Named for the Native Americans who once inhabited the area, the 510-acre Illini State Park is located south of the Illinois River between Marseilles and U.S. Route 6. In the mid-1920s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built a barge canal to bypass the rapids. The canal borders the park, and visitors can watch as large barges pass through the Marseilles Locks. Less than a mile north of the park is the historic Illinois and Michigan Canal, completed in 1848 when the section from Marseilles to Morris opened. Illini was dedicated as a state park in 1935.
Hickory, ash, walnut, elm, cottonwood, oak and maple trees provide shade in the summer and beautiful colors in the fall. Wildlife abound year round. Picnic areas, shelters and playgrounds are found throughout the park. Several of the shelters also have working fireplaces. Both tent and trailer campsites, including electric and sanitation service, are offered and some of the sites offer outstanding views of the river. A youth camp area is available for youth groups. River fishing is popular out of Illini State Park, where a boat ramp is available.
Just across the Illinois River, a second monument celebrates the lives of Illinois soldiers lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. Spread across a two-and-a-half acre meadow in the far-west of Illini State Park, the 250 oak trees that make up the Illinois Fallen Soldiers Tree Memorial offer a serene, peaceful tribute to fallen troops.
The Illini State Park Foundation Fund was created to accept donations to provide financial support for the Illini State Park and the Illinois Fallen Soldier Tree Memorial, both located in Marseilles, Illinois. Your gift to the Illini State Park Foundation Fund is most welcome!
