ILLINOIS STATE PARKS
Dept. of Conservation
524 S. Second St.
Springfield, IL 62706
217/782-6302
TTY 800/406-6418
Internet: <http://www.enjoyillinois.com>
Reservations - 800/2-CONNECT
All state parks in Illinois are open year around.
CAVE IN ROCK
Box 338
New State Park Road
Cave-In Rock, IL 62919
619/289-4325
For reservations write Cave In Rock Restaurant and Lodging, Cave In Rock, IL, 62919, or call: 618/289-4545.
A bank of the Ohio River provides the setting for this historic 210-acre state park in the Shawnee National Forest. This park takes its name from a large natural cave used as a hiding place by pirates who preyed upon river travelers after the Revolutionary War until the 1830’s. Today the contemporary setting features four duplex cabins, located on a bluff overlooking the Ohio River, with eight suites, each accommodating up to four people. The suites have deluxe baths, TV, kitchenettes (no cooking facilities), dining area, wet bar, bedroom, living room, and private patio deck overlooking the river. Other amenities include a 9-hole golf course nearby, playgrounds, and picnic shelters. The family style restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, including Southern specialties, such as catfish. The conference center features five meeting rooms, with the largest room seating 250 people; this is a popular location for weddings and banquets. Activities in the area include hiking, fishing, boating, bicycling, golfing, picnicking, and antiquing, and birdwatching. Located within Cave-In-Rock State Park, the lodge is 55 miles SE of Marion, off I-57. Travel Illinois 13 SE to IL 1, then S to the park. The cabins are open year around. The restaurant is closed mid-Dec. to February. The park has the only ferry on the Ohio River.
EAGLE CREEK STATE PARK
INN AT EAGLE CREEK RESORT and Conference Center
Findlay, IL 62534
Reservations - 800/876-3245, or 217/756-3456
Located on Lake Shelbyville and Eagle Creek State Park, it provides luxury resort facilities, including 128 rooms and 10 executive suites with fireplaces. Rooms feature full baths, TV, telephone, and views of the countryside and lake area from your outdoor patios. The Inn at Eagle Creek Resort features an indoor swimming pool, 18-hole golf course, four tennis courts, gift shop and pro shop, pontoon and fishing boat rentals, and meeting facilities. The Wildflowers Dining Room specializes in continental fare. The Foxes Den Lounge and Grill provides hearty entrees. Also available is nearby Eagle Nest Conference Retreat, featuring a fireplace, eight sleeping rooms, full service kitchen and wet bar. Enjoy golfing, hiking, fishing, water-skiing, swimming, relaxing in the whirlpool and sauna, bicycling, archery, and in winter, cross-country skiing. Antique shops are in nearby towns. The Inn at Eagle Creek Resort is located within the park, 30 miles SE of Decatur. To reach the resort, travel IL 121 to Dalton City, then take IL 128 S and follow signs to Park and Findlay. The resort is one mile East of Findlay. The resort, conference center, golf course and Wildflowers Dining Room are open year around. The rooms rent for $85 for two double beds; $95 for king beds; and executive suites are $125. The Eagle Nest rents for $1,200 per evening for the eight rooms, and comes with kitchenettes, king beds and queen sleeping sofas, fireplaces and patios on the lake.
GIANT CITY STATE PARK
336 S. Church Road
Makanda, IL
618/457-4836. – Park
618/457-4921 - Lodge
This 3,694-acre park offers shaded woods, sandstone formations and unique plants. The park is nestled in the Shawnee Hills, 12 miles S of Carbondale off U.S. 51. The name of the park is derived from the huge sandstone blocks. Shawnee National Forest surrounds the park. Indians inhabited the area as early as 400 BC, and a stone fort dates back to 600 AD. The cliffs and canyons were havens for soldiers going AWOL in the Civil War. Rare plants such as flowering mints can be seen at Fern Rocks Nature Preserve, just S of the park. There is nice hiking along Indian Creek shelter and Post Oak Nature Trail, designed for the blind. Horses can be rented from the stable. Little Grassy Lake, owned by the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge, offers boating and fishing. Cabins can be rented at the Giant City Lodge. The native stone lodge and 32 cabins are open from March through mid-December. The pioneer cabin rates are $40 single and double, $45 for 3 or 4 persons. The cabins are equipped with AC, showers, heat, TV and carpeting. Write or phone for reservations. The lodge is handicapped accessible.
ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK
Lake Front
Zion, IL 60099
312/662-4811 - Park
312/249-2100 – Lodge
The park stretches 6-1/2 miles along Lake Michigan, between Waukegan and Lake County Forest Preserve Spring Bluff. Located along Sheridan and Wadsworth Roads. The 4,160-acre park offers Lake Michigan beach access, fishing, swimming, hiking, riding stables, tennis, 18-hole golf course, whirlpool, ski rentals, and a museum. The Lake Michigan Dunes, once a part of the Algonquin Indian nation, run through the park. The first American western film was made here in 1914. There are no cabins in the park, but try the lodge at this unique natural area. The concrete glass and stone lodge has 106 guest rooms, with full amenities, and dining. Rates are $60 and up per night.
PERE MARQUETTE STATE PARK
Route 100
Great River Road
Box 158, Grafton, IL 62037
618/786-3323 – Park
618/786-2331 - Lodge
The 7,500-acre park is located in the Central SW part of the state on the Illinois River, where it meets the Mississippi River. The park offers fishing, boating, hiking, horseback riding, hunting and a nature preserve. The park lodge and cottages are presently undergoing renovation, and the new opening date and rates are not set for 1988. Expect a spring opening with 80 refurbished lodge rooms, and seven 3 bedroom cottages. There are 3 organized group camps, which include kitchens with mess halls. The charge is $2 per person, per night. Camp Ouatoga and Camp Piasa have sleeping cabins, and Camp Potawatomi has tents on platforms. The park also offers a "Rent-a-Camp" program; the fee is $17 per night, and reservations are recommended.
STARVED ROCK STATE PARK
Box 509
Utica, IL 61373
815/667-4726.
This 385-acre park is on the S. side of the Illinois River, 1 mile S of Utica, near Ottawa. The park’s name is derived from the Ottawa and Potawatomi tribes who starved on the sand stone butte during a raid by the Illinois Indians. Indians have lived in the area since 8,000 BC. The area had a hotel and artesian-fed swimming pool at the turn of the century. Wildlife abounds among the cottonwoods, willows, and ash, and the area is bordered by a nature preserve to the W. Over 20 miles of hiking trails lead through the canyons, and there is good fishing near the dam on the Illinois River. Ice skating and skiing are popular in the winter.
STARVED ROCK LODGE
Box 471
Utica, IL 61373
815/667-4211
The rustic lodge is built of stone and logs, offering 72 rooms. The lounge has a large double fireplace. There are also 18 cabins and the Teepee House, all complete with baths, AC and pathways, and open year around. The cabins are secluded. Rates are $25 single, $35 double and single bed; deluxe cabins are $37 double twins, or $37 per room in the pioneer cabins. The Teepee House rates are $45 per unit. Reservations needed for the cabins.
REND LAKE - WAYNE FITZGERALD STATE PARK
11094 Ranger Road
Whittington, IL
618/629-2320
REND LAKE RESORT
11712 East Windy Lane
Whittington, IL 62897-9718
618/629-2567 Restaurant
800/633-3341 - Resort
Located in Wayne Fitzgerald State Park in Southern Illinois, this waterside resort, offers 42 first class rooms and cabins; all rooms feature balconies for decks with beautiful lake front views. Some rooms have fireplaces, and others have sleeping loft. Rend Lake is Illinois’ second largest man-made lake. Cabins are outfitted with refrigerators, but no cooking facilities. All lodgings have phones, TV, and full baths with showers. Other amenities of the resort are an outdoor swimming pool, children’s pool, tennis courts, playground, nearby 18-hole golf course, trap shooting, field dog trial grounds, meeting complex, convenience store and gift shop, gas for boats, courtesy boat docking, and paddle fishing and pontoon boat rentals. Windows, the Rend Resort Restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with casual outdoor dining on the deck. House specialties include catfish, steak, and continental fare. Activities include hunting, birdwatching, swimming, boating, sailing, in the 19,000-acre lake. Rend Lake Resort is accessible off I-57 South Mount Vernon, Illinois. The complex is open year around for your enjoyment.