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Illinois Unique Dining

Head To The Wilderness Of Illinois To Visit Starved Rock Lodge Dining Room, A Charming, Old Fashioned Restaurant

By Melissa Mahoney | Published March 29, 2021

Many would agree that one of the most beautiful places in the Land of Lincoln is Starved Rock State Park with a trail system that leads through the forest to scenic overlooks and waterfalls. Within the property is the park’s only hotel, the historic Starved Rock Lodge which has a wonderful restaurant that will take you back to another time.

Nestled among the trees in Starved Rock State Park is the Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center. Built in the 1930s, the Lodge and its property are on the National Register of Historic Places.

There are 60 rooms in the lodge within two wings. One wing has the lodge rooms that were built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps along with the property cabins. The other wing houses the modern rooms that were built in the 1980s.

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Inside the lodge is where you will find the historic Main Dining Room and the excellent food that is served here. When you walk in the door, you will notice all the gorgeous dark wood, from the floors to the walls to the ceiling beams, all of which create the charming, rustic feel of a lodge.

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The main focal point in the dining room is the large stone fireplace which gives the space a cozy, old-fashioned ambiance you will enjoy while you have a relaxing meal.

The Main Dining Room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. A favorite of guests is the award-winning Sunday brunch. For breakfast, you can get anything from waffles and pancakes to omelets and skillets., a delicious and filling way to start the day!

After hiking around the park, come back for lunch or dinner and order the Signature Ale Fried Walleye, a filet coated in a batter made with Starved Rock Signature Ale, a local favorite.

When the weather is warm, make sure to have a meal out on the veranda where you will be treated to sweeping views of the park. Sometimes there's nothing better than dining with a view, although you may prefer to dine inside the historic old-fashioned dining room instead!

Have you dined at the Starved Rock Lodge’s Main Dining Room? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.

To view more information on the historic dining room or book a stay, visit the Lodge website or Facebook page.

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