The William Tell name has been part of Countryside, Illinois, since the 1970s. Stanley Lenoch is documented as the owner of William Tell Restaurant in Countryside from 1974, and family records connect his wife, Zdenka, to the property’s early identity.
Over the decades, the property at 6201 Joliet Road operated under the William Tell and Holiday Inn names, welcomed hotel guests, and hosted weddings, meetings and community gatherings. Today, the William Tell name has returned through William Tell Hotel, part of the MOD Collection by Sonesta.
Some details of the property’s earliest years are still being confirmed through family records, photographs and vintage promotional material. This guide separates the documented timeline from the traditions associated with the hotel, and the hotel welcomes photographs, menus or memories that can help fill in the story.
The William Tell Story at a Glance
| Period | Documented development |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Stanley Lenoch is documented as the owner of William Tell Restaurant in Countryside from this year |
| Following decades | The Joliet Road property operated under the William Tell and Holiday Inn names, including as the Holiday Inn Chicago SW Countryside Conference Center, hosting lodging, dining and events |
| 2012–2014 | Ultima Hospitality took over management and Pearlshire Capital Group acquired the 172-room hotel in 2014, investing in renovations |
| 2026 | The property reopens as William Tell Hotel, part of the MOD Collection by Sonesta, with 180 rooms and Tell’s Tavern; Route 66 marks its centennial the same year |
Some earlier dates and details are still being researched through historical records. The hotel welcomes photographs, menus and memories that can help document the William Tell story — please contact the hotel to share them.
The William Tell Restaurant Begins in Countryside
The most firmly documented starting point is 1974. Stanley Lenoch’s published obituary states that he was the owner of William Tell Restaurant in Countryside from that year, following a 45-year career in the hospitality and real estate industry. Family records also connect his wife, Zdenka, to the restaurant’s early identity.
William Tell developed a distinctive identity around Swiss-inspired dining and design. Specific claims about its original architecture, entertainment or menus — from chalet-style rooflines to live music — are part of the hotel’s remembered history, and are noted here as such until they can be confirmed with dated photographs, advertisements, menus or family records.
The William Tell Holiday Inn Years
The Ultima Hospitality and Pearlshire Capital Group era brought a $8 million renovation and more than 25,000 square feet of event space.
A Gathering Place for Countryside
Weddings, banquets and community events have long been part of William Tell's story across its restaurant and Holiday Inn years.
Visit Tell's Tavern
William Tell and Historic Route 66
The hotel stands at 6201 Joliet Road in Countryside, on the historic Route 66 alignment of Joliet Road through the community. Route 66 reaches its centennial in 2026, and Countryside is planned to receive an official Route 66 shield monument marking the corridor’s history — giving visitors another reason to explore this stretch of the Mother Road.
See our guide to the Route 66 centennial in Illinois or explore more Route 66 attractions nearby.
The Return of the William Tell Name
After years operating under Holiday Inn branding, the William Tell name returned to the property in 2026, when it reopened with 180 rooms as William Tell Hotel, part of the MOD Collection by Sonesta.
The current hotel brings together guest rooms, meeting and event spaces — including for weddings — and Tell’s Tavern, the on-site restaurant carrying the William Tell dining name forward with a Swiss-inspired menu.
The Next Fifty Years
The William Tell story continues through the guests, celebrations and local memories connected with the property. Visitors can stay along the historic Route 66 corridor, dine at Tell’s Tavern, or plan a gathering in the hotel’s event spaces.
If you have a historic photograph, menu or memory connected with William Tell, contact the hotel and help preserve the story for future visitors. You can also discover the William Tell legacy today.
FAQ
When did William Tell open in Countryside?
William Tell Restaurant is documented as operating in Countryside from 1974 under Stanley Lenoch. The precise opening chronology of the restaurant and the adjoining hotel is still being confirmed through the property’s historical records.
Who founded William Tell in Countryside?
Stanley Lenoch is documented as the owner of William Tell Restaurant in Countryside from 1974. His wife, Zdenka, is remembered alongside him in the family’s history with the property.
Is William Tell Hotel on Route 66?
Yes. The hotel is located on Joliet Road in Countryside, along the historic Route 66 corridor through Illinois.
What is William Tell Hotel called today?
The property operates as William Tell Hotel, part of the MOD Collection by Sonesta. It includes guest rooms, meeting and event spaces, and Tell’s Tavern.
Was William Tell Hotel previously a Holiday Inn?
Yes. The Countryside property operated for years under Holiday Inn branding — including as the Holiday Inn Chicago SW Countryside Conference Center — before the William Tell name returned to the hotel in 2026.
Why was it called William Tell?
The property developed a Swiss-inspired identity around the William Tell name. The hotel is continuing to research the founders’ original naming decision, so specific explanations should be treated as part of its remembered history unless supported by archival records.
Can former guests share photographs or memories?
Yes. Former guests, employees and community members can contact the hotel about photographs, menus and memories connected with William Tell’s history.