In 1944, some Lyons Township students (with considerable help from parents) leased a vacant commercial garage in LaGrange and transformed it into the Corral … a student-owned recreation center for teens. But, that was just the beginning.

The Corral

Just as World War II was nearing an end, a wave of enthusiasm for opening teen centers swept across America. Chicago’s Western suburbs were no exception and, soon, the “Corral” teen center opened in a renovated commercial garage at 16 West Harris in LaGrange, just a little west of today’s Clipper Ship Gallery.

The annual dues for a local high school student were only $3.50. But, the Corral had strict behavior standards, including a “no loitering policy” and the non-use of alcohol before and during events. Despite this, the new center attracted 500 initial members. And, by all accounts, the center was an almost overnight success.

The Corral -16 West Harris

Three years later, the lease on the garage was about to expire and there was fear that it would not be renewed. So, the student association, which operated the center, launched a door-to-door campaign to raise $25,000 to buy the building.

The campaign was a success and the center, managed by students with an adult advisory board, saw its membership gradually increase to 1,600 students by 1957. But, because of this success, interior space became a major problem. So, in 1957, another campaign was launched to build a larger center on the then-brand-new Lyons Township south campus.

Corral Promo Piece 1957

Once again, the students’ fund-raising efforts were successful. The new building, located at 4900 S. Willow Springs Road, cost $150,000 and was much larger than the previous facility. See the first photo. This was largely financed by the students’ sale of 12-year, non-interest bearing bonds. The peak years of the Corral were in the 1960s and early 1970s. At that time, it was believed to be the country’s largest student-operated youth center of its kind.

The center was open on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 pm to midnight. It was also open four nights a week during the summer recess and after various school plays, athletic events, etc. Six adults were in attendance at all times. The center had a 21-speaker sound system and offered soft drinks, ice cream, candy, gum, and hamburgers for sale … plus free use of ping pong tables and a “huge” 24-inch television set.

The center also produced an annual show featuring high school talent, which was a major fund-raiser. During this time, the Corral had over 3,000 members (now paying $4.00 per year), was open an average of 130 nights per year, and hosted 300 to 1,000 students at any one time.

David Hasselhoff

While activities were primarily dance-oriented, the center also hosted some memorable concerts, including ones by the Styx, Chicago, and Muddy Waters. According to one account, notable LTHS alumnus, David Hasselhoff of Nightrider and Baywatch, was part of the Corral scene during his high school years.

In 1967, another successful bond drive underwrote a $110,000 expansion to the building. However, the subsequent retirement of the Corral’s long-time paid director, Bert Kraus, marked the beginning of a decline in the Corral’s popularity. Behavioral issues also became a larger problem, students’ interests changed, and membership fell off. Eventually, as the building began requiring costly repairs, the youth organization decided to sell the building to the high school.

While the Corral continued to be used for occasional dances and other events, it became a shadow of its previous self. In 1988, the Salt Creek Ballet Company proposed to lease or buy the building, but this did not reach fruition. In 1993, the LaGrange Hospital approached the high school to use the Corral as a day-care center for its employees’ children. The building was also briefly considered as a possible home for the Western Springs Recreation Department, which eventually built a larger facility with a gymnasium on Walker Street.

During the ensuing years, the high school used the building for occasional art exhibits and similar activities. Eventually, a portion of the building was set aside for use as an alternative school facility. The remaining space, some 12,000 square feet, was used for storage.

In 1996, efforts were undertaken to reinvigorate the Corral as a student recreation center. Some $200,000 was raised from area residents to bring the facility up to date. This included the purchase of four new pool tables, a widescreen television, nine 27-inch televisions, four ping pong tables, three foosball tables, three electronic dartboards, a modern sound system, 1950’s style booths surrounding a dance floor, lounge seating, and food service. And, to kick off the re-opening, the Ides of March rock group performed a concert, strictly for the teens.

Corral’s pool tables 2008

Today, the Corral is no longer owned by the student association. But, a group of Lyons Township High School students, known as the Corral Board, is in charge of planning and running the events in the building. These include dances, tournaments, art exhibits, rummage sales, and private parties. It is open to students every day after school from 3:15 pm to 5:00 pm, and on Friday nights from 7 to 10 pm.