Crystal Lake Main Beach — Attraction in Crystal Lake

I did visit two weeks ago, before opening....I refuse to visit while open for the summer and for this reason....Last year we wanted to take the kids fishing. I bought a beach key 25.oo used the fishing area many times until the day of the 4th of July...when we wanted to take the kids fishing for the day...went in through the fishing gate....and made our way over to the fishing area....instructions on the back of the permit said please do not fish in the swimming area which we had no plans on doing....like I said made our way down to the designated fishing area...grabbed a picnic table to set our fishing equipment on like we had done so many times before....we were then approached by a park district employee stating that we were not aloud in there because it was there day of fireworks and other people were waiting to get in for that...I am sorry but no where did it mention that we could not fish on specific days....I tried to explain that to the PDE and asked him to show me where it says that....he could not so instead he threatened me in front of our young children to take away the key to the fishing gate....I didn't want to argue in front of the kids because they had been looking much forward to fishing....so I had to basically walk away....we were eventually able to stay but were not aloud to use the picnic table to set out equipment on. REALLY! Went through so much that day that visiting there is not even a option any more...We now swim at Stingray bay in Huntley, a beautiful public swimming area, we take the kids to the Hollows to fish, another beautiful area located here in Crystal Lake and they never fail a finale at the Sleepy Hollow fireworks display held at Sabatino park. I will never give another dime to Crystal Lakes Main...

Beaware when things are "open" and life gaurds are on "duty" they keep ya packed in a swimming area the size of most people's backyard pool like sardines! With more than a thousand people confined to a such a small area all you hear all day is blowing whistles and the "lifeguards" shouting do not do this, do not do that, and we are going on a 20 min break after all that shouting.. no swimming in the meantime! As we left we watched a ⛵️ sailboat leave the beach's rental shack with 5 customers get flipped completely over due it being super windy and once again them "lifeguards" did absolutley NOTHING they acted like saving lifes was not their job! We made sure the passengers were "alive" before we left disappointed and definitely will...

Everything was pretty good the swimming experience was great there wasn't to much people and the water was clean. Picnic table area was well kept and clean. Lifeguards were friendly and well trained.But the concessions I did not like the staff working there was all over the place forgetting orders and even giving extra food out that was not ordered my friend ordered a slice a pizza he gave her two she tried to give the extra one back thinking that it was probably someone else's that they ordered he responded in a rude manor and said "no you ordered two" and slammed the sliding door. My friend also received undercooked fries. Over all I liked it more then then I...