Pere Marquette State Park

About Pere Marquette State Park

This 8000 hectare park is a paradise for nature lovers and is home to some of the largest and most diverse wildflowers, birds, reptiles and mammals in the world.

The history of Pere Marquette State Park revolves around the Illinois River, and the forces that shaped the river can be traced back to ancient glaciers that found their way through most of Illinois and stopped just before Parkland. The Pere Fortress Visitor Centre, which opened in October 1997, has a visitor centre, museum, amphitheatre, picnic area and children's playground. Visitors can also take advantage of the many hiking trails, horse riding trails and picnic areas of the park.

From the glaciers themselves, meltwater formed a rich network of streams and rivers, and tons of soil and rock were ground to dust that was lifted up and flown down the slopes. The wind - blown soil, called loess (read: less) - can be seen on the streets and paths of Pere Marquette.

Gradual climate changes over thousands of years allowed prairie grasses and plants to eventually cover two-thirds of Illinois. Hardwood forests were dominated by oaks, and Hickory kept them to protect against prairies and fires. Indians hunted game, collected food and built houses in the hills and gorges of the prairie and later, as archaeologists described.

Evidence of their presence can be found in the form of stone tools such as pottery and stone axes, as well as burial mounds. Burial mounds are also scattered throughout the park, including this one on McAdams Peak, as well as the remains of a burial ground.

When the Europeans began to explore Illinois, most of the Indians they met were members of the Illinois tribes. In 1673, the first explorers were a group led by the Marquette of Joliet and his brother-in-law Jacques Dauphin. French sailors who accompanied him paddled him down the Mississippi River to the Illinois River. What became a local legend, as seen above, came from the Mississippi Bluffs and what we see below.

The creature was called Piasa and it was learned to be a creature with scales and beige scales, similar to the shape of a human face, but with a black head and eyes.

When the Indians learned that the Mississippi River was flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, Marquette and Joliet turned around and returned and stopped at what is now Pere Marquettes State Park. The Piasa bird is colorful and unique in the United States.

A generation later, local civic groups tried to preserve the riverside land as a national park, and the state was successfully persuaded to raise state funds to buy the land in 1931. Money was raised to buy Pere Marquettes State Park, commemorating the historic landing here.

The newly created state park was called Piasa Bluffs, but renamed Pere Marquette State Park in 1931, in honor of the historic landing site and its historic significance to the state.

The property has two campsites, one for adults and two for children, as well as a picnic area. The class campsite has 80 pitches, two of which are suitable for disabled people and the other four for disabled people.

The nearby Class B campsite also has access to a shower block, and the youth camp, also known as Duncan Hill, is popular with scout groups. The park offers class A pitches, bookable from May to October, and classes B and C.

A separate campsite offers access to a shower block, showers and picnic area, as well as a fireplace, picnic tables, a pool and a picnic table.

Pere Marquette operates three organized group camps for larger organized groups: Camp Potawatomi can accommodate 68 campers, Camp Piasa and Camp Ouatoga can accommodate 145 campers, as well as a picnic area and picnic table. All three camps have fully equipped kitchens and dining rooms as well as illuminated sleeping cabins. The camps Piaza and Ou atoga also have a pool, but not as big as the other camps.

Reservations for all types of tents are accepted and can be made by phone or in person until February 1st. MasterCard and Visa are accepted free of charge, but reservations for any type of tent are only accepted at the camps Camp Potawatomi, Camp Piasa and Camp Ouatoga.

The Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center was built in 1930 by the Civil Defense and has been expanded, modernized and expanded in recent years. First class accommodation in a historic setting with a full service restaurant, bar, conference room and dining room, and a modern fitness centre.

The huge stone fireplace in the lobby rises to a roof height of 50 feet and is said to weigh over 700 tons. There is a full-service restaurant, bar, conference and dining room and a modern fitness centre.

Facilities include a swimming pool, tennis courts, golf course, picnic areas, tennis court and fitness center with gym.

Pere Marquette Lodge offers a Sunday brunch that attracts people from Missouri and Illinois. The dining room can seat 150 people and offers a choice of a family-style menu. It is divided into four separate meeting rooms and has an outdoor dining area with outdoor terrace and picnic area, as well as a bar.

A launch pad and ample parking provide access to the river, and a full-service marina is planned in the future. Free docks are available for boat trips in all weather conditions and river level permits. For more information or reservations, please write to: 618 - 786 - 2331 or write to: Pere Marquette State Park, P.O. Box 788, St. Louis, MO 62101.

Three picnic huts are available and can be reserved, but no fees are charged for reserving accommodation. The park is open to the public daily from 8 am to 4 pm and on weekends and public holidays from 5.30 pm to 8 pm.

A 12 km long marked hiking trail offers scenic opportunities for beginners and advanced skiers. The scenic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Great Barrier Reef provide the perfect backdrop for your trip.

Hiking maps are available at the Visitor Centre or by calling 786-2156 for more information and reservations. The Pere Marquette stables are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm and Sunday from 12 pm to 6 pm.

The trails west of Graham Hollow are open all year round, but the footpath east of Graham Hollow is closed at certain times of the year. If you own a horse, you can ride on the trails on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 12 noon and on Sundays from 12 pm to 5 pm.

The area will be tendered by the New York State Department of Natural Resources (NYDNR) and the State Park Service (SPS) after the road closes.

The Sam Vadalabene Cycle Path runs from Pere Marquette State Park to the town of Alton and covers about 20 miles. The entire path is paved and a map is available showing the route from the park entrance to the terminal.