Weston, Illinois, DuPage County is an emblematic ghost town nestled in the heart of Illinois. It whispers tales of ambition and change. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: DuPage County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: Approximately 41.7697° N, 88.0901° W
Elevation: 745 feet
Time Zone: Central Time Zone (CT)
Established: 1964
Disestablished: Late 1960s
Comments: Weston was an ambitious project initiated by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in the 1960s. The vision was to create a site for a massive particle accelerator, which would have marked a significant advancement in scientific research.
However, Weston’s choice eventually lost out to a site in Batavia, Illinois, where Fermilab still exists.
Remains: Weston was predated by a 100-home subdivision named West Field, which was on the verge of growing in size due to a proposed development for 50,000 people.
However, DuPage County sued developer William Riley to prevent the town from incorporating, basing their challenge upon a technicality, and further stated that as it had not properly incorporated, the town had no legal right to annex land for development.
In April 1964, four months after the town’s unveiling, the project collapsed, and the developed filed for bankruptcy, blaming the county’s lawsuit. Had construction proceeded as planned, the town would have contained the largest mall in North America, with 2,000 stores.
The town also was to have an airport, more than 11,000 homes, athletics fields, a town center, and even large man-made lakes.
Current Status: The area that was once Weston has been absorbed into the surrounding regions, particularly the village of Warrenville in DuPage County. The site is no longer distinguishable as an independent settlement.
Remarks: Weston’s story reflects the unpredictable nature of progress and development, where grand plans can sometimes be derailed by unforeseen changes.
Despite its brief existence, the proposed development of Weston as a scientific hub left a lasting impact on regional planning and the scientific community.
