Entry No. 110 — the Chicago file — filed under: ruins

Keepataw Preserve Lime Kiln

Located within the Keepataw Preserve, this abandoned limestone kiln is a relic of the region's late 19th-century quarrying boom. The most prominent remnant is a towering, 150-year-old stone chimney that once vented a furnace used to process dolomite limestone. Today, the crumbling structure is surrounded by regrown forest and can be spotted from nearby hiking trails.

The move: Hike the scenic trails of Keepataw Preserve to the overlook bluff, where you can spot the historic stone chimney rising through the trees and capture some unique photographs of this industrial relic.

📍 Before you go The kiln ruins are located within the publicly accessible Keepataw Preserve, but the crumbling stone chimney structure itself is structurally unstable and should only be viewed from the safety of the trails.

• 📍 Romeoville
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Romeoville, IL 60446, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: industrialhistory.org · openlands.org

last checked: 2026-07-20