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IL |
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Illini State Park is a long linear Park along the south bank of the Illinois river across from the town of Marseilles. The River next to the Park is used heavily for recreational boating and fishing. Bank fishing is allowed from the campground to the east to Mallard Bay and from the west Side of the Park Office to the Lock Facility at the far end of the Park. The proximity of the Marseilles Dam to the Park makes some areas of the river hazardous. For this reason canoeing and boating without the use of a dependable motor is not advised. The towboats and barges that ply the river daily provide entertainment for the many visitors to the Park, especially at night when they glide by the Park with lights glowing. The open fields and the wooded paths provide ample opportunities for playing games or taking a quiet walk and observing the many birds and wildlife that frequent Illini. One is likely to see whitetail deer, wild turkey, fox sqyurrels, various hawks, seagulls, various waterfowl, and an occasional bald eagle. Ground hogs during the day and raccoons and possums during the night add to the adventure. The booming of owls and the distant howl of coyotes can also be heard. The Park has a rich history of the Civil Conservation Corps as there were two camps located in the Park and many of the buildings they constructed in the '30's still stand today The Park was a a premier PGA certified golf course in the 1910's with the only known par 6 hole at that time. The golf course was known as the Marsatawa Country Club and one of it's founders was WD Boyce who also founded the Boy Scouts and is buried in Ottawa Avenue Cemetary in nearby Ottawa.The golf course was converted to a Park by the CCC and opened as a State Park in 1935. The River falls about a foot per mile in this area and before the first Marseilles Dam was built there was a great rapids area in the river known as the Great Falls. It is from those rapids that the campground gets it's name. |
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From Chicago take I-55 south to Rte # 80 West to the Marseilles exit. Go south from the exit on LaSalle County Highway 15 through the town of Marseilles, across the Illinois River Bridge and the Park is the first left. From Bloomington/Normal area take Rte #39 North to Rte #80 East to the Marseilles Exit. Go south from the exit on LaSalle County Highway 15 through the town of Marseilles, across the Illinois River Bridge and the Park is the first left. From the West take Rte #80 East to the Marseilles Exit. Go south from the exit on LaSalle County Highway 15 through the town of Marseilles, across the Illinois River Bridge and the Park is the first left. From the Kankakee Area take Rte#55 north to Rte #80 West to the Marseilles Exit. Go south from the exit on LaSalle County Highway 15 through the town of Marseilles, across the Illinois River Bridge and the Park is the first left. From the North take either Rte #23 south or Rte# 71 South/West to Rte# 80 East to the Marseilles Exit. Go south from the exit on LaSalle County Highway 15 through the town of Marseilles, across the Illinois River Bridge and the Park is the first left. or take Rte#47 South to Rte #80 West to the Marseilles Exit. Go south from the exit on LaSalle County Highway 15 through the town of Marseilles, across the Illinois River Bridge and the Park is the first left. From the Pontiac Area take Rte #23 North to McKinley Road. Turn right and take McKinley/Trumbo Road to LaSalle County Highway 15. Turn left to the Park entrance. |
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Illini State Park |
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452921 |
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http://www.reserveamerica.com/campsiteSearch.do?contractCode=IL&parkId=452921&cmp=39-32--joewils |
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Camping fees are refundable if cancellation notification is received no later than 3 days prior to arrival. Shelter Reservations are non-refundable unless the area is closed by the Department, in this circumstance the Site Manager will contact you prior to your reservation date to cancel and issue your refund. * Quiet hours are 8 pm to 6 am. Noise eminating from campsite must not be heard on adjacent sites during quiet hours. * Alcohol is prohibited year round in all campgrounds Alcohol is prohibited in other areas of the Park January 1 through May 31. * Chopping, cutting, or damaging the bark, of any tree, shrub, in the Park is prohibited and will be severly dealt with. Chain saws are absolutely not allowed in any part of the Park. * The maximum length of stay from May 1 through October 15 is 14 nights/15days in any 30 day period. * All visitors must leave sites and park by 8:00 pm. Campers must return to their own sites by this time also. Night fishing after 8:00 pm is allowed only to the occupants of the waterfront sites only. * Maximum of 4 people or 1 family ( legal guardian(s) and unmarried minor children) and two camping units ( one trailer/motorhome/large tent and one pup tent for minor children; or two medium size tents; or 4 individual single man tents allowed per site. Any type camping unit may be put on any site as long as it conforms with the above. * A responsible adult (18 years of age or older) from the camping party must register for the party and thereby acknowledge compliance with the rules and regulations of the park for the party. * Pets must be on a leash no longer than 10', must be attended at all times, not disturb other campers with barking, and owners must clean up their waste and dispose of it properly. * Cabin /Site #19; no cooking is allowed in cabin, no pets allowed on site or in cabin, no other camping units may be placed on site unless it is the only means of conveyance and no one is staying in unit. * FIREWOOD RULES- Firewood Ban: It is illegal to bring or possess on IDNR properties any firewood from out-of-state or from a quarantine area or adjacent counties where wood exportation or movement has been prohibited by State or Federal Law. PALLET WOOD IS PROHIBITED IN ILLINI STATE PARK FOR ANY REASON. Small wood pieces less than 4" in diameter and less than 3' long may be picked up in the woods and used as firewood. Larger pieces and logs are not allowed to be dragged out of the woods or cut up. * Swimming and or wading is prohibited at this Park. * BB guns, pellet guns, slingshots, etc. or any other weapons are strictly prohibited. * Fireworks of any nature are prohibited. * Shower building is open from May 1 to November 1. Whitetail campground is open May 1 through November 1. * Group Camping Area is for BONA FIDE ORGANIZED YOUTH GROUPS ONLY where a majority of the members are 17 years of age or younger. It is not intended for the use of groups of families to get together under a loosely organized group given a pseudo name such as camporama to avoid the restrictions of the standard camping sites. At least one adult must accompany each group of 15 minors in the youth group. Alcohol is prohibitted in the Youth Group Camping Area * Camping discounts apply to Illinois Residents. * Violation of camp/Park rules could result in eviction without refund and a ticket. * YOUTH GROUPS MUST MAKE RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE BY CONTACTING THE PARK OFFICE. * SHELTERS-NO AMPLIFIED MUSIC ALLOWED, NO STAPLING OR NAILING ALLOWED. For specific park information or questions regarding your reservation, please call the Park Office at 815-795-2448 Please click here to read the rules & regulations for camping at all State of Illinois campgrounds. |
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