Abandoned Folly

At the west edge of Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve along Salt Creek, (part of the Dupage County Forest Preserve system) sits an abandoned theater playhouse or folly structure, and several large statues and urns scattered around, completely enveloped in overgrowth.

The only signs of life now are one or two old campfires and some broken beer bottles. Following a now-abandoned path west of Rainbow Bridge in the Paul Butler Nature Area, the structure can be seen in winter or late fall when the foliage is down. Steps in large stones have been placed or carved at the bank of the river, as if for boats at some time in the past. Near these steps are several huge overturned urns underwater, as if at one time there was a grand entrance.

The Paul Butler Nature area was at one time a developed part of the larger Fullersburg Woods, but at some point was left to return to nature, with its trails and everything else in it abandoned. With no maintained trails to it, and a muddy river on 3 sides, it's unlikely this structure has been seen by more than a handful of people for a very long time.