like a shadow, this is Olympia Fields Country Club – North Course. This course is less overrun, but equally demanding. I have eaten an early breakfast in the club restaurant; the Croissant was surprisingly good, and the staff seemed to think I was a regular visitor, although I only showed up here once a year. The course itself is surrounded by dense trees, which in autumn offer an almost romantic color play – a perfect place to escape everyday life if you have enough of the urban sounds.

If you are looking for something that does not have to do with golf, then take a look at the Olympia Fields Park. The small but fine park is centrally located on the village core and is the favorite destination of my neighbor skiers (and my own nerves, if I need a walk again). The playground is modern, the green is well maintained, and the car park next to the entrance area is mostly free – a rare comfort in this area. I once made a picnic with friends while an older couple played chess; that was the image of “afterbaric idyll”, which I would rarely imagine when I think of suburbs in Illinois.

A short trip leads you to Beverly Park, another green spot known especially for its baseball fields and the small amphitheater. Local games regularly take place in the summer, and the audience consists of enthusiastic parents who talk more about the art of the hot dog than about the actual game. I once experienced an improvised concert of my friends there – a guitarist, a saxophonist and a singer who played in the rain, because the weather just didn't want to play. This was a moment that I didn't forget so fast, and the park area was amazingly well illuminated so that you could still see well after dark.

A place I often overlook because he doesn’t sound “tourist” is the Olympia Fields Public Library. The library is part of the Cook County Library District and offers not only an extensive range of books, but also regular readings and workshops. I took part in a writing workshop where the course manager spoke more about his preference for vintage teas than about writing itself – a charming mess of culture and curiosity. Parking is practically always available here, and the staff is friendly, though slightly overwhelmed, when suddenly a whole classroom falls in with children.

Another jewel I like to mention is that Village Hall with its small but fine Olympia Fields Historical Society. The building itself is a good example of the architecture of the 1930s, and in the interior you will find exhibitions about local history – from the early peasant families to the modern developments. I once discovered an old photo album that showed the first golf tournaments in the clubhouse; that was a real look back into the time I only know from old newspaper articles. Parking is a bit tricky here because the road is narrow, but a short walk is definitely worth it.

Last but not least, St John the Baptist Catholic Church forgot that thrones with its red brick roof top above the village. The church was built in 1925 and has an impressive inner life, ranging from artistic glass windows to an organ that impresses even experienced organizers. I took part in a midnight trade fair, because I happened to be nearby – the acoustics were so clear that one could hear every single pipe of the organ, and the light that fell through the colorful windows was almost hypnotic. Parking is usually a small adventure here, because the road around the church is often occupied by residents, but a short walk from the main road is not a problem.

So, next time you drive over the map and ask yourself what Olympia Fields has to offer, think of this mix of golf, green spaces, culture and a bit of ecclesiastical silence. And yes, these are mine Olympia Fields SightsI recommend to anyone who wants to experience something authentic a bit away from the usual tourist paths – with an eye-catcher and a pinch of cynicism, of course.