Friday, May 22, 2009 9:41 PM CDT
Area campgrounds and parks offer summer fun for all ages
12 Oaks
County Road 550, Martinsville, 100 sites, 25-acre lake with fishing and swimming. Spacious sites with water and electricity and some sites with sewer, $18 a night. Recreation hall with arcade games and pool table, snacks available. Scheduled activities on holiday weekends. Operators Donna and Bob Cuthrell. Call 382-3396 for more information.
Camp Lakewood
1217 W. Rickelman Ave., Effingham, on Lake Pauline; from Interstate 57, take exit 162, turn north (right) on U.S. Route 45 to the traffic light near Pilot Truck Stop. Turn left at the light on to Rickelman Avenue and go straight for 2 miles, turn left at sign. 62 RV sites, three tent sites, water, cable, electric, sewer, wireless Internet; two cottages; playground; lake for fishing; for reservations call 800-961-1198 or 342-6233; information also can be found at www.camplakewoodcampground.com.
Cardinal Campgrounds
R.R. 4, Shelbyville, 3 miles east of Lithia Springs at Lake Shelbyville. Rodger Bassett, owner. 56 camp sites with water, sewer, electric, $17; $10 per tent for primitive sites. Playground; horseshoes; 2-acre pond for fishing, stocked with bass, crappie and channel catfish; restrooms and shower house. Call 774-5064 for reservations.
Casey KOA Kampground
Exit 129 at Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 49. Cathy and Glenn Klinkman, owners. Camper service, hayrides, recreation building, shower house with flush toilets, fishing, ice cream socials, pancake breakfast, bingo and a pool for campers. 80 hookups with water and electricity, 15 of these also include sewer hookup. Prices range from $30 to $39. Three camping cabins and boat rentals available. Ask about special KOA discounts and group rates by calling 800-562-9113.
Douglas-Hart
Nature Center
East of Mattoon on Illinois Route 316, 67-acre nature center with more than 60 different species of trees, native prairie grasses, flowers, wetlands and pond. There is a visitor center with hands-on interpretive displays and large bird observation area, nature study classes, hiking and picnic areas, and programs for families on some weekends. The visitor center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Trails (2 miles) open daily from dawn to dusk. For more information, call 235-4644. For a complete listing of upcoming programs and events, visit www.dhnature.org.
Fox Ridge State Park
Seven miles south of Charleston on Illinois Route 130. Park hours 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., office open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. 12 miles of trails, hilly terrain, picnic shelters and tent and motor home camping sites for $20 a night; holiday rates are $30/night. All sites have electric, with water available. Shower house with flush toilets. Call 345-6416 for more information or reservations for sites and pavilions. Visa and Mastercard accepted.
Hebron Hills Camping
14349 N. County Road 2350E, Oakland, half-way between Oakland and Ashmore on Oakland-Ashmore Road. 60 acres for camping, located in the woods, quiet, relaxing; sewer/water/electric hookups, some tent-only areas, shower house, hiking trails, pond with bass, bluegill and catfish, sand swimming area on pond, no alcohol allowed, family-oriented, cabins for rent, reservations required, no credit cards or debit cards, campsites for rent for $14-$22, call 346-3385.
Hidden Springs
State Forest
Southeast of Shelbyville off Illinois Route 32 about 4 miles, 7 miles of hiking trails, five fishing ponds, archery range and 926 acres for hunting. 28 pads for campers, but no electrical hookups or shower facilities. Camping $8 per night (Class C site). Water is within walking distance. More information can be obtained by calling 644-3091.
Lake Mattoon Marina and Campground
Take U.S. Route 45 to Etna Road, turn west and go to stop sign. Turn left and go 4 miles. Turn right at sign. Electric and water at every site, shower/bath houses, playground, basketball court, fishing, $20 per night for electric, $15 per night for tent, full marina right next door, with tackle, live minnows, fishing licenses, snacks, gas, etc. For information call 254-6680.
Lake Sara Campground
15482 N Wildwood Drive, Effingham, on Lake Sara; from Interstate 57, take exit 160 toward Illinois Route 32/33, turn right on Route 32, left on County Road N. 1000th St., right on County Road E. 1600th Ave., left on Beach Road and right on Wildwood Drive. Full camper hookup (electricity, water, sewer, cable) $25/night; tent hookup (water/electricity) $20/night. For reservations and information, call 868-2964.
Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site and
the Sargent Farm
Eight miles south of Charleston on Lincoln Highway, 15 miles southeast of Mattoon. Period re-enactments and live interpretations of the 1845 lifestyle from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Open Memorial Day and Labor Day. This is the 1840s farm of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln, parents of the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. Site picnic areas and pavilions open from 8:30 a.m. to dusk daily, no admission charge, but donations are accepted. Call for reservation on pavilion. For information, call 345-1845.
Lincoln Springs Resort
9699 N. County Road 2000E, Ashmore, 3 miles east of Charleston on Illinois Route 16, follow signs. Stovepipe Grill and Smokehouse; The Game Nexus, state-of-the-art computer and console game center; 18-hole miniature golf course featuring fountains, waterfalls and ponds; world’s tallest statue of Abe Lincoln; lakeside activities; more. For information call 345-3424 or 1-877-770-0ABE; or visit Web site, www.lincolnspringsresort.com.
Lincoln Trail State Park
Three miles south and 1 mile west of Marshall on Illinois Route 1, 146 acres of fishing. There are more than 1,023 acres in the park. 35 tent sites are available for $8 a night as well as a picnic area; showers are open. For $20, trailer campers can choose from more than 208 sites with electricity (prices $30/night during holiday weekends). Monday through Thursday, camping for Illinois seniors, 62 and older, is $15. No reservations accepted. Bait and boat rental and full-service restaurant (call 826-8831). Phone 826-2222 for information.
Mill Creek Park
On Clarksville Road east of Westfield, 7 miles northwest of Marshall. Six cabin units, first is a double unit with upper and lower levels available each three bedrooms for $115 a night or $690 a week for upper and $115 a night or $690 a week for lower. Launch cabin, one-bedroom, $90/day $540.week; a cabin with three units, upper level (studio) $65 a night or $400 a week, ground level (handicapped accessible) one-bedroom $90/night or $540 a week; lower level, 2 bedrooms $110 a night and $660 a week. Concession stand available daily beginning at 11 a.m. 139 campsites with water and electricity for $18 and under per night (weekly and monthly rates available). Senior citizen rate available for campground on specified nights. Showers, playground, picnic areas with three shelters, volleyball court, basketball court, soccer field, 5½ miles of nature trails, 15-mile horse and separate ATV trail and horseshoe pits. Fishing and skiing is the main attraction on this 800-acre lake. Rental boats available, pontoon boats, free fishing pole use from gate house. For more information, call 889-3601 or 889-3901, or visit the Web site at clarkcountyparkdistrict.com. For anyone who lives in Clark County Park District Taxing Area, in-district rates are available.
Riverfront Campground
One mile south of the Lake Shelbyville dam off Illinois Route 16. Permanent sites only available. Showers, playground, covered pavilion, amphitheatre, on Kaskaskia River. For more information on the campground, call 774-4442.
Robin Hood Woods
East of Lake Shelbyville dam on Illinois Route 16. 200 sites: water and electric $25 a night; water, electric and sewer $28/night. Shower house available. Three rental cottages, fully furnished for $80 a night and log cabins from $80-$140 a night, all nine cabins have satellite. RV parts store, camp store, laundry facilities, large game room, pool and hiking trails, playground, pavilion and stocked fishing pond. For information, call 774-4222 or visit the Web site at www.robinhoodwoods.com.
Sullivan Marina
and Campground
Across from Sullivan access area beach south of Sullivan on Illinois Route 32. Full-service marina, small playground, in-ground pool, volleyball court, bait, bank fishing, a marina pump-off. Skeeters, a floating, limited-menu, patio restaurant and lounge, weekend entertainment. Rental boats available. Efficiency, 700-square-foot kitchenette suites or lodging. Shower/restroom. Seasonal non-transient campsites available through Nov. 1; overnight camping. 142 water, electric and sewer $33 per unit per night, 70 water and electric $29 per unit per night, and 25 primitive sites $23 per night per tent. For more information, call 728-7338.
Walnut Point State Park
From Oakland go 3 miles north. Look for signs. 60-acre fishing lake. Electric motors only on lake. Camping facilities. Electric hook-up available. Drinking water, shower facility and dump station available for $20. Tent camping available at $8. Organized adult groups are $4 per person with $40 minimum and youth groups are $2 per person with a $20 minimum. Picnic areas, pavilions, horseshoe pits, playground equipment and walking trails. Rowboat or paddle boat rental. For park information, call 346-3336.
Wilderness Lake
Ten miles southeast of Martinsville, 13295 East Wilderness Road. Open year-round. 8-acre lake for swimming and fishing. 120 sites with water, electricity and some sites with sewer, $15 per night. Arcade, game room. Activities on most weekends. Owner Kim Mathias. Call 279-3396 for information.
Wood’s Woods
Five miles east of Tuscola, 1 mile south off U.S. Route 36. Open May 1-Nov. 1 with 80 sites for $15 a night. Seven-acre campground is bordered by Embarras River. Pavilion on the grounds. For more information, call 253-2487; for reservations, call 253-3170.
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