In stock · No. BIGGIE RUN 287
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DESCRIPTION
Discover a pristine window into Chicago suburban luxury of the 1980s with this striking aerial view of the iconic Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale Illinois. This unused chrome postcard captures the resort during its glory days when its distinctive stepped ziggurat architecture made it one of the most recognizable landmarks of Chicago's western suburbs.
The breathtaking aerial perspective showcases the resort's unique terraced main building designed in the dramatic angular style that defined premium commercial architecture of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The eye-catching almost futuristic design represented the height of luxury conference center aesthetics during this period.
What makes this postcard particularly special is how it documents the complete resort complex in its original configuration - a design that has undergone significant changes in recent decades. The carefully composed photograph captures not just the main hotel building but also the serene lake outlying conference facilities expansive parking areas and the manicured golf course stretching into the distance.
This postcard offers a perfect time capsule of suburban Chicago development during a period of significant growth and prosperity in DuPage County. The property's proximity to O'Hare International Airport (just 15 miles away) made it a premier destination for both business travelers and Chicago residents seeking a nearby weekend escape.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Indian Lakes Resort was a landmark destination in Chicago's western suburbs representing the expansion of luxury accommodations beyond the city limits during the business travel boom of the 1980s. This particular architectural style - with its dramatic stepped profile reminiscent of ancient ziggurats - exemplifies a distinctive period in American commercial architecture that has largely disappeared from the landscape.
The resort's unusual design created a memorable silhouette that became instantly recognizable to generations of Chicago-area residents. Since this postcard was produced the property has undergone multiple ownership changes and renovations making this image an important documentation of its original appearance.
Particularly noteworthy is how the photograph captures the surrounding area still in a semi-rural state with open fields visible in the distance. This provides fascinating documentation of Bloomingdale's development history before later suburban expansion would dramatically transform the surrounding landscape.
The Indian Lakes Resort was more than just a hotel - it represented a complete destination concept that combined conference facilities recreational amenities and resort luxury at a time when such comprehensive properties were still relatively novel in suburban settings. This postcard documents not just a building but an entire hospitality concept that defined an era.
CONDITION
This 40+ year old postcard remains in very good unused condition preserved in its original state without postal markings or writing. The front image retains its vibrant colors despite the passage of four decades with the bright blues of the sky and lake still clearly visible.
As expected with a chrome postcard of this vintage there is some minor age spotting visible primarily in the sky area and slight yellowing around the edges that authenticates its genuine 1980s origin. These minor imperfections are consistent with proper vintage storage over many decades.
The back remains clean and unmarked with all the original promotional text perfectly legible. The distinctive Indian Lakes eagle/thunderbird logo remains crisp and clear as does all contact information and descriptive text about the resort.
Overall this postcard presents beautifully and is in excellent collectible condition showing only minor signs of age that are to be expected in any genuine vintage item from this period. It has been stored flat and protected from light damage preserving its original appearance remarkably well.
AGE/ERA
This postcard dates to the 1980s based on several key indicators: the distinctive architectural style visible in the photograph the vehicles visible in the parking lots the typography and design elements on the reverse and the 312 area code (before Chicago's suburban areas received the 708 area code in 1989).
The 1980s represent a fascinating period in American hospitality history when suburban conference centers and resorts were being developed at an unprecedented rate to accommodate the business travel boom of the Reagan era. This card captures that specific moment when such facilities were considered the cutting edge of business accommodation.
The printing style with its rich photographic colors and glossy finish exemplifies the premium quality chrome postcards of this period. An interesting feature is that despite being an American resort the card was printed in Ireland - an unusual international connection for a suburban Chicago property.
While this card may not be antique by traditional definitions postcards from the 1980s are now crossing the 40-year threshold that many consider the dividing line between simply 'old' and genuinely 'vintage' collectibles. This transition is making such items increasingly desirable to collectors of late 20th century ephemera.
RARITY
This unused Indian Lakes Resort postcard represents a disappearing piece of Chicago suburban history that grows more significant with each passing year. While resort postcards were certainly produced in quantity during this period surprisingly few have survived in pristine unused condition like this example.
The Indian Lakes Resort has undergone multiple transformations since this card was produced including name changes renovations and alterations to the original architectural features shown here. The property's iconic ziggurat-style building once a landmark of western suburban Chicago no longer exists in the exact form shown in this postcard.
This particular aerial view offers a comprehensive perspective of the entire resort complex that is difficult to find in other photographic records of the property. The bird's-eye view documents not just the main building but the complete layout of the grounds golf course and surrounding landscape as they appeared in the 1980s.
As the transformation of Chicago's suburbs continues and landmarks of 1980s commercial architecture increasingly disappear from the landscape pristine documentation like this postcard takes on added historical significance. With each renovation or redevelopment such authentic period views become increasingly scarce.
COLLECTOR'S NOTE
Holding this postcard connects you directly to a bygone era of Chicago suburban luxury and distinctive 1980s architectural design. Feel the excitement of that period when Indian Lakes Resort represented the height of conference center prestige in the Chicago area drawing visitors from across the country to its unique facilities.
The joy of collecting hotel and resort postcards comes from preserving these visual time capsules of hospitality history. This isn't just an image - it's a tangible artifact from a specific moment in Chicago's suburban development when the distinctive stepped profile of Indian Lakes was a renowned landmark for travelers approaching from O'Hare Airport.
This card would enhance collections focused on Chicago history suburban development hotel/resort ephemera or 1980s commercial architecture. It represents the perfect intersection of architectural history and regional identity in a single evocative image that grows more historically significant with each passing year.
Buy multiple postcards and pay only ONE low shipping cost! Browse our other listings to build your collection of Chicago-area landmarks distinctive architecture or hotel/resort memorabilia while saving on combined shipping.
DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY
Authentic unused postcards documenting distinctive 1980s architecture are disappearing pieces of our collective visual heritage that simply cannot be replaced once lost. Each represents a unique window into how iconic properties appeared during specific moments in their history often capturing configurations that no longer exist.
As the Indian Lakes Resort continues to evolve with ongoing modifications over the years early documentation of its original appearance becomes increasingly valuable to collectors and local historians alike. Once this card is sold finding another pristine example showing this exact view may prove increasingly difficult.
Secure this piece of Chicago suburban history today before it joins countless others that have vanished from circulation forever. Tomorrow may be too late to own this authentic connection to one of the Chicago area's most distinctive resort properties - when its unique stepped architecture made it an instant landmark for visitors to the western suburbs.
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_gsrx_vers_1715 (GS 9.9.2 (1715))
Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.
Gosla Antiques & Collectibles