Starved Rock

The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation recently awarded more than $43,000 in scholarships and a new memorial award, according to a news release.

Starved Rock Lodge offers canyon tours, cruises, guided hikes and more to explore the natural beauty of one of the state's most-visited state parks.

Chester Weger, 86, who spent nearly six decades in prison for killing Lillian Oetting, one of three women fatally bludgeoned in 1960 at Starved Rock, died June 22.

Event pairs beer and wine tastings with brick oven pizza and live music

The Starved Rock Native American Artifact Show will return for its 22nd year Sunday, July 13, at Grand Bear Resort, 2643 Route 178 in Utica.

Junior Ranger Day will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center.

Event pairs beer and wine tastings with brick oven pizza and live music

The 2025 calendar was built entirely from the community: more than 450 photographs were submitted by visitors and local photographers, and the final calendar featured a curated selection highlighting the parks’ year-round beauty and key events.

A 29-year-old man was sent to OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital in Peru after a fall at Starved Rock.

You name it, he did it. There’s no job at Starved Rock State Park that Monty Bernardoni, the new site superintendent, hasn’t done.

A special prosecutor asked Wednesday to re-open Chester Weger‘s mini-trial. Weger’s judge said no.

Kayak, sky dive, ride an ATV, rides bikes on a guided tour or take a cruise along the Illinois River during your summer adventure in Starved Rock Country.

Authorities responded at 5:45 p.m. Monday for report of a naked man at French Canyon in Starved Rock, police said.

The 11th annual Starved Rock Country Marathon was held on Saturday, May 10, 2025 downtown Ottawa and Starved Rock State Park. Runners could enter the marathon, half-marathon or 5K race.

Starved Rock State Park topped the list of most-visited state parks in 2024 with 2.4 million visitors coming to explore the canyons and waterfalls

Chester Weger’s "mini-trial" is a go and begins next week. He won’t get a ruling until after Memorial Day, however.

Chester Weger’s upcoming “mini trial” remains set for May 12 – for now, anyway – but attorneys in the case first will argue Monday on whether a last-minute piece of evidence can be presented.

The Market on Mill, Utica's long-dreamed-of outdoor shopping plaza, opened for business Saturday.

Utica officials will cut the ribbon at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Market on Mill. Here are some of the vendors who plan to open in the plaza.

The LeRocher Bookstore and Gift Shop by the Starved Rock Foundation will celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 26.

Video: Tens of thousands of Virginia bluebells bloom Tuesday on the trailhead to Illinois Canyon at Starved Rock State Park.

Tens of thousands of Virginia bluebells bloom on the trailhead to Illinois Canyon on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Starved Rock State Park. Other wildflowers cutleaf tootwort, spring beauty, bristly buttercup and false rue anemone also can be seen on the trail.

A 14-year-old boy from the Hinckley-Big Rock area fell about 25 to 30 feet Thursday in La Salle Canyon at Starved Rock State Park.

The Kids Art in the Park Workshop at Starved Rock State Park, previously scheduled for Sunday, April 13, has been cancelled because of a lack of registrations.

Utica Fire Chief Ben Brown tells us all about about his team's effort in the rescue of a mother, father and son from an April 1 fall at Starved Rock State Park

Read the transcript from our podcast: Utica Fire Chief Ben Brown talks about about his team's effort in the rescue of a mother, father and son from an April 1 fall at Starved Rock State Park

Do you love spending time outdoors? Do you enjoy sharing your passion for the natural world with those around you? Would you like to help others connect with nature? If you answered yes, then you should consider becoming a U of I Extension Master Naturalist volunteer.

Emergency crews are on scene at French Canyon at Starved Rock State Park to rescue three people who reportedly fell. Shaw Local News Network will continue to update the story.

Firefighters airlifted a son and his mother who fell 20 to 30 feet on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Starved Rock State Park. A number of agencies responded for mutual aid.

Chester Weger still is set for what attorneys termed a "mini-trial" – a chance to prove he didn’t commit the Starved Rock murders – but Weger’s judge set limits on what evidence can be disclosed before trial.

This system seemed frustratingly flawed to me. It’s a system that appears to prioritize medication over prevention, a system that could be improved.

Starved Rock Visitor Center will showcase the park’s landscapes while making it easier for visitors to explore. Submitted photos will be accepted.

Starved Rock State Park will host a cleanup day Saturday, April 26, along the trails.

Ottawa Mayor Robb Hasty unveiled official renderings of the new riverfront amphitheater Thursday in his second State of the City Address.

United West Elementary kindergarten students from Monmouth will be awarded $785 to visit Starved Rock State Park for a field trip.

Chester Weger is moving to Missouri.

Going anywhere this summer? Some residents in northern Illinois were planning on visiting U.S. National Parks once school is out. Recent events have some visitors thinking twice.

Special dining experience to feature whisky selection by Princeton’s Barrel Society.

In the last weekend before Lent, there are Mardi Gras celebrations taking place in the Illinois Valley, including Starved Rock Country Community Foundation's Mardi Gras Carnivale and Utica's Mardi Gras parade.

Here's a list of indoor water parks in northern Illinois for a winter afternoon or weekend getaway.

Starved Rock State Park announced Saturday the annual Starved Rock Art Show is officially open for public viewing and voting.

Starved Rock State Park will receive $33.8 million in state funding for a wastewater treatment plant and trail improvements.

Visitors flocked to Starved Rock State Park and nearby Utica for Bald Eagle Weekend on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. Free live birds of prey shows were hosted by the Illinois Raptor Center, Stillman Nature Center, Hoo Haven, and Wildlife Prairie Park. The Village of Utica also hosted eagle ice carvings.

Lawyers for Chester Weger have termed it a “mini-trial” and said they’ll introduce evidence, not available decades ago, showing Weger was wrongly convicted of murder. The mini-trial begins May 12.

Ice climbers descended inside Wildcat Canyon on Friday, Jan. 24, at Starved Rock State Park. The waterfalls tend to freeze in January at Matthiessen and Starved Rock State Parks. Climbers need to sign in and out at the front of the Park Maintenance Building across from the Visitor Center. Climbing is allowed only in four canyons at the park.

Eagle Watch Weekend and Penguin Plunge highlight a weekend of activities in the Illinois Valley that include some Valentine's Day themed activities.

Waterfalls, rivers and streams are completely frozen throughout the Illinois Valley as an Arctic blast brings frigid temperatures to the region.

During the recent cold snap, the Illinois River was frozen in portions between Ottawa and La Salle.

Heritage Corridor Destinations held an open house on Jan. 8 for its new office at 701 Essington Road, Suite 100 in Joliet. Attendees at the open house included business partners, community leaders and stakeholders.

There's no need to be dormant during the winter – check out this list of ways to stay lively all season.