»Attractions |
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| (217) 774-5531 |
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Forest Park is a municipal park with the Chautauqua Auditorium, Vietnam Memorial, Family Aquatic Center, picnic areas, pavilions, baseball & softball diamonds, fishing lagoon, Youth Athletic Center and more. You can also start the General Dacey Trail in the back area of the park. Future improvements coming... Soccer fields and more!
Where: Northeast Ninth Street, Shelbyville |
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| (217) 774-4343 |
| This attraction provides zerodepth entry for the young, old, and physically handicapped. It has a frog slide, a water slide, and a one-meter drop slide. It has a wet playground area, a sand playground area, a concession/food area, a shaded picnic area and a bathhouse. There are also lap lanes and a diving board. The Shelbyville Family Aquatic Center offers recreation for all ages. Opens Memorial Day Weekend.
Monday - Friday: 12 - 8 PM
Saturday: 12 - 6 PM
Sunday: 1 - 6 PM |
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| (217) 774-5531 |
| Chautauqua Auditorium, built in 1903, is one of the few left in the state. Shelbyville’s Chautauqua Auditorium was at one time the entertainment center of the community. It is located on Northeast Ninth street (in Forest Park) in Shelbyville. The bowled floor provided seating for 5,000 and above the stage are Grecian statues designed by Robert Root. The interior floor space of the building is 15,000 square feet and there are no posts inside the structure. The roof is supported by a unique series of beams and supports in the ceiling. It is the largest building of its kind anywhere in the world and is included on the National Register of Historic Places. Famous speakers were William Jennings Bryan and Billy Sunday, and vibrant musicians and performers including the John Phillips Sousa Band. It is used for several events throughout the year. |
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| The General Dacey Trail is a multipurpose trail that is designed for walkers, runners and bicyclists. This trail is a great place for the whole family to spend time together enjoying Mother Nature. Besides exercising, the trail is a great place for bird watching, geocaching and photography. The trail offers users many opportunities to pause on donated benches and contemplate stunning views of Lake Shelbyville and the area. The trail opened in 2006 and new phases of the trail have been constructed each year since. Phase 4 construction is planned for 2009.
The trail heads are located at the Dam West recreation area or just behind the Scout Cabin in Forest Park. Trail users can explore the two of the one mile loop sections through the wooded area along Lake Shelbyville. A third phase connects Forest Park to the Dam West recreation area. Maps, information on the annual Tom Short 5k Trail Run in August and the history of the trail can be found at the web site. www.dacey.lakeshelbyville.com
Mountain Bikers can enjoy a single track at Camp Camfield. This site is the focus of local mountain bike activist efforts to expand single track at Lake Shelbyville. This trail challenges the intermediate skill level riders and rewards them with beautiful views of the lake. The Central Illinois Mountain Bike Association (CIMBA) works closely with the Army Corps to promote development of additional trails at Camp Camfield. |
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The Lincoln Public Square & Eternal Flame houses the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, designed by local artist, Robert Marshall Root. The square was erected in 1907 in memory of the fighting men in the county.
The square also a plaque in honor of Abraham Lincoln who practiced law in Shelbyville. There is also a plaque for Horace Tallman, the inventor of the first mechanical pick-up hay baler. Flags are placed around the square during Memorial Day to Labor Day.
On July 3, 2002, an eternal flame was dedicated to the men and women who have served in past wars. The black granite base of the flame contains etchings, such as General Douglas MacArthur wading ashore in the Philippines in 1945, Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima in World War II and Shelbyville resident August West. |
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| (217) 774-4421 |
In 1871, the Committee on Public Buildings reported to the County Board that the Courthouse (located on the Public Square) was too small and unsafe. In November 1872, voters approved the proposed new court- house. The lot, just north of the Public Square, was purchased for $800.00.
The building was built in 1879 (at a cost of $72,987) and was dedicated on April 13, 1883.
The upper courtroom, remodeled due to fire, houses historic paintings including Robert Root’s depiction of the Lincoln-Thornton Debate in Shelbyville that launched Lincoln’s national political career.
Courtrooms are open for viewing generally when court is not in session (free admission). Hours: 8-4 on weekdays. It is located on the corner of Main & Washington in Shelbyville. |
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| (217) 774-2260 or (217) 774-4082 |
Shelby County Historical and Genealogical Society is a library for researchers. There are historic artifacts on display. Built in 1892, the building was formerly the Shelby County Jail and sheriff’s residence.
Hours: 10-12 on Wednesday & Saturday. Donations welcome. It is located on the corner of South First & Washington in Shelbyville. For more information, please visit: http://www.shelbycohistgen.net |
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| (217) 774-4432 |
The Shelbyville Public Library was dedicated in 1905. The library was built with a Carnegie Grant in a French Renaissance-style. It has computers, a video library, and has plenty of reading and learning experiences for children throughout the year.
It is open Monday - Friday from 9-7, and on Saturday from 9-1. The library is located at 154 North Broadway in Shelbyville. |
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| (217) 774-7809 |
The Best Wedding Chapel is nestled in mid-west Illinois in the historic town of Shelbyville. Dedicated in the 1870's this former Catholic church features Gothic style architechure, 14 foot original stained-glass windows, and a 33 foot cathedral ceiling with a small archway separating the vestibule from the nave.
It is now the home & business of the Best family. This wedding chapel is available as a traditional, as well as non-traditional wedding, or vow renewal site. It is located at 159 N. Washington Street in Shelbyville. |
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Trick My Truck transformed Darrell Best's 1942 American La France Fire Truck into a mobile wedding chapel. The episode aired in early 2009 on CMT.
For more information, please call or visit www.bestweddingchapel.com. |
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The only one in the United States, the Tower of Baa is a goat tower modeled after a tower that Dave and Marcia Johnson saw in a wine magazine from South Africa. The original goat tower was in Portugal.
Dave Johnson built this tower for his Saanen goats. The tower gives the goats shade as well as a place to climb that they would normally get in their native Switzerland. The tower is 31 feet tall and has 5,000 bricks with 276 spiral steps that encompass the tower. It is located on Wolf Creek Road.
Lat. N39 30.2, Long. W88 40.61 |
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| (217) 774-4919 |
| This museum opened in 2005 with Bob’s private collection of Chevy’s. The building is decorated in 50’s sock-hop style with black and white checkered floors. The walls are lined with 50’s memorabilia, Chevy clocks and neon signs. A jukebox takes you back to that popular time in history. The museum has ten vintage cars as well as a 1993 Indy Pace Car with only 28 miles on it. The museum was built so the cars could be in a controlled environment. Mr. Boarman restored most of the cars himself and has been collecting cars for over 25 years, reminding him of his youth. The museum is located at 224 West Main Street in Shelbyville. It is open Monday through Friday 8-7 pm and Saturdays from 8-6 pm. |
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| (217) 774-ROXY |
After 37 years without an indoor movie theater, Shelbyville again has a place for movie buffs. Boarman’s Roxy Theatre is the brainchild of Shelbyville automobile dealer Bob Boarman who donated $100,000 in the summer of 2003 to the Greater Shelbyville Area Chamber of Commerce if they would build a movie theater. The original Roxy closed on November 6, 1966 after showing the Disney film “Mary Poppins.”
The new Roxy is located in the same location in downtown Shelbyville after volunteers and members of the Roxy Theatre Management Committee, gutted the old theater building, that had been a photography studio, and rebuilt the Roxy from the brick walls out. The theater shows current Hollywood releases, classic films, and children’s films and provides other special programming. Tickets are low at $4 a person. |
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| The Roxy pays homage to the glory days with a vintage-looking theater marquee featuring neon lighting, and old style fabrics and curtains inside the building. In addition to Boarman, other businesses have donated to the theater restoration and their names are featured on a plaque in the building’s lobby. Civic groups, Boy Scouts and other volunteers contributed many hours to the restoration project. More information at www.boarmansroxytheatre.com |
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The Thompson Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1868 to span the Kaskaskia river. The road that the bridge is located on was once an important route between Effingham and Springfield.
This 157 foot bridge is one of only five covered bridges remaining in Illinois. It is the narrowest out of those bridges, with a width of only 10 feet, 7 inches. Although traffic is no longer allowed on the bridge, you can still drive up to see how the bridge was built and admire the natural setting. It is located 4 miles east of Cowden. Watch for signs on Rt. 128 in Cowden. |
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| (217) 756-5521 |
Niemberg Family Winery opened their doors in the fall of 2007. This father-son trio, Don, Bill & Dan, offers a wide variety of wines with grapes imported throughout the U.S. including Illinois, Michigan & California. With the tasting room complete, reconditioning of the 100-year building will continue for the next couple of years. Cheers! Located on Main Street in downtown Findlay. Winter hours: Friday: 3-8; Saturday: 11-8: Sunday: 12-5. Summer hours: Tuesday - Friday: 12-8; Saturday: 11-8; Sunday: 12-5 |
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| (217) 682-5409 |
| Vahling Vineyards first opened in 1997 by Brenda and Dennis Vahling and their children. They bottle and market their wine using varieties that are indigenous to the area. They have narrowed their selection to 5 superior varieties. Vahlings also carries nonalcoholic beverages. On October 1, 2002, the Vahling Vineyards was officially opened to sell bottle wine to the public. Located near Stewardson, the vineyard is open all year including Mondays of holiday weekends. Open Tuesday - Saturday: 10am-5pm; Sunday: 1-5pm. During the months of June - September, open until 8pm on Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit: www.vahlingvineyards.com. |
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| (217) 738-2323 |
| Willow Ridge Vineyards & Winery is situated on a sesquincentennial farm, and is owned and operated by Louis and Tina Donnel. Nestled in a rural setting, there is a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy a glass of wine, visit with friends, sit by the fireplace or relax on the terrace overlooking the vineyard. A Tuscan style atmostphere invites you to the tasting room; it has a handcrafted bar, stained glass windows, and a stone fireplace. Wine can be purchased by the glass or the bottle while you are enjoying the complimentary wine tasting. The banquet room seats 190 people and is available for any occasion (except on major holidays). The wine tasting room has seating for an additional 40 people. Located 8 miles northwest of Shelbyville (1/2 mile west of Westervelt). Open year round: Wednesday - Sunday. Open Monday on holiday weekends. For more information, visit our website: www.willowridgewinery.com. |
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