Guest House is attractive and comfortable
Pere Marquette
STATE PARK AND CONSERVATION AREA
The hub of park activities is the rustic lodge
Sprawling picturesque Pere Marquette State Park andConservation Area, located on the bluffs overlooking thegentle flowing Illinois river, offers many diversified forms ofrecreation and abounds in scenic beauty. The 5180 acrearea is in Jersey county five miles west of Grafton on Illinoisroute 100 and approximately 19 miles west and north ofAlton via the scenic Great River Road.
The park was named in memory of Father Jacques Marquette,the French Jesuit missionary priest, who in 1673along with explorer Louis Jolliet were the first white men toenter what is now the State of Illinois at the confluence of theMighty Mississippi and the Illinois rivers. A large white cross,east of the park entrance alongside route 100, marks wherethese two famous men landed.
The park with its 2605.90 acres and the conservation areaconsisting of 2574 acres were acquired by the state in 1932.The two areas adjoin each other. Across the Illinois river tothe south and west is the Federal Wild Life Refuge of morethan 8,000 acres.
BEAUTIFUL LODGE
Long popular and much used is the massive Pere MarquetteLodge built of colorful native stone and rustic timbers,and the seven stone guest houses back of it, nestling intothe hillside. The guest houses with 29 rooms and the lodgewith 18 rooms are all heated, completely air-conditioned, andeach have televisions. The spacious dining room has maintaineda continued reputation for exceptionally good food andgracious hospitality which spills over to the large lounge witha huge 700 ton stone fireplace, furnishing the ideal spot forold-fashioned corn popping or just plain loafing. There arealso many outdoor activities including a swimming pool(open May 15 through September 15), a five-hole, par three,golf course, shuffleboard and horseshoe courts for lodgeguests. Room or dining reservations should be made withthe Pere Marquette Lodge management, Grafton, Illinois(A.C. 618—Grafton 786-3351).
RECREATION AT ITS BEST
The recreational facilities of the park are many andvaried ranging from camping to hiking the many miles offoot trails, boating and fishing, picnicking or horseback ridingthe bridle paths, or viewing the many scenic wonders fromthe overlooks atop the bluffs. It’s family recreation at itsbest!
Camping is popular and in addition to primitive sites, thepark affords trailer sites with electricity, shower baths, andflush toilets. Camping permits must be secured from thepark ranger who will assign you a camping site. There areample picnic areas with good shade, pure water, and picnictables at designated areas. No open fires are permitted andno cooking can be done except on a park or camp stove.Playground equipment is provided for the children.
If you are a nature lover and wish to commune withnature, the park provides miles of foot trails. From April toOctober, a part-time naturalist is available for scheduled tripson the nature trails. At the beginning of the trail you willfind a nature museum with excellent exhibits pertaining toanimal and plant life, a