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The long-empty clubhouse of the former Bon Vivant Country Club is set to get new life after the village of Bourbonnais annexed roughly 18 acres this month, a move that clears the way for weddings, a restaurant and a public-private financing plan. The decision, approved at the April 6 meeting, follows a recent sale and a county zoning variance that together aim to repurpose a landmark that has stood unused for years.
Once regarded as one of Illinois’s premier golfing destinations, the Bon Vivant complex fell silent after closing in 2008. Its original 18-hole championship layout opened in 1980 and was crafted by designer Ray Didier; a second course on the property, designed by David Esler, debuted in 1997. The clubhouse and grounds have remained largely vacant since operations ceased.
Last week’s annexation brought the property inside Bourbonnais municipal boundaries after Alpha Elite Ventures, LLC — owned by events entrepreneur Travis Meils — acquired the site while it was under Kankakee County control. County officials had already approved a zoning variance in September 2025 allowing general commercial use, specifically for a banquet center and restaurant.
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What’s planned and who’s behind it
Village documents and recent meeting minutes say Alpha Elite intends to convert the facility into an events venue that will host weddings and large private gatherings. At a Feb. 25 Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals hearing, Meils described his plans and emphasized his experience; he told commissioners he has organized events for more than two decades and manages more than a thousand occasions a year.
Bourbonnais officials framed the redevelopment as a significant local gain. Mayor Jeff Keast said the venue will accommodate large ceremonies — roughly 300 to 400 guests — and likely include a restaurant component, calling the project a welcome addition to the village and a fresh phase for the site.
- Buyer: Alpha Elite Ventures, LLC (Travis Meils)
- Annexation: ~18 acres added to Bourbonnais on April 6
- Prior zoning: Governed by Kankakee County; variance for commercial use granted Sept. 2025
- Planned uses: Banquet facility, wedding venue (300–400 capacity), restaurant
- Historic note: Main course opened 1980 (Ray Didier); North Course opened 1997 (David Esler); operations ceased 2008
- Public finance: Village will contribute annually either $5,000 or 15% of the TIF increment, whichever is greater
Why this matters now
For residents and local businesses, the project promises immediate economic effects: event-driven visitors increase demand for catering, lodging and retail, while the site’s reuse avoids long-term blight. The village is also moving to create a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district encompassing Career Center Road — a plan made possible because the annexed banquet site sits adjacent to the Kankakee Area Career Center, which was also annexed at the April meeting.
By bringing the parcels into a single municipal jurisdiction, Bourbonnais can capture future property tax gains from redevelopment to support infrastructure or public improvements in the district. Village administrator Mike Van Mill said the municipality will annually return a minimum of $5,000 or 15% of the TIF increment to the redevelopment effort, signaling a modest public investment to leverage private renovation.
Longtime residents who remember the course in its heyday see potential in restoring activity to the parcel, while officials say the move aligns with broader efforts to attract visitors and stimulate local spending. The timeline for renovations, permitting and venue openings has not been finalized in public documents; officials and the new owner say further details will emerge as planning proceeds.
Repurposing the Bon Vivant property illustrates a common post-recession pattern: dormant recreational sites converted into mixed commercial uses that combine hospitality, events and community services. For Bourbonnais, the combination of private experience in event management and municipal tools like annexation and a TIF create a clear path to turning a longtime vacant asset into a functioning local amenity.
