We stayed there in June 2023 for 4 days, never saw a DNR employee and never saw a campground host with an on duty sign, camp store was closed ? Site was nice with the largest fire ring I've ever seen. Any time you start the conversation about an entrance fee , the response seems to be the money would just get siphoned off to somewhere else and not make it to the state parks. We like Illini too and love The parks on the West coast of Michigan, not a park in Illinois compares to them. We'll continue to buy the $25-30 out of state passes and visit Mi., Wi., In. state parks over the ones in Illinois.
It's sad, but any money gotten from the DNR would be squandered by the politicians. It's a given, no governor seems to have ever cared about the DNR, so they don't get proper funds. It sucks
It is a high pressure fishing lake. My wife and I live within an hour drive of Shabbona and take our kayaks to the lake. It isn’t far from Dekalb/Sycamore area (the closest Walmart) and Northern Illinois University. We have camped there before as well. Not a bad place to camp. As Illinois residents, we’ve suggested that Illinois get the “passport” system like Michigan. Illini is nice, but we found that we liked Johnson Saul Trail State Recreation Area’s campground much better. It is just north of Kewanee. It has a nice fishing lake that doesn’t get a lot of use (yet). Nice and spacious campsites and decent bathroom/shower buildings. We do like Michigan State Park campgrounds and my wife has camped in them for over 50 years. We like the Lake Charlevoix/Burt Lake/Mackinac Island area. There are quite a few state campgrounds in that area and at least one of them has numerous full hookups.
I live 5 miles from starved rock,it gets hit with thousands of Chicago people every weekend. You are at a small park,garden of the gods is big ,southern Illinois.
I used to live in Ottawa, Illinois. After I retired in 2009 I got to Hell out of Illinois and went to Northern Michigan. More State and Federal Forests; Cleaner Lakes; Rivers and Creeks. Lower Michigan is a Pennisula surrounded by the Great Lakes on three sides. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is also surrounded by Great Lakes.
@@captseamus sounds beautiful,someday I hope to make it there I am 70 now,work and kids and de bt kept me stuck here.my son takes great vacations when he can.hubby doesn't seem interested. Make make a trip on my own or with my son
We stayed there in June 2023 for 4 days, never saw a DNR employee and never saw a campground host with an on duty sign, camp store was closed ? Site was nice with the largest fire ring I've ever seen. Any time you start the conversation about an entrance fee , the response seems to be the money would just get siphoned off to somewhere else and not make it to the state parks. We like Illini too and love The parks on the West coast of Michigan, not a park in Illinois compares to them. We'll continue to buy the $25-30 out of state passes and visit Mi., Wi., In. state parks over the ones in Illinois.
It's sad, but any money gotten from the DNR would be squandered by the politicians. It's a given, no governor seems to have ever cared about the DNR, so they don't get proper funds. It sucks
It is a high pressure fishing lake. My wife and I live within an hour drive of Shabbona and take our kayaks to the lake. It isn’t far from Dekalb/Sycamore area (the closest Walmart) and Northern Illinois University. We have camped there before as well. Not a bad place to camp. As Illinois residents, we’ve suggested that Illinois get the “passport” system like Michigan. Illini is nice, but we found that we liked Johnson Saul Trail State Recreation Area’s campground much better. It is just north of Kewanee. It has a nice fishing lake that doesn’t get a lot of use (yet). Nice and spacious campsites and decent bathroom/shower buildings. We do like Michigan State Park campgrounds and my wife has camped in them for over 50 years. We like the Lake Charlevoix/Burt Lake/Mackinac Island area. There are quite a few state campgrounds in that area and at least one of them has numerous full hookups.
I live 5 miles from starved rock,it gets hit with thousands of Chicago people every weekend. You are at a small park,garden of the gods is big ,southern Illinois.
I used to live in Ottawa, Illinois.
After I retired in 2009 I got to Hell out of Illinois and went to Northern Michigan. More State and Federal Forests; Cleaner Lakes; Rivers and Creeks. Lower Michigan is a Pennisula surrounded by the Great Lakes on three sides. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is also surrounded by Great Lakes.
@@captseamus sounds beautiful,someday I hope to make it there I am 70 now,work and kids and de bt kept me stuck here.my son takes great vacations when he can.hubby doesn't seem interested. Make make a trip on my own or with my son
I live in shabbona