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Promontory Point
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
5491 S S Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60615
(312) 747-6620
5491 S S Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60615
(312) 747-6620
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
55 reviews for Promontory Point
I love the view of the skyline here. The air is always clean and fresh. We always have annual bbqs in the fire pits here for med school events.
It's a great place to get together with friends and really enjoy the lake! If you're taking a walk nearby, definitely stop by and check out promontory point. Great place for picnics/bbqs!
total zen~
We had our wedding ceremony at Promontory Point and I could not have asked for a more beautiful location! I received so many compliments on what a visually stunning wedding it was. PP is such a unique space. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to veer away from the traditional church ceremony. There is so much room and so many different locations for gorgeous photo opportunities(lakefront, tower, stairs to the tower, back deck, indoor hall, front deck, etc).
We booked our ceremony from 10am-2pm. The park and city employees were very friendly and helpful to us while we were there. The best thing, this place is amazingly cheap so you can afford to do the little things that you may not be able to do when paying a large amount just for the space. My only regret is not paying extra in advance for just one more hour to have there. There just wasn't enough time in those 4 hours.
The only thing somewhat negative I have to say is that the walk from the parking area to the space was a bit far for elderly folks. They give you only 2 permits and you have to provide the licence, make and model of the vehicles. I would suggest renting a van/shuttle for transporting individuals to and from the parking grounds.
We had a fall wedding and I am so glad we did. The sky was blue, the lake was blue and the trees were all different fall shades which made for amazingly beautiful photos. Also, the park wasn't so crowded as it is in the Summer, so we had a lot more privacy. As this is a public park, you are not guaranteed complete privacy for your event. The building is also heated inside. It was a bit chilly outside but inside we were all very comfortable.
We did not hold our reception here so I have no advice for that.
I did read another Yelpers review about the bathrooms being dirty and not having mirrors or soap for guests. They must have listened to Yelp because for our wedding, the bathrooms appeared to be clean and a mirror with hand soaps were placed in the women's bathroom.
Some things to note:
-You must use their vendors when booking this place. This includes food, tents, chairs, etc. which can make things expensive fast.
-Distance from parking to building is a bit far. Rent a shuttle or designate a relative to shuttle people.
-If your bridal party is getting ready in the back room, there is no bathroom back there. I had my dress on and it was almost time for the ceremony to start so I peed in a cup in the back room. I AM NOT KIDDING.
-Make the most of the space when it comes to photography. Utilize the stairs to the tower and the tower. Those made for beautiful photos.
-The space is beautiful on it's own. Minimal decorations are needed!
-The in-house benches are available for use for free. They are wooden and are enough to seat about 50 people. If your party is small, I would recommend using these instead of renting chairs.
Book this place fast, because every Saturday for a year was booked when we first inquired. We ended up having a Sunday wedding which worked well for us.
I really could not have been more happy with our choice to wed here. If anyone is considering holding their wedding here, PM me and I would be glad to share some photos of my wedding with you or answer any questions you may have!
Want to do something that would make you feel really good about yourself? Go to Promontory Point, jump in the water and swim a few miles. It's a great place for a good swim. Ask the fit old folks that seem to frequent this place mid afternoon on summer weekdays. They all seem to be in excellent shape. I swear I saw a 60 year old man sporting a six pack (abs not beer).
At Promontory Point you will not be bumping into people like you would in an indoor pool. There is plenty of space for everybody. And you get the benefit of beautiful views of the Chicago skyscape.
Once done with your swim you can use the pipe ladders embedded into the large rocks to climb out of the water. The rocks radiate heat and will rapidly increase your core temperature. The only thing that might make you feel not quite as good about yourself is noticing that the old folks seem to be able to swim a lot further than you.
By the way, the above is only intended as a summer activity. The waters of Lake Michigan get a little chilly in the winter.
Sshhhh... don't tell anyone.
:::whispers:::
There is this fabulous park down south that is RIGHT ON the water. Sticks out a bit and has a fabulous view of the city and boating action on the lake. There are firepits, a whimsical DEAR fountain, and a pavilion that can be rented for private functions (also houses public restrooms.) And... it's not overly crowded - at all.
Wear your bathing suit! I assure you you won't be able to resist a dip of the rocks... when the weather is nice enough.
hop on the lakefront bike path and head south, down to promontory point! exit the path as close as you can to 53rd street and head to bonne sante health foods... grab a smoothie and a sandwich, head back to the point, chill with your snacks and enjoy the best view of the chicago skyline. snap some photos so you can remember the good time you had down at promontory point.
next time, bring a bunch of friends and spend the day.
Just somehow now figured out that the Point actually has bathrooms open to the public, and they are very clean! They are located at the pavilion, and are open up at least during days where there are functions going on (see all weekend long). No more heading up to the 57th street beach for me (or in the water... JUST KIDDING!).
On a nice day outside, there are few places in the city that I would rather be than here. Perfect place to end a bike ride along the lake and allow yourself to just jump in to cool off, or like I did this past weekend- grill out a bit and just enjoy the people watching, the views of downtown, and good company.
Oh- and unlike so many of the north side parks and beaches, PARKING IS FREE here.
Make a trek to Promontory Point sometime this summer. When you come- be sure to say hi to me; I will be the guy deviously trying to hide my beer stash from the Narcos.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/15/2009
How can you NOT love the Point?!? It is probably the best spot to get a great view of the downtown… Read more »
Beautiful. Stunning.
Truthfully, this was my first choice for our wedding. But, I just could not imagine handling all of the city's bureaucracy or coordinating so many different vendors. Plus, what if the wind messed up my hair?!?!
Seriously though, if you can deal with getting here, this is THE PLACE. It is gorgeous and so CHICAGO.
I spent this past Sunday gettin' my nature on at the Point. I'd like to do it daily, but my boss seems to think showing up at the office every day is important or something. Bummer, he is.
From many of the other reviews I anticipated running into at least a few 'interesting' individuals but alas - there were none. Zero. Zilch. Just families flying kites with their kids, walkers, joggers, cyclists - and the one obligatory overly-PDA couple sitting on the rocks. Get a room already, jeesh.
The fire pits are awesome. Very Twin Peaks-ish. Sans the Sycamore trees. And creepy Bob. I'd love to get a group together and spend a nice warm sunny day totally bogarting a fire pit. Swimming though? Not for the timid (or the germophobes). Thanks to the passing rain clouds yesterday, the closest I came to getting in the water was almost losing my balance on the slick rocks while climbing back to the top. The views from every angle are stunning. Verklempt-inducing actually. Do we Chicagoans really know just how good we got it here? The Point makes worthwhile our suffering through yet another brutal winter.
Chicago suffers from one terrible plague.
One cannot immediately see it when one walks or drives around the city.
But they are there.
The invisible lines.
The "last" frontiers.
The streets one cannot cross without losing their neat and proper Northside identity (and God forbid, their wallet) : Western and Roosevelt.
Let's say California and 18th street for the bravest souls.
That is such a shame.
As an outsider I will never understand why people in this city are so closed-minded. I have been living in the infamous South Side for a few years now, gone to school there for longer than I'd want to and I am still alive, in one piece, safe and sound, thank you very much.
Guys, here are some news:
The other half of the city is worth the trip. And by "trip" - I don't mean an endless bus/train/horse-carriage ride.
Hyde Park - for one - is pretty well mapped out by the CTA and hosts a few crowned jewels: my building (uh-hmm), a few Frank Lloyd Wright houses, a pretty famous intellectual box where fun comes to die, the president house, and a lot of other hidden treasures.
And the Point.
So yes, of course some sad or mean-spirited people will tell you that the Point is not that idyllic or charming. Gosh, there are rats running out there!!!!!! Really?!?!? A natural park by the lake with rats? I can hardly believe it........I heard you can also encounter bees, flies and ants....so beware.
But really Promontory Point is one of the best spots in the city to host a bbq, an impromptu picnic or just to relax after a long bike ride.
And to jump in the water for a swim.
Some of the things I like about it:
- you have a kick-ass view of the city skyline. Almost unobstructed. Pretty sweet IMO.
- FREE parking!!!!!!!!! Yes - you read that right. There is a full free parking lot exclusively reserved for the Point AND lots of free street parking on 55th street and around. No millions of quarters needed.
You've got to love it. South Side perk, guys!!!
- bbq pits, lots of garbage bins, coal disposals = perfect for all the grill fanatics out there.
- drinking foutains!!! My fave is just at the entrance - after the underpass. It's is a nice sleeping deer - I call it "The bi-biche statue". Those of you who know me will know why it's close to my heart....
- 2 watering holls nearby : Bar Louie and The Cove. Winners!!!!!!!!!!
Nothing better than cold beer to heal your sunburns .
- lots of grass and trees. Shade or sun, you choose. A lot of space to play frisbee, volley-ball, badminton, or to improve the Guiness World Record of pit spitting. Whatever you are into.
- one of the most diverse crowd of the city. Spotted last weekend: shirtless U of C students lost in their textbooks (a rarity - well, the shirtless part at least), families grilling and dancing to Michael Jackson (RIP), couples cuddling on patchwork blankets, frat boys trying to impress the girls around, little kids learning how to ride their bikes, older dudes coming for their daily swims. Black, white, Asian and everything in between.
Love the rainbow.
- a great spot to swim. No beach but rock access to the lake. Makes it more adventurous and give you the chills!!!
- bathroom access
- excellent bride spying-spot (!!!)
It's all worth it.
Go and enjoy.
The Point is not completely over crowded like the north side. One can find actually find parking within a few blocks. Unlike the north side it doesn't get as trashed from the massive crowds. The crowd is more diverse then the north side and tends to be a little bit more local.
It is a nice large park with trees, large grassy areas, a few fire pits, plenty of places to sit along the lake shore. I can recall days spent picnicking with my folks on holidays, playing Frisbee with friends and just enjoying a walk through the park.
It is a great place to view the 3rd of July fire works, probably the most crowded I have seen it. But then its less then a 10th crowded as the wall to wall, no room to breath, save your seating spot at 5 in the morning on the 3rd downtown. There is a nice field house that one can hold events at. The views of the sky line and down town can be breath taking and enjoyable.
I love biking the lake front path, especially going south and the point is a really nice place to stop for a rest, but I'm not sure I agree with all the raving about it. It's nice but it's not a destination, at least I would rather be at 47th Street or the new 39th Street beach. The point is beautiful and has a great view of the sky line, but it can be crowded, and I prefer quite and calm when I'm reading by the lake. I think the Point would be one of my favorite places if it weren't so out of the way, but unless I have a reason to be down in Hyde Park or am feeling like a 2-3 hour bike ride, it's not worth the effort to get there.
You haven't lived until you've spent a hot Chicago summer day and night cooling your heels at The Point. Cool off with a swim, kick back on your blanket with a good book, watch the people come and go, do a little grilling, and when the sun goes down you can enjoy the sounds and culture of the best that Chicago has to offer. And the smells of bbq..ohhh, the smells.
Don't go expecting an overcrowded plastic scene like you find at North Ave. or Oak St. beach..no, not here. The Point is for true Chicagoans who aren't interested in a lot of fluff and phoniness. It's filled with South Siders, HP'ers, old-timers, families, and the best of the Chicago spirit.
It's amusing to read how people think this spot is so pristine, so beautiful....
Clearly, they don't live in Hyde Park or frequent the Point.
To be sure, the Point is great during all seasons - it's a gorgeous view of the Chicago skyline (a la the opening shot in the Family Matters credits), a tranquil place to read, study, or sun and a fun place to throw a barbecue or bonfire with friends.
But as many times as I've gone there for a run or read, I've had friends get accosted by bums looking for the cheapest joint. There are swarms of rats during thunderstorms scurrying across the same stones that pale Chicagoans throw themselves upon at the first indication of sun in April (or let's be honest, June) .
Unfortunately, as pretty as this "destination spot" can be illuminated by daylight, it can also be seedy and sketchy - and that's the full truth, from someone who lived across the street from the Point for 4 years.
Picnics. Frisbee. Park space. Vaguely unsafe swimming conditions. What's not to love?! The point is a personal and local favorite. I remember, long time ago, scurrying across LSD at night with backpack full of beers so that I could chill with my friends and a cold one, overlooking the beautiful Chicago skyline. Its a great spot to do a little grilling and a little hanging out, and Its rarely overcrowded like some of the other coastal city spots.
I've frequented the point on long lakefront path walks for my entire life. Swimming here is the best, although you're technically "not supposed to." I like the lack of annoying sand. The water is deep, clear, and not as obscenely crowded as at other beaches. The lack of lifeguards is nice because there isn't someone blowing a whistle in my face every time I go in water that's more than waist-deep. There aren't bros throwing footballs directly over my head while I'm sunbathing (I just went to North Ave beach and I shit you not, I stake out a spot and all of a sudden I feel like I'm on fucking ESPN). It's perfect. If it weren't The Coldest Summer Ever™ I'd be sunbathing right now!
We got married on the Point back in 2004. It was great. The park was empty at night, the building was gorgeous, etc.
But here's some advice:
- It's RIGHT on the lake, and even our July wedding was oddly cold. Be aware of what having a wedding/reception right there on the lake can entail..including wind.
- The facility is at the end of the little peninsula, and the parking is WAY back on the other side of LakeShore. So everyone will have to walk quite a ways through. It's certainly less than a 10-minute walk, but be aware in case you have older or in-firmed guests.
- Go there at night a couple nights before your event and scope out the cleanliness. I say night because there were plenty of spiderwebs we didn't notice during the day, then they were VERY apparent that night. That;s just the way things are near the water.
- our experience with the park dept people was great, but my wife complained about the state women's bathrooms afterwards. So I guess it's worth checking out before.
- We had no security issues, though I believe the parks dept makes you pay for a security person just in case, and everything went fine. I don't remember anyone out on the point at night except for us.
- the parks dept will allow certain vehicles up to the facility...think catering trucks and the wedding limo...but that's about it.
- if you can do it, splurge for lighting. It added a lot to our night out there where there isn't a lot of lighting anyway.
- TRANSPORTATION - this was my biggest regret. I thought there'd be plenty of cabs in Hyde Park on a Saturday night there by the lake, so we didn't opt for a shuttle. But we ended-up with a mess of people waiting for 30 minutes for cabs...after walking the 10-minutes off the point, then after calling them. So it was a 60-minute-or-so time-span before they were back downtown. Crap!
Overall, the night was awesome. But keep these in mind
It's true that there is a lot of broken glass, rats all other the rocks, more dog poop that people don't pick up...
...but the Point also has one of the best views of Chicago's skyline, is a great starting point for your jogs and long bike rides, and is a lovely spot to have a campfire and make smores.
If you live in Hyde Park and are tired to death of it, you can also see Gary, Indiana from the Point and think, "hey, at least I don't live THERE."
We chose to have our wedding reception at the Chicago Park Districts Promontory Point. It was the most beautiful location. Out on a peninsula in Lake, MI is a small beautiful rustic stone building with turret like a little castle, wood ceilings, wood floor and French doors opening to front and back patios. We had about 60 guests which was great. It was a pleasant clear day and we could see the Chicago skyline. Although it was August it got chilly after the sun went down so we would suggest having a jacket or warm shall.
Most likely guest will be driving as it is not easy to get to by public transit and taxi's are not plentiful in the area. The parking is free but open to the public and quite a distance from the event space along a pedestrian path under Lake Shore Drive and around a nice park. It is quite walkable but we were concerned about our older guests so we hired a rickshaw service to take folks from the parking lot to the space. The park district dose allow a few vehicles to drive up to the event space for set up and breakdown.
The restrooms are clean but not fancy they are like public restrooms in a school and do not have mirrors. We chose to provide mirrors (of course), nice soap, paper towels and a couple of vases of flowers to make the experience a bit nicer for our guests.
Although they had some tables and metal folding chairs we chose to provide our own for our event because there weren't enough tables to service our event and the metal chairs didn't seem appropriate for a wedding.
The Chicago Park District requires security that they provide for a fee, insurance and you must choose caterers from their approved caterer list. When we first looked at the cost of this location compared to other wedding reception locations, it seemed much less expensive but we did not anticipate the fee for security, having to rent tables & chairs, insurance nor being restricted to approved caterers. It was still reasonable but just be sure to be aware of these costs too.
It was a fantastic place for our celebration. If we were to do it all again, we would definitely chose Promontory Point.
Pretty nice. The beach itself is very clean, there aren't wierd things sticking out of the stand, etc. I take off one star because the city of Chicago doesn not maintain the park around it as well as NYC maintains any of it parks.
If you're a Northsider like me, the only thing wrong with Promontory Point is it's a bit far. But I had a two hour break today, so I ventured down the lakefront from my place, there and back; well worth the 28-mile bike ride. The views are stunning.
Here is a view toward the Museum of Science & Industry from the Point:
http://static.px.yelp....
And, the gorgeous Prairie Style Field House:
http://static.px.yelp....
In short, Promontory Point is:
"...a place you go to and you are thrilled--a beautiful experience, a joy, a delight [with] a sense of space and a sense of the power of nature and the power of the sea."
Alfred Caldwell, original park designer, describing in 1986 his vision of Promontory Point over 50 years before.
Source: http://www.hydepark.or...
Some of my fondest memories of college involve sitting at the Point "reading" with my friends. Of course many of my other college memories involve being forced to run to the Point and back, and yet I still love this place. Now it serves as a nostalgic reminder of my younger days during my long training rides along the lakefront path. And people are correct, fabulous and uncrowded views of the city.
But don't be fooled by the scenery, once it starts to get dark get your behind out of there. Anyone at the Point after dark is asking for trouble.
This is probably my favorite spot in the city from which to view downtown. And Gary, Indiana. It's typical Hyde Park, too. Lots of families, college kids, and general south-side crazies, all hanging out on one rock.
In the summer, it's a great place for a barbecue, a great spot to start/end a run, and an ever better spot to lounge and read the paper.
Ah, good times. A summer evening on the point with my partner , dog and a picnic basket. Can't ask for anything more.
This was the best part of living in Hyde Park near the lake. We took our dog to the point everyday. He loved it. Every Sunday we used to pack up our breakfast, go to the point and read the NY Times.
The Point is like the tit on the breast of Chicago. You know, the best part. This area of park extends out past the shoreline and offers a beautiful and unique view of the famous Chicago skyline. There are fire pits everywhere, and plenty of grass to play on and lay on. What makes the area really special is that there isn't any sand and there aren't any breakers. Tiered layers or rocks and limestone lead directly from the water, and offer a great place to relax, picnic, and enjoy the lake.
I live on the northwest side of the city, but there isn't anyplace in the world I would rather spend my time. I've spent countless nights on the edge of the rocks letting the water splash up over my head. On windy days the waves knock against the rocks and shoot up fifteen feet. It really is something to see.
My wife and I had our wedding reception at the point -- it's a great venue for a small party, though it can be a bit of a hike for guests with disabilities. It's gorgeous in the summer and it's always a bit cooler on the really hot days, being surrounded by water on 3 sides and all...
---
So, since I've written this review, I've had a bunch of people send me messages asking about specifics of using the Point as a wedding or reception venue.
The most frequent questions were how many people we had and how to get more info. So... we had around 100 people there for our reception. Any more and we'd either have had no dance space or would have had to add a tent on either side. Both are very doable but run up the cost for what is otherwise a somewhat lower-cost venue.
Next, where to find more info: Checkout the Chicago Park District's page about renting Promontory Point: http://www.chicagopark...
Last but not least, parking can be tough, but we hired a shuttle to bring people back and forth from the midway (the greenspace near the UofC campus, about 1 mile away) because parking was much more plentiful there and, believe it or not, the shuttle wasn't that expensive of a thing to contract out.
Seven years ago while I was a northsider attending Columbia College I had a friend who lived in this neighborhood in the south called Hyde Park. He invited some of us down for a BBQ on the lake at this place he called the Point.
Two years ago my wife & I decided out of all the wonderful places in the Chicago Park District, that this is where we'd get married at. We still have friends of friends asking to see our wedding pictures because the place we got married at was so beautiful.
This is where Lula learned to swim. A lovely, serene beach where both doggies and people frolick. With lots of climbing fun for doggies.
I hope it never changes!
oh, the point, be still my heart as one of my first finds when I moved to hyde park in august. you made everything ok. But now...its cold.
great for being outdoors, period. Who would have thought I would miss having a yard so much? but thanks to the point I share a yard with everyone and it includes swimming. Chicago is really missing out by having open container laws. I'm not sure what summers going to be like without being able to hangout in a park and drink a few beers.
The point has fire pits making it great for bonfires and with the cove near by theres always a few drinks right around the corner. Cheers!
This is the perfect place to go for a picnic. It's beautiful and has great views. I like swimming here, but I know that is not technically allowed, because it is dangerous. I wont encourage or discourage anyone from swimming here. It's fun and a great spot, but keep in mind you may get in trouble for it.
best swimming spot, just north off the point. Don't go there expecting to see scantily clad broads walking around, it's not that kind of place. Nice place to get high at or huff some ether. Don't go swimming at night though, evidently it's illegal.
The Point makes its mark on my Top Five Most Beautiful Places in Chicago. Day or night, this place offers an amazing view of the skyline on one side, and the Museum of Science and Industry on the other. It's perfect for picnics or long walks. I can tell the neighborhood really cares about and appreciates the Point -- there's hardly any garbage around, and people will actually smile when you walk by them. Who wouldn't be happy to be here? On a windy day, the waves will crash against the rocks and the breakers and shoot up like a fountain, which is a truly beautiful, almost magical thing to watch.
Weddings here are beautiful. This is my favorite venue I have seen so far. If you are looking for a place to get married, you must see this venue in person, pictures just do not do it justice.
never too crowded and in the summer it smells like bbq! I feel safe here and I love to work out by the lake. It is way better than the northside lakefront where you can barely move, let alone run or bike.
It's a pretty great place to make out.
This was the turn around spot for the recent Chicago Distance Half Marathon. The view really is great, but like previous posters have said, I would get the hell out of here at night.
We had our wedding here. GORGEOUS! And amazingly affordable!!! It's an absolute STEAL in terms of Chicago wedding locations! We had a lovely day in October and were able to have our ceremony on the East patio portion, so all our guests had a wonderful view of the lake and city skyline. October is a great time for the trees, unfortunately we had a warm fall and they hadn't turned yet. But still, beautiful all that same. It was like getting married in a historic little castle. We didn't have our reception here, as the preferrred CHicago Park District vendors were too expensive, but we ended up at Wildfire in River North which turned out to be the best decision we could have made. Inexpensive and positively the BEST wedding food our guests had ever had (our number one compliment!) Great ideas for anyone looking for an inexpensive wedding!
There are times when I am certain that the Point is one of the greatest places around anywhere.
It is an almost indescribable feeling walking or jogging around it on a warm autumn day with a cool breeze. early october on the point is almost too perfect.
This place is a hidden gem in Chicago!!! I agree with everyone's post to just go during the day, but it's spectacular. The view is just gorgeous, there aren't that many people, and the BBQ areas are clean and nice. I would love to go back just to have a romantic day with the bf. :)
Just one of the most beautiful, tranquil lakefront spots. A visit to the point can liven up any day - the sight of the waves lashing up against the rocks, and the lovely park area. There's no better way to spend a sunny day - take a walk or a swim, or simply pass an hour or four watching the world go by.
This is the #1 reason anyone living in Chicago should come visit Hyde Park. This is a great park, shaped like a half circle (a little larger perhaps) where on one side you can see the Chicago skyline, and on the other you can see Gary Indiana, the 57th and 63rd street beach, and the Museum of S and I. This park features rocks to lay our on, shallow and deep water alike to swim in, many trash bins, 10 or so pits to have cook outs and picnics. This is better then the beach and you will see the diversity of Hyde Park in one location, really truly...best place ever!
