Arcola: Art, History and Hotels

Arcola marks the entrance to Illinois Amish Country. In the city, public art, local history, and sports facilities meet an annual fall festival. A wildlife park is also nearby. When choosing your destination, these different highlights can help guide you: art and museums, a seasonal festival, or recreation options each offer a different reason to consider Arcola.

Art and History in Arcola

In 2012, the Walldogs left 15 historic murals in Arcola, which the city presents as a public art collection. Another work of art is the World’s One & Only Hippie Memorial: Bob Moomaw created the 62-foot-long work. Together, the murals and memorial give art in public spaces a specific place in your visit itinerary.

The Arcola Broom Palace has museum exhibits about Arcola’s history and heritage, as well as a short film about the history of broomcorn and its connection to the community. The Arcola Historic Train Depot & Information Center focuses on railroad history: the depot was built in 1885 and displays Illinois Central Railroad memorabilia. It is also home to the largest collection of antique brooms and brushes by Louis Klein in the United States. Other items on display include Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls, along with other collectibles. The topics range from local history and broomcorn to railroads and collection pieces.

A Festival on a Regular Fall Weekend

Arcola has celebrated the Broom Corn Festival every fall since 1972, on the weekend after Labor Day. Its recurring date gives a stay a seasonal focus. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the specific event dates in advance. The connection to broomcorn is also reflected at the Broom Palace, while the festival offers an annual event on the calendar.

Wildlife and Sports Facilities

In the surrounding area, in rural Arcola, Aikman’s Wildlife Adventure is located on the former site of Rockome Gardens. The drive-through wildlife park covers 20 acres. It also features a walk-through area with large enclosures, a budgie aviary, a petting zoo, and a playground. The site therefore offers a range of areas, from a drive through the wildlife park to the walk-through animal area and the playground.

Kelly Moore Memorial Park is a recreational complex covering about 26.5 acres. Its sports facilities include baseball and softball fields, two soccer fields, two tennis courts, two pickleball courts, two basketball courts, and a futsal court. If you plan to use the park for a particular sport, it is worth checking the current status of the facilities, as details may change.

Planning Your Stay

The Tourist Information Center is located at the Arcola Broom Palace, 201 E. Main Street, in downtown Arcola. It offers local information, maps, and resources for visitors. The Broom Palace therefore combines visitor information services with museum exhibits at the same address. If you plan to visit the center or the exhibits, check current visitor information in advance, as operations may change.

These interests offer different points of reference when choosing your destination and planning your stay in Arcola. Then compare the information provided by the individual hotels to find an option that suits your own needs.

Discover more destinations: Tuscola.

For the broader travel overview: Douglas County.