Lake Lou Yaeger Hike/Bike Trail

Air up your mountain bicycle tires, and dust off those hiking boots, Litchfield Lake Lou Yaeger’s newest amenity is a Hike/Bike trail.

AmerenIP awards 2005 Bright Ideas grant to City of Litchfield
A Two thousand dollar grant has been awarded to the City of Litchfield through the AmerenIP Bright Ideas grant program. The money will be used for trailhead and vegetation signage, as well as benches along the Lake Lou Yaeger Hike/Bike Trail. 

The Lake Lou Yaeger Hike/Bike Trail is approximately 1.15 miles of trail with a proposed 6.6 miles when the project is completed. Sections are setup for the more adventurous with portions keeping the beginners in mind. The Trail has many great views of the natural landscape that Lake Lou Yaeger is known for.

The Trail supports community development through enhanced lake recreation. The shared-use trail allows visitors to experience this natural environment through hiking and biking both leisure and off road. The new development promotes tourism and increased economic impact through its use and provides additional recreational activity to both adults and youth within the community.

The AmerenIP Bright Ideas grant is available to fund improvements in education, minority affairs, special constituencies, health & safety/environment, and community/economic development. Grants totaling Two thousand dollars each were awarded to 50 non-profit groups, schools, school organizations, or city/county governments in the AmerenIP service territory.  The Bright Ideas grant program has been in place since 1998.

The Lake Lou Mountain Bike Club (LLMBC) is being organized under the direction of Mr. Rod Hall. Mr. Hall is an avid mountain bike rider as well as Vice-Chairman of the Tourism Advisory Committee. Club functions include organized rides, trail maintenance, and bike advocacy. More information on the Lake Lou Mountain Bike Club can be obtained through their website or contact Mr. Rod Hall at (217) 324-3157.
 

Blake Lowry Horse Camp 

The Blake Lowry Horse Camp is a unique facility that provides oversize campsites for horse owners. The area is open to the public without reservations and provides camping area with space available for vehicles and horse trailers. City water, night lights, and outhouses are available. Electricity is not available at this location. Several miles of horse trails lead from the camp area through the woods.

Lake Lou Yaeger is the newest spot to catch site of American Bald Eagles
Litchfield‘s Lake Lou Yaeger is the newest spot to catch site of American Bald Eagles in Central Illinois. As of April, 2005 three eagles and two nests have been spotted along the banks of the lake. The first nest can be spotted across the lake from Marina #2; looking north. Nesting activity has been observed here. Observers noticed the second nest while on the north end of the lake snapping pictures of the American White Pelicans. The two gentleman found this second nest just north of "Rainmaker Cove" and on the east side of Lake Lou Yaeger. Over the past couple of years, there have been sightings of Eagles, but nothing to this extent.

Human disturbance can have an impact on the bald eagle, as most of them need privacy and quiet. The public should keep in mind that it is against the law to disturb American Bald Eagles and their nests. Precautionary measures have been taken to protect this scarcity at Lake Lou Yaeger.

A typical nest is around 5 feet in diameter. The American Bald Eagle generally use the same nest year after year. Eagles lay from one to three eggs and during the 35 days of incubation, one parent is always on the nest. This not to keep the eggs warm, but to protect them from predators. From the time the parents build the nest and the young are on their own, takes about 20 weeks. During the nesting cycle parents remain within one to two miles of the nest.

Litchfield is very lucky to have such a scarcity in their own back yard. Please take the time and come observe this natural wonder on Lake Lou Yaeger.

 

Route 66
Hit the Mother Road and cruise the three miles of the original highway that pass through the west side of Litchfield.  Several original businesses, some such as The Ariston Cafe, a registered National Historic Landmark, date back to 1924 are still located on the famous road.  Stretching 2,400 miles and crossing through 18 states from Chicago to Santa Monica, Route 66 attracts visitors from all around the world and has many festival and events commemorating its legacy.  Beginning in 1926, this was the most famous and beloved road for over 50 years.  The stretch of Route 66 from Litchfield to Mt. Olive, Illinois has recently been added to the National Register of Historic Places.  Let your cruise down memory lane begin with a Route 66 adventure through Litchfield and its Route 66 Hall of Fame sites.

Sky-View Drive-In
Sky-View Drive-In, an original Route 66 Theater recently celebrated it's 50th Anniversary in 1999.  The Route 66 Hall of Fame inductee attracts hundreds each show to re-live memories of meeting at the drive-in as a teenager or herding up the family and going to the movies on a hot summer night.  For only $2.00 per person or the Thursday Night Special, $6.00 for a carload, you can see newly released movies under the stars.  The drive-in has an affordable snack bar filled with treats for all ages.  Open 7 days a week during the summer and weekends only in the fall.  It's a great place for special events and is home to many vintage motor car tours.  Enjoy the nostalgia of this one of a kind experience.  Call (217) 324-4451 for more information.

Roberts Cemetery Savanna, an Illinois Nature Preserve
Take Honeybend Avenue east out of Honeybend to East Fifth Road, south to Cemetery Road.  Sign at entrance reads:  "This natural area has been formally dedicated as a sanctuary for native vegetation and wildlife.  It is maintained in its natural condition so that present and future generations can see the Illinois Landscape as it appeared to the pioneers.  This living example of our natural heritage is also valuable for scientific studies in ecology, geology, soil science, and natural history and may provide habitat for rare plants and animals."  Established in 1986, the savanna was dedicated on June 14, 1987.  Said to contain 182 native plants, the cemetery is now not used.  The earliest know burial is that of James H. Roberts, some of J. Roberts on March 2, 1816, two years before Illinois became a state.  The last burial was that of Margaret N. Gordon, born in 1853 who died in 1933.  Some 133 graves are located in the cemetery, formerly known as the Hart cemetery.  The name was changed to avoid confusion with a cemetery of the same name in South Litchfield Township.  An inventory of the graves is located in the genealogy room in the Litchfield Carnegie Public Library.

Lodging and Dining
The City of Litchfield has much to offer visitors.  Beautiful accommodations in over 250 hotel rooms.  Many newly constructed or renovated, the lodging facilities offer amenities to their guests such as continental breakfast, free parking, and reasonable rates.  Get metro area first-class accommodations and service at small town rates.

Whether staying over night or just dropping through, be sure to dine at one of our many restaurants.  The variety of Italian, Mexican, Chinese, American and many local quick service dining facilities are available.  The great food and outstanding hospitality keeps patrons coming back.

Banquet facilities are available to host conference, receptions and banquets.  Facility accommodations for up to 500 person.

Lodging Accommodations
Holiday Inn Exprss	1405 W. Hudson	(217) 324-4556
Belvidere	825 Old Route 66	(217) 324-4411
Comfort Inn	1010 E. Columbian	(217) 324-9260
The Best Value Inn	413 W. Columbian N	(217) 324-2181
Litchfield Super 8	1211 Ohren Lane	(217) 324-7788
Hampton Inn	11 Thunderbird Circle	(217) 324-4441