You can win in one of Northeast Ohio’s most successful annual charity events, the Lake County YMCA Dream House

Dream House 2019 Image With Car And Name No Logo
Dubbed a “modern farmhouse,” the home’s rustic esthetic abounds with organic elements, galvanized steel, natural woods, live-edge tables, shiplap and, of course, rolling barn doors.

By Mimi Vanderhaven

Each year, the team that orchestrates the Lake County YMCA Dream House pulls off the unthinkable: designing and building a home from the ground up and filling it with inspiring home decor.

And its 26th year is no different. On Saturday, June 29, the doors will be open for tours of the 2019 Dream House.

Dubbed a “modern farmhouse,” the home’s rustic esthetic abounds with organic elements, galvanized steel, natural woods, live-edge tables, shiplap and, of course, rolling barn doors.

Designed and built by ProBuilt Homes, the two-story home boasts 3,400 square feet of living space. It features three luxuriously appointed bedrooms (optional 4th bedroom currently showcased as the S.T.E.A.M. room), three-and-a-half baths, a three-car garage and sprawling outdoor kitchen, and is valued at over $500,000.

Some of the region’s most talented designers pitched in and each brought their super savvy ideas to different areas of the home.

It’s a showcase for how to make a home family-friendly and infinitely livable, yet with breathtaking and innovative design. Take for instance the S.T.E.A.M. room, a haven for budding scientists, techies and artists. It’s experiment-proof with indestructible counters, workstations and pegboard walls to present patent-worthy projects. Or the hideaway gaming room for preteen adventures, complete with a faux custom-built lighthouse serving as entryway. And what does any modern family need in their theater room? How about a smoothie bar with fruit-filled wire baskets on the wall?

Hoping to Topple Last Year’s Goal
“This is our largest fundraiser of the year,” says Dick Bennett, CEO and Executive Director of the Lake County YMCA.

“While 2018 was a record year for sales and we are hopeful to do even better this year, the most important part of this project is that it raises critical funds to allow us to meet our mission every day. No one is turned away for financial reasons. Our Y is making a significant impact in the lives of countless individuals that we serve in our communities.”

He also notes that this project would not be possible without the 500+ local volunteers and staff as well as the support of the community, sponsors and business partners.

“We remain one of only a few Y’s in the country to be able to raise funds on this grand of a scale,” he says.

Dollars Making a Difference in Your Community
On a local level, the YMCA’s presence and partnerships deliver lasting personal and social change, serving more than 50,000 people each year.

For 21,000+ kids and teens, it provides a wide range of activities to nurture their potential. Over the years, countless facility enhancements have been made possible because of the Dream House project.

Will this year’s ticket sales topple last year’s? Will you be the one whose key turns the door lock to open the home of your dreams?

There’s only one way to find out.

Tour The YMCA Dream House
Daily tours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Sundays (July 4th 11 a.m.-3 p.m.), closing its doors Sunday, August 4, at 7 p.m. Semi-final drawing is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7. Final drawing is Sunday, August 11, 2 p.m. Parking is available at the church adjacent to the Dream House.


  • WHAT: 2019 Lake County YMCA Dream House (valued at over $500,000)
  • WHEN: Saturday, June 29, through Sunday, August 4
  • WHERE: 36470 Maplegrove Road Willoughby Hills, OH 44094 (at the corner of Maple Hill Drive)
  • TICKETS: Purchase tickets to win the Dream House (or a $275,000 cash option including furnishings unless marked otherwise) at the Dream House during tour hours, at all Lake County YMCA branches, or online at YMCADreamHouse.org. Don’t miss the early bird ticket special, going on now through June 28: For $65, buy 5 house tickets and get 1 house ticket and 4 car tickets free!
  • AND A NEW CAR: There is a separate drawing for a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro valued at $30,000 provided by Northeast Ohio Chevy Dealers and Classic Chevrolet in Mentor