Hidden Creek Estates rests on land with a long and quiet history. The original parcel was purchased in 1836, when northern Illinois was still largely prairie and woodland. Over the generations that followed, only a small number of families cared for the property, each leaving their imprint while preserving the character of the landscape.
Historic structures, open meadows, and stands of mature trees still reflect the land’s agricultural past. These elements remain an essential part of the estate today, offering a sense of continuity that has shaped the property for nearly two centuries.
In 2020, the Frank family acquired the property with a simple intention: to protect it. As development continued to expand in the surrounding area, the goal was to preserve the landscape and allow the land to evolve thoughtfully.
What followed was the careful creation of Hidden Creek Estates — a place designed for gathering, celebration, and time spent close to nature. Today the estate encompasses roughly 77 acres assembled from portions of the original land holdings, carrying forward the legacy of the property while opening it to new experiences.
Hidden Creek Estates began with a simple idea: preserve a beautiful piece of land and share it with others.
After building and selling an aviation software company in 2018, the Frank family began looking for ways to invest their time and energy closer to home. When a nearby stretch of historic farmland came up for sale, they stepped in to protect it. The land, with nearly two centuries of history, had been slated for subdivision development.
What began as an effort to preserve the landscape soon revealed a greater purpose. During the early months of 2020, the family hosted a small wedding for a relative whose venue had unexpectedly cancelled. Standing on the grounds that day, they realized the property offered something rare — a place where people could gather, celebrate, and mark life’s most meaningful moments.
Today, Hidden Creek Estates continues to evolve through the work of Kerry and Dude Frank alongside their daughter Kim and son-in-law Jared Malavolti. Together they shape the estate with a shared philosophy: thoughtful hospitality, genuine warmth, and a setting that allows people to slow down and enjoy time together.
From the daily rhythm of the estate to the celebrations held across the property, the intention remains simple — to create a place where the land, the experience, and the people who gather there all feel equally at home.
Care for the land remains central to the estate’s philosophy. Mature oak forests are being preserved and restored, allowing native seedlings to regenerate naturally beneath the canopy of trees that have stood here for more than a century.
Native prairie grasses and wildflowers have also been reintroduced across the property, restoring a landscape once common throughout northern Illinois while creating habitat for birds and pollinators.
Stewardship also extends to the way the estate is powered. Two on-site solar arrays generate clean energy, producing roughly 158,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year while helping reduce the estate’s environmental footprint.
Nearly two centuries after the land was first settled, Hidden Creek Estates continues a long tradition of caring for the landscape — preserving its character while creating a place where others can experience its quiet beauty.
