Our Story
Since 1854
Welcome to The Homestead 1854
More than just a unique and unforgettable intimate wedding venue we are a boutique team building and retreat venue that hosts corporate, family and individual retreats and we are a perfect mid-weeknight gathering spot for beer, wine & coffee or yoga!
Located less than 60 miles from downtown Chicago in Plano, Illinois, The Homestead 1854 is a unique property that features an elegant mix of old and new. The Homestead 1854 is a place friends can laugh and enjoy much needed time together, family can gather to share stories and individuals & teams can be inspired, create and re-energize.
The Homestead 1854’s current owners, Chet and Mary Kay Sergo, purchased the Chicago area venue in July 2012. The Sergos are committed to maintaining the integrity of the property and to serving their guests with the hospitality, energy, and respect that was so well embodied by the home’s original owner, Lewis Steward.
Mary Kay Sergo, Partner Founder & Owner
My decision to quit my job to become a full-time business owner was based on my dream of establishing an “off- the-beaten-path” property that provides space for people to love, laugh and connect. Used to hard work and high stress and with a BA in Organizational Administration, I designed The Homestead 1854 to merge three distinct services: Intimate Wedding and Luxury Occasion Experiences; Wellness, Adventure and Corporate Retreat Experiences and Overnight Accommodations. My last career gave me national and international opportunities to excel at organizational & staff development, policy development, program planning, design & implementation, strategic planning and execution of memorable executive leadership conferences & special events.
I am a lover of travel, a coffee red wine junkie, enjoy being on the water and my yoga mat, evening campfires and crème brulee. My life goal is to live a matchless and brilliant life, with humility and grace.
Chet Sergo, Partner Founder & Owner
I graduated from UW Stevens Point with a BS in Physical Education & Health and from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX with a MS in Kinesiology. While growing up, I spent time working summer jobs shearing pine trees, doing farm work, road construction & maintenance, and bartending. I played a lot of baseball, basketball, football, and enjoyed the outdoors.
My collision of diverse careers as an elementary PE teacher, Junior College baseball coach, professional baseball scout with the Kansas City Royals & Los Angeles Dodgers, and experience with home construction and reconstruction taught me risk tolerance, optimism, and leadership. With an eye toward practical functionality and preserving the history of the property, with sarcasm and dry wit, I direct the reality side of The Homestead 1854.
I enjoy staying active and have a love for archery hunting, snorkeling, time in the outdoors, Wisconsin Fish Fries and Old Fashioneds.
Amy Goodwin, Luxury Occasion Specialist
Nothing brings me more joy than creating the right environment for guests to have a truly memorable event. I understand special occasions in a holistic way that few are capable of because my career has been both broad and deep. With over 10 years of experience working with prominent hotel brands I blend my experiences as an Events Coordinator, Catering Manager and Director of Sales with my BS in Family Consumer Science to create exceptional celebrations.
In 2015, I attended a retreat at The Homestead 1854 and something stirred in me that led me to first begin working here as a yoga instructor for the property’s Yoga & Wine and Wellness & Yoga retreats. Now, as the Luxury Occasion Specialist, I am able to combine my passion for yoga with my expertise in the hospitality industry to work one on one with guests to plan personalized and seamless experiences. When not inspiring others through yoga and wedding or event planning, I can be found with the loves of my life, my husband, Kyle and daughters, Penny and Reese enjoying time at the lake or a park. I also love enjoying a good wine and time with my best friend and mom, Susan!
A property that boasts a rich and varied history.
In 1854, Lewis Steward, the founder of the town of Plano, built the Homestead 1854 to be patterned after the picturesque country cottages that are reminiscent of rural Tuscan villas.
In the early 1850s, the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad began expanding westward from Chicago.
Seeing an opportunity for business growth as a result of the railroad’s expansion, Steward offered the railroad access across his family’s farm and proposed to build a town around the railroad. In 1853, Mr. Steward plotted the town of Plano, configuring the streets, planting trees, subdividing his property for new settlers, and donating land to build the town’s twelve original churches. For the next several years, Lewis Steward focused his efforts on the growth and development of Plano, supporting its industries and maintaining the city’s economic strength. Steward was a lawyer, farmer, merchant, manufacturer, horse breeder, philanthropist, and served as the area’s Representative in the. 52nd United States Congress. Mr. Steward was known as a man of integrity, always with an eye for the welfare of the residents of Plano. He provided the town with its water system, developed a park, built an opera house, and took school children to the neighboring city of Aurora to see the circus. As a result, Plano became known as “The Child of Lewis Steward’s Creation.” Mr. Steward expanded the house in the early 1860s and again in the late 1870s, and the house remained in the Steward family until 1954.
