Ragdale is a place where writers and artists of all disciplines can find uninterrupted time to work in a peaceful setting. Ragdale is situated on 50 acres of virgin prairie in beautiful Lake Forest, Illinois, and each year, provides living and working space for more than 200 writers, visual artists and composers from all over the United States and from many other countries.

The Ragdale house was built to serve as prominent Chicago architect Howard Van Doren Shaw's summer retreat. The surroundings are peaceful and relaxing, but only 30 miles from downtown Chicago.