[8] In the late 19th and early 20th century, Wayne was a prominent center of horse breeding and farming research.

Wayne Center was located on Army Trail Road at DuPage River crossing and no longer exists.

"Downtown" Wayne was originally a railroad outpost built along Glos Street and Army Trail Road.

This is partially due to the native Oak savanna landscape between the DuPage and Fox rivers, with Tallgrass prairies that retain a large amount of water in the spring season.

Through grants and contributions from Dunham Castle's owners, the station was moved back to its original location and is currently being restored.

The stone structure, complete with turret, was inspired by a Norman castle and was built by one of Wayne's first pioneers, Mark Dunham, a Percheron horse breeder.

During the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, a train from Chicago to Wayne brought guests to see the Percheron horses at the 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) farm.

The building, of brick, and stone, with different colored slate roofing, stands surrounded by woods, gardens, and a gently sloping lawn.

In 1976, the Castle was sold to the Griffins family, who looked into making the house a museum, professional office, or private dining club.

However, Percheron horse demand declined steadily as gas-powered cars, trucks, and farm implements grew in popularity, finally making Percherons a novelty or parade horse, and Oaklawn Farm ceased operation as a commercial enterprise.

A fire destroyed the original old coach house in 1950 and the proceeds of the insurance were utilized by the club to purchase the Inn, the Lower Barn, swimming pool, tennis courts, and surrounding land.

The village has miles of equestrian paths, as well as dozens of horse farms, riding centers, and boarding stables.

The hunt involves kennels for some 60 fox hounds and a membership list of 150, though 80 riders represent a good turnout on a crisp fall weekend.

The Wayne-DuPage Hunt Pony Club is a related organization for teaching young people riding, training and horse care.

Wayne residents and guests in the church courtyard eat donated cakes and bring picnics.

Residents and guests celebrate Wayne Day around the first Saturday in October each year in the fields east of the Dunham Club with a kite flying, picnic, and evening bonfire.

The Village of Wayne started hosting an annual Christmas Tree lighting by the Old Depot building in 2021.

Located in the county's northwest corner, the preserve's 3,462 acres (14.01 km2) combine with Illinois Department of Natural Resource land adjacent on the north to form a continuous 4,000 acres (16 km2) stretch of land, a scarce resource in a growing urban area.

The savannas, marshes, meadows and wetlands of Pratt's Wayne Woods offer a myriad of nature-loving opportunities and recreational excursions.

The first private land owner of this area was Mark Wentworth Fletcher, a surveyor who made his living in Geneva, Dundee, Elgin, St. Charles and Wayne.

Once this idea was abandoned, George Pratt convinced the District to purchase the quarry area for a forest preserve.

In 1974, Pratt expanded the preserve by selling his adjacent 250 acres (1.0 km2) Maple Spring Farm to the District.

Since the early 20th century, the complex of wetlands in Pratt's Wayne Woods’ Brewster Creek area have been artificially drained by a system of buried clay pipes.

The Forest Preserve District is now removing these drain tiles to restore this vital habitat, which over the years has become home to several threatened and endangered plant and animal species.

James "Pate" Philip State Park is located just north of Pratt's Wayne Woods.

A 24,000 square foot (2,200 m2) visitors center that also houses the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Region 2 headquarters opened in April 2003.