Some like to call the little town of Gurnee, IL a little town, when it is in fact, a very large town. Growing up I always thought of it as a small town, but recently I realized it is quite the opposite, thanks to Gurnee Mills and Six Flags. People come from all around the country to visit our "little town." Here are 10 things you know if you're from Gurnee.
1. Never, ever go on Grand Ave. during rush hour. Or any time over the summer for that matter.
Grand Ave. gets you basically anywhere important in town, but it is awful driving on Grand at rush hour. There are literally lights on every street, random merges, an interstate interchange, Gurnee Mills, AND Six Flags. Just forget about driving on Grand when Six Flags opens.
2. Everyone knows someone that works at the Jewel-Osco on Hunt Club and Data.
Literally, every high schooler works at Jewel. Whenever I go to Jewel I see at least four people I know working there.
3. Everyone owns a Six Flags season pass.
It took me a while to convince my parents to let me get a season pass, but after they realized how many people have them they finally let me get one too.
4. Six Flags is the best thing to do in town.
Bored? Six Flags. With a group of friends trying to figure out what to do? Let's go to Six Flags. Six Flags is closed? Well, I guess we'll hang out some other time.
5. Don't even enter Gurnee Mills during the holidays.
We always wonder why people come far and wide to shop at a ghetto outlet mall, but they do. And they especially do around the holidays. Don't even think about getting in and out within an hour; set aside at least three for getting through the mall and then waiting in lines.
6. The whole town cried happy tears when we finally got Portillo's.
I even skipped school to go to the grand opening but that's okay because it's Portillo's.
7. Always having to explain how your high school has two campuses because it's so big.
Well, that's what you get for being one of the largest high schools in all of Illinois.
8. Never go to Oberweis on a Sunday in the summer.
You wait for a half hour in line then another half hour for your ice cream and it's probably melted before it ever gets to you.
9. We have the coolest mayor.
Okay maybe not everyone knows about our super great Mayor Kovarik, but she's pretty great and she does so much for the town.
10. Once you're away, you can't wait to go back.
When I left for college I didn't think I would miss Gurnee at all, just my family and my friends from Gurnee, but I really do miss the whole town. It's my home, and it always will be.
