Five welcome centers in Starved Rock Country open for fall visitors
The centers offer free guides, local merchandise, and historic exhibits across Ottawa, North Utica, Oglesby, and La Salle.
By Matthew Brooks ·
Five visitor centers in Starved Rock Country opened for the fall season, providing free information and local goods to travelers. The Ottawa Visitors Center operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with Saturday hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. Located at 1028 La Salle St., the center sits at the start of the downtown district. Staff provide free visitor guidebooks that detail the city’s Old Town, including historic sites and restaurants. The center sells regional T-shirts, postcards, water bottles, tote bags, ornaments, and locally made pottery.
The Illinois Waterway Visitors Center is located at 950 N. 27th Road in Ottawa. It operates daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers runs the center at the Starved Rock Lock and Dam. The facility offers views of river barges, watercraft, and migratory birds. The waterway spans 333 miles and drops more than 160 feet in elevation. The gift shop sells books, collectibles, and stuffed animals of bald eagles.
In North Utica, the Starved Rock Country Welcome Center and Illinois Made Gift Shoppe are at 248 W. Canal St. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. seven days a week. The shop is one block from downtown Utica’s Mill Street. It sells items from Illinois Makers and Artisans, including walking sticks, pottery, and greeting cards. The store also stocks children’s toys and books on local history. It serves as a starting point for visits to Starved Rock State Park.
The Starved Rock State Park Visitors Center is at 2668 E. 873rd Road in Oglesby. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center features interactive displays, free history videos, and hiking maps. The adjacent LaRoche Gift Shop is open most days from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Trailhead Concessions and Gifts sells hiking snacks. The screening room offers films upon request, including “In the Shadow of the Rock” and “Civilian Conservation Corps.”
The Lock 16 Café and Visitor Center is at 754 First St. in La Salle. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The historic brick building houses the headquarters for the I&M Canal National Heritage Area. Exhibits cover the history of the canal. The building was originally a carriage shop built in the early 1910s. The café serves artisan sodas and house-brewed iced tea. The gift shop sells commemorative apparel and educational books.
