Friday, 10 October
The Drive
Leaving Prophetstown State Park near Battle Ground, Indiana, we set out west toward Coon Creek Campground on Lake Shelbyville, Illinois, a trip of about 175 miles that took us close to 3.5 hours. The first stretch carried us past Lafayette’s outskirts to IN-25 south, then IN-28 west into Attica. Then we followed US-43 South to I-74 West into Illinois. In Champaign, we continued through heavy construction to take I-57 briefly to I-72 west. We continued on I-72 until we reached Exit 152 to reach IL-128 south for the last hour of our trip until we reached the turnoff for Coon Creek Recreation Area. The road was rough, and when we stopped, we found that we had some stuff in the trailer tossed around.
Much of the landscape stayed much the same—flat and wide, with the horizon marked by barns and small clusters of trees. We could see farmers busy bringing in their crops, with a little over half the fields harvested.
Coon Creek Campground, Lake Shelbyville
When we arrived around 4 pm, we were greeted at the entrance and given our passes from the large handful that he had in his hand, and then directed to the available water spigots inside the campground, where we could get fresh water. There were no specific pull-offs, so we found an available spigot near an unused full-hookup site that had a nice, grassy area off the road where we could pull over. After filling our tank, we proceeded to our campsite.
Coon Creek Campground is tucked along the western shore of Lake Shelbyville. Managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it’s a popular campground with close to 180 sites. The sites range from pull-throughs with full hookups to simpler spots for tents, many shaded beneath tall oaks and hickories, while others open to lake views. The sites were located on spurs that extended toward the lake with steep slopes to the water’s edge. Many of the water view sites were very sloped or had tricky access and were best suited for small trailers or tents.
The campground had modern shower houses, flush toilets, potable water, and a dump station, plus several playgrounds scattered through the loops. It also had a sandy swimming beach, boat ramps for getting out on the lake, and plenty of activities on shore with volleyball and basketball courts, horseshoe pits, and even an amphitheater. They also had a small convenience store called “Castaways at Coon Creek,” that stocked firewood, snacks, and camping essentials.
This was the last weekend the campground was open for this season, and because it was Columbus Day weekend, we expected
Our Site
We stayed at Site #188 in Loop ELEG, a gravel back-in spot that gave us plenty of room with its 60-foot length. It definitely stood out as one of the better sites on this spur. Being lakefront was a real perk—though the slope down to the water from our campground was steep. It overlooked the beach, which was currently closed for the season, so instead of crowds of people, we enjoyed a beautiful lake view. The wide reservoir was created in the 1960s by damming the Kaskaskia River. Originally designed for flood control and water supply, it now spans 11,000 acres with nearly 250 miles of shoreline.
We set up easily with the 30-amp electric hookup, picnic table, and fire ring, and the shade from the surrounding trees kept the site comfortable even during the warmer parts of the day. The weather was expected to be 10-15 degrees warmer than our previous location but the Autumn breezes made us keep our light jackets on.
1905 Brewery
Since it was Friday night, I searched Google for some available spots that might have some live music, knowing that it might be difficult considering we were far from any large city. The 1905 Brewery in Assumption, IL, had a duo called “After School Special” playing between 7-9 pm that night with a food truck serving BBQ.
We left around 6 pm, and it took us about 30 minutes to get there down narrow country roads. We arrived after dark, and not expecting much in a small town, we were pleasantly surprised by the modern brewery that we found. The 1905 Brewing Company is a boutique craft brewery that is housed in a renovated historic building originally constructed in 1905.
The brewery’s story began when the owners purchased the former Golden Prairie News building and opened it to the public in 2018. In February 2019, a fire severely damaged the original location, but thanks to strong community support, they reopened by 2020.
We ordered a flight of four beers—Raider Red (Irish Red), Comet Blue Corn (Cream Ale), Downtown Brown, and The Phoenix (American Lager). We found a table near the bandstand and grabbed dinner from the food truck parked outside. Lisa chose a burger, while I went with a pork sandwich, and we shared an order of cheese fries.
The band started right at 7 p.m., playing a lively mix of popular ’80s tunes, many with a playful nod to Halloween. At exactly 7:05 p.m.—1905 military time—a bell rang behind the bar, and the owner invited everyone to raise a toast to the military and first responders, a thoughtful tradition that reflected the brewery’s community spirit.
After finishing our meal and listening to a few more songs, we decided to head back to the campground. Outside, several guests were gathered around a fire pit, while others relaxed on the patio, enjoying the crisp autumn evening. The drive back was dark, and navigating the winding campground roads proved a bit tricky, but we eventually found our site and settled in around 9 p.m., content after a full and memorable evening.
Saturday, 11 October
Scarecrow Daze Festival
Left around 9 am and drove to Shelbyville which was only 15 minutes away to watch the Scarecrow Daze parade.
The Scarecrow Daze Parade is the centerpiece of Shelbyville’s annual Scarecrow Daze Festival—a cheerful autumn celebration that fills the town with hometown pride and fall color. The parade typically begins around 10 a.m., starting near Forest Park and winding down North Morgan Street toward 1st Street. We arrived around 9:20 a.m. and were surprised to find the route still open to traffic and the sidewalks nearly empty. We parked our truck near the start of the parade and set up our chairs behind it, but within fifteen minutes, families began to appear, lining the curbs with folding chairs and strollers as anticipation built. The small-town parade stepped off precisely at 10 am with the local Boy Scout troop serving as color guard, followed by floats carrying members of the royal court, the high school marching band, church groups, politicians, and area businesses. A few participants dressed as scarecrows. They all tossed generous handfuls of candy toward the crowd. Since there were no children near us, we collected the candy thrown our way rather than leave it scattered on the pavement. Our biggest laugh came from a truck converted into a mobile wedding chapel and decorated for Halloween. One thing missing, however, was the usual convoy of tractors, which we assumed were busy in the fields that morning. The whole experience captured the charm of small-town Illinois in autumn.
After the parade, we took a leisurely stroll through nearby Forest Park, where we walked past a small pond with its grassy edges covered with tufts of goose down. The geese themselves were nowhere in sight—perhaps frightened off by the morning’s festivities. The baseball field was busy with a baseball game in progress. From there, we wandered over to the Sunken Gardens, a terraced garden area where the season’s blooms had faded and the plants were left to rest for the year. Even so, we could easily imagine how stunning the cascading flowerbeds and the man-made waterfall must look in full bloom earlier in the season.
Shelbyville Dam
We then drove up to the Shelbyville Dam Visitor Center, which was unfortunately closed for the weekend, but we were still able to walk around and enjoy the scenic viewpoints overlooking the dam. Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1970, the dam forms Lake Shelbyville on the Kaskaskia River. It’s an earthen embankment stretching about 3,000 feet long and rising 108 feet high, with a central concrete spillway that regulates the lake’s level. From the overlooks, we could clearly see how low the water had dropped—the exposed rocks along the dam and shoreline revealed the toll of that season’s severe drought.
Scarecrow Festival Downtown Festival
We returned to our truck and decided to drive up to McDonald’s for something to drink. On the way, we drove down Main Street, which had been transformed into a lively festival scene with craft vendors, food trucks, children’s games, and a car show. After picking up our drinks, we returned. We first walked through the car show, admiring about three dozen vehicles—some gleaming from meticulous restoration, others proudly displaying their original, weathered paint. Each one reflected the owner’s dedication and pride. We then wandered along the streets, browsing handmade crafts and baked goods as we chatted with a few friendly vendors eager to share their stories. The sidewalks were packed with townsfolk and visitors alike, many stopping to greet friends or neighbors in that easy, familiar way of small towns.
The Shelbyville Balloon Festival was also taking place that weekend at the local airport, so after exploring all the vendor booths, we decided to drive out to see if anything was happening. Although we found a large parking lot being prepared, it was empty, so we decided to explore a few attractions in the area.
Thompson Mill Covered Bridge
We drove about 30 minutes over to The Thompson Mill Covered Bridge which required us to travel down some narrow gravel roads. The bridge spans the Kaskaskia River and dates back to 1868. Built in Michigan for about $2,500, the bridge was shipped to Shelbyville and hauled by horse-drawn wagons to its present site. Designed with a Howe truss, it measures roughly 105 feet long and only 10 feet, 7 inches wide, making it the narrowest covered bridge in the state. Originally, it served as part of a key 19th-century transportation route connecting Springfield, Taylorville, and Effingham, while also providing access to the nearby Thompson Mill—a combined corn and sawmill that operated from 1843 until 1914. Although the mill itself was dismantled more than a century ago, traces of its old dam are still visible from the bridge. Today, the bridge is closed to vehicles but open to pedestrians, and its unpainted wooden siding (except for the abundant graffiti) offered us a rustic and scenic reminder of the region’s pioneer heritage.
Pana Roadside Sculptures
We then drove through backroads over to Pana to see a quirky hand sculpture. Located on IL-16, just west of Pana, there sits an 18-foot-long severed hand with painted nails. The hand was created in Chicago for advertising purposes, and then purchased and moved to Pana by a local businessman in 2016. The intent appears only to serve as an attention-grabbing, whimsical piece of roadside art (or “roadside attraction”) by the highway. It was subsequently joined by a large red Justin-branded boot, a car on top of a pole, and a football field scoreboard.
Lakeview Family Restaurant
We returned to Shelbyville and stopped at Lakeview Family Restaurant for a late lunch. This small, locally owned diner offered a cozy, hometown atmosphere and a menu full of comfort foods. Lisa ordered a chicken sandwich, while I tried the Greek pork chops that were featured as the day’s special. Both meals were good, and the service was friendly and attentive—made even better by the quiet midafternoon lull, with only a few other diners scattered about.
Shelbyville Lake Spillway
When we left the diner, we stopped and walked around the Shelbyville Lake Spillway. The spillway’s massive concrete structure releases excess water from the reservoir into the Kaskaskia River. The area around the spillway, known as the Spillway Recreation Area, is a popular fishing spot for walleye, muskie, bass, and other species that are drawn to the turbulent tailwaters. We saw at least a dozen fishermen along the shores and a kayak sitting right at the off-limits marker, casting their line next to the dam.
Shelbyville Balloon Festival
From there, we drove out to the Shelbyville Balloon Festival at the airport. This three-day event attracts pilots, families, and visitors from across the region to enjoy scenic balloon launches and fall festivities. The festival traditionally opens on Friday evening with a twilight balloon inflation and, weather permitting, a sunset flight that sets the tone for the weekend. Early morning launches on Saturday and Sunday fill the sky with dozens of colorful balloons drifting over the countryside and, on Sunday, across the lake itself. One of the most popular highlights is the Saturday night Balloon Glow, when tethered balloons illuminate the night in sync with music, creating a breathtaking spectacle of color and light.
When we arrived around 4:15 p.m., the parking lot was already more than half full and filling quickly. After parking, we explored the grounds, which included a few food trucks, helicopter rides, and children’s bounce houses—but not much else was happening at the time. A staff member mentioned that most activities wouldn’t begin until sunset, and even then, balloon launches were uncertain due to the wind. Not wanting to wait several hours, we decided to head back to the truck and return to our camper.
Coon Creek Recreation Area
Back at the Coon Creek Recreation Area, we decided to take a leisurely bicycle ride around the campground. The recreation area is divided into several sections—some with modern paved sites and full hookups, others with older, eroded gravel sites no longer in use. It reminded us more of a state park than the typically uniform and well-maintained COE campgrounds we’ve seen.
We spent over an hour pedaling through the various loops, admiring the variety of campers—many decorated for Halloween—and catching glimpses of the lake through the trees. At the boat launch, we could clearly see how low the water level was; one of the ramps had even been blocked off because it no longer reached the lake. By the time we finished our 6.71-mile ride and returned to our site, dusk was setting in. We settled in for a quiet, relaxing evening at the camper.
Sunday, 12 October
We woke up early to drive an hour and a half north to visit family. We returned by 1:30 pm and packed up to leave for our next campground.