Starved Rock

Visitors flocked to one of the Utica-area state parks in 2024, filling the parking lots and smashing attendance records along the way. It wasn’t Starved Rock, however.

The Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce revamped its annual awards to align with the organization’s mission statement; building business, connecting communities. Three members were honored Thursday.

Starved Rock Lodge, Grand Bear Resort to host New Year's Eve parties for all ages.

Enjoy family-friendly holiday events at Starved Rock Lodge in Oglesby.

These six amazing artisan businesses are crafting appealing presents and stocking stuffers.

Whether you can get away for an afternoon or an entire weekend, here are some destinations to help get you started.

Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble will present the 33rd annual Festival of Flutes at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, in Peru and Flutes by the Fireplace at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, at the Great Hall of the Starved Rock Lodge.

Chester Weger has not yet succeeded in overturning his murder conviction – but a judge ruled Friday he can keep trying.

Each season at Starved Rock State Park brings its own unique charm and opportunities for exploration.

There will be opportunities to holiday shop and take part in season activities this weekend during Princeton's Christmas Walk and the Holiday Market at the Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center.

The trees are in full fall splendor at Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks. Here are some photos of the fall colors throughout the parks. Aerial photos were taken with permission of Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks.

Starved Rock and Matthiessen calendars are available for purchase in stores and preorder online, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the Starved Rock Foundation.

This weekend two Illinois State Historical Society markers will be dedicated in Ottawa, including one commemorating a trip Ernest Hemingway made through Ottawa.

These mini cabins offer a glamping retreat in the woods.

A Park City man grabbed a hold of a tree along a trail to get a better view of the Hennepin Canyon at Starved Rock State Park on Saturday afternoon. He slipped, turned 180 degrees and lost his grip of the tree trunk, falling 81 feet into the canyon.

The Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church, through its Anti-Racism Task Force and its Committee on Native American Ministries, will host an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lodge and Conference Center at Starved Rock State Park.

Starved Rock State Park was voted Illinois' most popular state park for 2024, beating out 26 other parks in its category, according to the Illinois State Park Fundraiser hosted by the Illinois Conservation Foundation.

Enjoy a fall colors trolley tour or cruise, guided hikes or a ghost tour.

The Bureau, La Salle, Marshall and Putnam County Master Naturalists welcomed 19 new volunteers Sept. 17 to their ranks.

There’s a wide range of comfortable lodging destinations where you can refresh and recharge for another fun-filled day of hiking, boutique shopping and artisan spirit sampling.

Financial Plus Credit Union recently made a $2,500 donation to the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation’s third annual Stayin’ Alive Disco Ball.

The free Starved Rock Saplings Children’s Program is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Starved Rock Visitor Center/Eagle’s Roost Cabin.

The 31st campaign for the Starved Rock Civil War Round Table kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at Ottawa High School with a program on the “Wigwam Win” and its effect on the Civil War.

The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation's third annual Stayin' Alive Disco Ball will feature food vendors, an auction, a light show and more.

Autumn is written into my bones – so much so that these shifts in the atmosphere that take place each year register deep within my soul.

Captain’s Cove Bar and Grill in rural Ottawa is set to close. An official closing date soon will be announced for the waterfront restaurant at Starved Rock Marina.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) disclosed Saturday that she’s fielded queries about how to elevate Starved Rock State Park into a national park – though there is no pending legislation or imminent action.

From serene river cruises to extreme off-roading, you’ll find something in the region that’s sure to thrill everyone.

Paddling for Pets announced its second annual Witches on the Water fundraiser, taking place on Saturday, Sept. 21, near Starved Rock State Park.

Oglesby is clearing the way for short-term accommodations, such as Airbnbs.

A man died Saturday afternoon after falling from a ledge at Illinois Canyon in Starved Rock State Park.

Visitors to the Starved Rock Family Campground in La Salle may have a new energy source as early as September, thanks in part to a federal grant.

The Starved Rock and Matthiessen Calendar is returning for the 2025 calendar year with 100% of proceeds being donated to the Starved Rock Foundation.

Enjoy live entertainment, guided hikes and delicious meals during your weekend getaway in Starved Rock Country.

Dave’s Traveling World of Reptiles will visit the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center for two shows Sunday, Aug. 4.

A 76-year-old DeKalb man was taken by ambulance to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa after falling about 25 feet down a slope near La Salle Canyon at Starved Rock State Park and into a creek, conservation police said.

Utica, Oglesby Fire and EMS along with Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police responded Wednesday to rescue a man who slipped and fell about 25 feet at La Salle Canyon at Starved Rock State Park. The man was not cited.

Starved Rock and Matthiessen park visitors are being asked if they see a downed tree over the trail to take a picture and send the location to dnr.starvedrock@illinois.gov.

Artist, poet, language arts instructor and entrepreneur René Parks Wendinger of Streator has been hired by the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation to head its arts program.

The Starved Rock Native American Artifact Show will return for its 21st year.

Waterfowl hunters should mark their calendars for upcoming waterfowl blind drawings at several public hunting areas in Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Urban Fishing program will join the sapling program 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 13, and teach younger participants how to fish.

The Illinois Valley remains dry thanks to June rains that came up a little short of average in Illinois -- even as much of the Midwest had catastrophic flooding.

A Living History Program entitled Lincoln and the Illinois and Michigan Canal with Glenn Braun is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at Starved Rock Visitor Center.

If you’re walking through the sunflower field at Matthiessen State Park and hear a buzzing noise it may not be a bee.

Chester Weger will have to wait at least another month before learning whether he can continue to try and overturn his conviction in the Starved Rock murders case.

Chester Weger will be in an Ottawa courtroom Monday morning for a hearing to determine whether he can continue trying to overturn his conviction in the Starved Rock murders case.

Some fun, family-friendly ideas on how to spend the day in the Starved Rock area.

The Enchanted Forest, the long-abandoned indoor amusement park at Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock, needs to be cleaned up, Utica officials said.

Three Illinois Valley chefs advanced to the Top 5 in a national chef competition with a $25,000 top prize.