AIR Midwest : Midwest Rally and Rend Lake, IL

[soldiermedic]

Since there is a large contingent of Midwest Airstreamers, I have planned a rally near Rend Lake in Belton, IL. The rally will be held at the Whittington Woods Campground. The rally dates are the 1st-3rd of May. The campground has full service facilities from Laundry and shower houses to groceries and a free pavilion. We will have an informal potluck dinner on Saturday evening at the pavilion. Trailer tours for the interested will be held Saturday from Noon to 2PM.

The campground has offered us the loop directly at the pavilion, and will provide free firewood for the firering located at the pavilion. The owners will also provide coffee and freshly made donuts for breakfast each morning in the pavilion (Free of Charge). From what I have been told, all the sites on this loop are full hook-up sites. The only difference is that six of the sites are with a 50 Amp hook-up. These sites can be used with a 50 to 30 amp adapter. The sites on the map the are on other loops do not offer full hook-ups, but a dump station is available on site for anyone not staying on the main loop.

Costs of the full hook-up sites will cost $24.50 per night with free coffee and donuts for breakfast.

Benton, IL has a quaint town square with several antique shops, the Pheasant Hill Winery, and several other small attractions that look really interesting. Fishing at rend lake is less than a mile away.

This will be a great time for all involved. Experienced, first timers, full timers, vintage kin, or anyone just looking to attend an Airstream rally are welcome.

[zamboni]

Sounds great!

[maccamper]

Sounds great to us, too! Looking forward to seeing everyone.

maccamper

[AirsDream]

Bet that it's gonna' be at "Benton" Illinois?

Sounds pretty good to me - you guys came all the way from home to Milan, MI last spring, so we oughta' be willing to venture that far.

I've got it on the calendar. You going to bring your leak finder rig so those of us with an inclination, the time and the cash, can figure out where our dear silver bullets need a little caulk?

Ryanh

[overlander64]

Sounds great to me -- only 60 miles for me -- would be closest rally I have been to in some while.

Kevin

[soldiermedic]

Looking good so far.

For those wanting to call and make a reservation, Mary is the one I have planned this with. I believe they only request the first night's deposit to hold your reservation.

May will be here before ya know it!

Steve

[summerkid]

I'm thinking of joining in, if I have a usable trailer at that point. Since I'm hoping to move to Oregon this summer, at least 2 of the 4 need to be sold.

[soldiermedic]

Did someone say a trailer was for sale?

Always looking to expand the collection!

Steve

[summerkid]

yeah, that's been my motto too! But I don't want to haul all 3 across the country. There's one already sitting in Eugene, waiting.

right now, they're all frozen to the driveway, just one more reason i'm getting the hell outta here.

[maccamper]

Originally Posted by soldiermedic

Looking good so far.

For those wanting to call and make a reservation, Mary is the one I have planned this with. I believe they only request the first night's deposit to hold your reservation.

May will be here before ya know it!

Steve

Steve, I just got off the phone with Mary. You are correct. She asked for the first night's deposit ($24.50) to hold our reservation. I'll put a check in the mail to her tomorrow. They prefer checks to credit cards so they won't have the additional service charge associated with credit cards. I didn't think to ask if they preferred that we pay for the remaining nights with a check or cash as well. Perhaps someone could ask that question when they make their reservations and let us know.

When we met my family in Benton this past spring. The local restaurant where we ate didn't take credit cards at all for that same reason -- the fees associated with credit cards.

Mary was very nice and happy that our group chose their campground -- good call, Steve.

Looking forward to May!

Nancy Mac

[soldiermedic]

Nancy,

This is exactly how the Stagecoach was in Branson. They request check or cash to avoid fees on an already discounted camping cost. I believe that they will request the rest of the payment in cash or check as well. I will call and make my reservation in a day or so with hopes to get close to the pavilion, and let everyone know.

Steve

Steve

[Lothlorian]

It sounds like a good time. I won't be able to make it because we are coming up to Southern Illinois to camp during spring break. I won't have another chance until June.

Lothlorian

[soldiermedic]

Originally Posted by Lothlorian

It sounds like a good time. I won't be able to make it because we are coming up to Southern Illinois to camp during spring break. I won't have another chance until June.

Lothlorian

Well Great news for ya....Jcanavera hosts a rally the 2nd weekend of June in Illinois. Now you will have a reason

Steve

[Lothlorian]

Where exactly in Illinois is the rally the second week in June?
I camp in Cobden Illinois.

Lothlorian

[overlander64]

Greetings Lothlorian!

Originally Posted by Lothlorian

Where exactly in Illinois is the rally the second week in June?
I camp in Cobden Illinois.

Lothlorian

Cobden is approximately 60 miles South/Soutwest of the Rally location near Benton. MapQuest places the shortest route at 55 miles.

Kevin

[cosmotini]

Originally Posted by Lothlorian

Where exactly in Illinois is the rally the second week in June?
I camp in Cobden Illinois.

Lothlorian

Up till this year, it was held at Moraine View State Park in LeRoy Illinois. This is in the Bloomington / Champaign / Rantoul part of of the state. The park is currently closed and Jack is looking at alternative sites trying to keep it in the same general area.

[overlander64]

Greetings Lothlorian!

Originally Posted by Lothlorian

Where exactly in Illinois is the rally the second week in June?
I camp in Cobden Illinois.

Lothlorian

I shouldn't try to respond to questions while watching television, I misread your question when writing my first response. To give you an approximate idea on mileage to the North-Central Illinois Rally in June, it will likely be somewhere between 225 and 275 miles from Cobden based on some of the possible locations that have been discussed.

Kevin

[maccamper]

Steve, what a great location you've chosen for our Midwest Rally in May!

Nancy Mac

Some destinations and things to do around Whittington/Benton and Southern Illinois in addition to local antiquing, dining ... camping, relaxing .... You can do much more than what is listed here ... I just had to stop somewhere.




Enjoy!

• 1/2 mile -- Pheasant Hollow Winery http://www.pheasanthollowwinery.com/
• 1 mile-- Rend Lake Public Golf Course http://www.rendlake.org/golf/
• 3 miles -- Rend Lake Shooting Complex (skeet, trap, sporting clay) http://www.rendlake.org/shooting/
• 2 to 3 miles -- Rend Lake/ Wayne Fitzgerrell Recreation Area ( Hiking, walking, nature, bicycle and horseback riding trails; horse rentals, fishing, boating and more ) http://www.rendlake.com/pages/recreation/ / http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R5/wayne.htm
• 6 miles -- The Atomic Home (Down on the square in Benton. Great place especially if you enjoy seeing and buying authentic retro things from the 1950's and 60's.) http://www.theatomichome.com/
• 25 miles -- Du Quoin, IL (home of harness racing and the Du Quoin State Fair; flea market is scheduled for May 3) http://www.agr.state.il.us/dq/index.php?pg=0
• 32 miles -- Crab Orchard Lake and Natural Wildlife Preserve (we'll be by Rend Lake yet Crab Orchard is a nice visit, too) http://www.fws.gov/midwest/craborchard/AboutUs.html
• 40 miles -- Carbondale, IL (home of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and John A Logan College) http://www.ci.carbondale.il.us/Visitors/index.html
• 47 miles -- Murphysboro, IL (home of the original Mike Mills' 17th Street Bar & Grill World Champion Barbeque, Pomona Natural Bridge and Little Grand Canyon, Shawnee Hills Wine Trail) http://www.murphysboro.com/index.php?p=71 / http://www.17thstreetbarbecue.com/ http://www.shawneewinetrail.com/
• 48 miles -- Makanda, IL (small cluster of Artisan shops, close to Giant City State Park and Lodge), and Crab Orchard Lake http://www.makandatradingcompany.com/makanda.html / http://giantcitylodge.com/park/
• 48 miles -- Harrisburg, IL (Gateway to the Shawnee National Forest, Garden of the Gods) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrisburg,_Illinois http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/shawnee/

A bit of a longer drive -- more like a full day trip or an add on destination before or after the rally:

• 68 miles -- Shawneetown, IL (story is that the Shawneetown bank refused to buy bonds issued by the City of Chicago in the 1800's; they didn't think the city of Chicago could survive without being on a navigable river ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Shawneetown,_Illinois
• 73 miles -- Metropolis, IL (Superman town, casinos, Fort Massac State Park) http://www.metropolischamber.com/
• 79 miles -- Cairo, IL (Southern most point of Illinois where Mississippi and Ohio Rivers converge) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo,_Illinois#Sites_of_interest
• 80 miles -- Paducah, KY (National Quilt Museum and another river town) http://www.paducah.travel/
• 83 miles -- Cape Girardeau, MO (Mississipi River town and home of Southeast Missouri University)http://www.capegirardeaucvb.org/index.html
• 85 miles -- Cave in Rock State Park (former outlaw, river pirate and bandit hangout) http://www.illinois.com/details/parks.php?id=128
• 102 miles -- Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (http://www.lbl.org/)

[overlander64]

Greetings Nancy!

Originally Posted by maccamper

Steve, what a great location you've chosen for our Midwest Rally in May!

Nancy Mac

Some destinations and things to do around Whittington/Benton and Southern Illinois in addition to local antiquing, dining ... camping, relaxing .... You can do much more than what is listed here ... I just had to stop somewhere.


Enjoy!

I will add a few of my favorites as well -- I am about 55 miles South of Whittington.

While it has fallen into disrepair recently, the legal tides have cleared and it looks like the cross will most likely be restored -- Bald Knob Cross of Peace, Alto Pass, Illinois (63 miles)

Ferne Clyffe State Park, Goreville, IL (40 miles)

Giant City State Park Lodge, Makanda, IL (53 miles)

Lambert's Cafe, Sikeston, MO (106 miles)

Ken Lake State Resort Lodge and Park, Aurora, KY (120 miles)

The Great River Road in Southern Illinois (suggestion to begin in Monroe County and work Southward)

Popeye's Hometown, Chester, IL (66 miles)

Superman's Hometown, Metropolis, IL (76 miles)

Lincoln Park, Jonesboro IL (home to the third Lincoln-Douglas Debate) --<57 miles>

There are many other attractions. The above are among my favorites where I take visitors to my home.

Kevin

[soldiermedic]

I can't wait to visit the Atomic Home. Time to gather retro stuff for my 53 Flying Cloud!