Five local centers help visitors plan trips to Starved Rock area

Five visitor centers in the Starved Rock Country are open this fall to help travelers plan their itineraries. Each location provides free local information, staff recommendations, and retail spaces selling regional products. The sites span from Ottawa to North Utica and La Salle, offering distinct resources for those visiting the area.

The Ottawa Visitors Center sits at 1028 La Salle Street in downtown Ottawa. The hub is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays. Staff distribute visitor pamphlets and sell merchandise such as T-shirts, water bottles, and locally made pottery. A free guidebook is available there, outlining the city's Old Town, which features turn-of-the-century buildings, boutique shops, and restaurants.

In Ottawa, the Illinois Waterway Visitors Center operates daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 950 N. 27th Road. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the center, which is located at the Starved Rock Lock and Dam. The waterway stretches 333 miles from Lake Michigan to Grafton, with elevation drops exceeding 160 feet. The center allows visitors to view the lock system in action, along with river barges and migratory birds. The gift shop sells books and stuffed animals featuring the bald eagles that frequent the lock.

The Starved Rock Country Welcome Center and Illinois Made Gift Shoppe is located at 248 W. Canal St. in North Utica. It is open daily from noon to 6 p.m. The site is one block from Mill Street in downtown Utica. The shop carries goods from Illinois Makers and Artisans, including walking sticks, pottery, and greeting cards. Inventory also includes children's toys and books on local history. Staff provide brochures and maps for planning trips 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 and free videos on the park's history. Hiking maps are available, and a bookstore stocks park souvenirs. Trailhead Concessions and Gifts nearby sells hiking snacks. The LaRoche Gift Shop is open most days from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Upon request, the screening room shows films such as In the Shadow of the Rock, which is 15 minutes long, and Orientation to Starved Rock, which is 9 minutes long.

The Lock 16 Cafe and Visitor Center is at 754 First St. in La Salle. It operates from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Wednesday through Sunday. The historic brick building serves as the headquarters for the I&M Canal National Heritage Area. Exhibits detail the history of the man-made waterway. The building was originally a carriage shop built in the early 1910s. The gift shop sells commemorative apparel and educational books. The cafe offers beverages including artisan sodas and a house-brewed iced tea.