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State Park Event Calendar:
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Nearby Parks:
Starved Rock State Park
Fox River State Park (historical)
Matthiessen State Park
Illini State Park
Marseilles State Fish and Wildlife Area
La Salle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Norwegian Settlers State Memorial
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| State Park Overview: |
 | Buffalo Rock State Park is located on a bluff which was once an island in the Illinois River. Now standing majestically on the north bank, this promontory affords a magnificent sweeping view of the Illinois River. Located approximately three miles west of Ottawa in LaSalle County, this 298 acre park has long been a favorite picnic area, as well as a nature lovers delight. The area of Buffalo Rock was the home of the Illinois Indians when Louis Jolliet, the French explorer, and the Jesuit missionary priest Father Jacques Marquette made their trip up the Illinois River in 1673. Later the Illinois Tribe was virtually annihilated in protracted warfare with the aggressive Iroquois |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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You guys do great work
Is there someway of moving an old CCC shelter to the Buffalo Rock entrance across the street or to the Boyce Drive entrance? The poor thing is on the north side of the canal about 1/2 mile past campground C. It is restorable in my opinion. It would look super in either location.
Written by Richard from Ottawa
18-Aug-2008
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| Camping: |
| There are three primitive camping areas along the trail between Buffalo Rock and Utica. The campsites have fire rings but no water or restroom facilities are available. Sites are accessible by walk or bike in only, no vehicular access is allowed. One of the camping areas designed for youth camping has a shelter with a fireplace. Permits must be obtained from Buffalo Rock State Park prior to camping. |
| Picnicking: |
| The picnic areas that are shaded by mature oak, hickory and walnut trees provide the perfect setting for a family picnic or special outdoor occasion. Picnic tables and cooking grills are provided. Drinking water and restroom facilities are located near both shelters. The larger of the two shelters complete with a large stone fireplace may be reserved, the smaller shelter is on a first-come, first-serve basis. A playground area is located by the large shelter and a baseball diamond is located near the center of the park. A great game of horseshoes can also be enjoyed during your visit. |
| History of the Area: |
| Buffalo Rock is said to have served the French as an early military, trading and missionary post. LaSalle and Tonty, after building Fort St. Louis on Starved Rock during the winter of 1882-1883 gathered almost 4,000 Indian warriors at the front of Buffalo Rock and formed a confederation against the Iroquois. Among the tribes in the confederation were the Miami who built their own fort on Buffalo Rock.
Through the many years that followed, Buffalo Rock was used by a religious sect as a place for holding camp meetings, and still later was used as a site for a tuberculosis sanatorium. The Crane Company of Chicago purchased Buffalo Rock in 1912 and for a period of about 16 years maintained a sanatorium for sick employees and a summer vacation ground for thousands of employees and their families. In 1927 the Crane Company moved their recreation park to a larger area and donated the land to the state to become a park. The deed to the property was turned over to the State of Illinois on November 15, 1928, with the provision that it would become a permanent state park and that the caretaker, Robert Barnett, who was then 72 years of age, be retained in that capacity during the remainder of his lifetime as a reward for his loyal services. |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
| Buffalo Rock State Park - Buffalo Rock State Park Overview. | | Buffalo Rock State Park - Buffalo Rock. Strip mining for coal offers us with a valuable resource; however, it has led to destructive environmental problems, namely acid mine runoff. The area immediately surrounding... | | References - Starved Rock State Park and Surrounding Areas Resources Buffalo Rock State Park and Starved Rock State Park http://dnr.state.il ... Tel. (815) 667-4045 Buffalo Rock State Park Visitor Center, R.R ... | | Buffalo Rock and Effigy Tumuli State Park - ... and directions for visiting, canoeing, and camping Buffalo Rock State Park and the Effigy Tumuli Earth Sculptures 2 miles west ... source is known.) Buffalo Rock State Park sits on the bluffs of ... | | Holiday Inn Express Ottawa Hotel - Chicago Discount Hotels - Holiday Inn Express Ottawa Hotel - Chicago Hotels and Room Reservations ... convenient to the hotel include LaSalle Speedway, Buffalo Rock State Park, Grundy County Speedway and the Illinois River ... | | Streator, IL - ... Illinois Michigan Canal State Trail Matthiessen State Park LaSalle Lake Fish and Wildlife Area Buffalo Rock State Park Sandy Ford Nature Area Call for more information today! We look forward to ... |
| Nature Programs: |
| Titled "Effigy Tumuli" in tribute to the Native American burial grounds that inspired it, this unique "earth art" depicts five sculptures native to the Illinois River. The Effigy Tumuli was the vision of artist Michael Heizer who created the sculptures of a snake, turtle, catfish, frog and a water strider. To better appreciate the sculptures, it is best to look first from a distance and then walk around on top of them to better understand the effigies. |
| Directions: |
| From Ottawa: From Rte. 6 turn south on W.D. Boyce Memorial Dr. Continue on Boyce to Ottawa Ave. and turn right. Proceed on Ottawa Ave., which becomes Dee Bennett Rd for approximately three miles, the park is located on the left and the I&M Canal Access area is on the right.
From Utica: Take Dee Bennett Rd. east five miles to Buffalo Rock. |
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