Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve
| Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve | |
|---|---|
 Carillon tower at Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Lake of the Woods, Illinois. | |
 | |
| Nearest city | Lake of the Woods, Illinois |
| Area | 900 acres (360 ha) |
| Established | 1948 |
| Operated by | Champaign County Forest Preserve District |
Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve is a county park of 900 acres (360 ha) in size, located adjacent to Lake of the Woods, Illinois, USA. It is operated by the Champaign County Forest Preserve District, a governmental agency of Champaign County, Illinois, and the forest preserve district has built their headquarters in the park.[1]
History
[edit]The forest preserve opened its first park in 1948.[2]
Features
[edit]Museum
[edit]The forest preserve is the host site of the Museum of the Grand Prairie, a living history facility that specializes in the human ecology of the former tallgrass prairie townships of eastern Illinois. The museum features an exhibit on the 1850s-era law practice of Abraham Lincoln, a reconstructed blacksmith shop, and children's museum installations. As a private-sector lawyer, Lincoln's practice encompassed a circuit of Illinois counties that included Champaign County.[3]
Botanical garden
[edit]The forest preserve is also the host site of the 8 acres (3.2 ha) Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden, a botanical garden located south of the Museum of the Grand Prairie and featuring displays of bedding plants.[4] In addition, a parcel of forest preserve land has been replanted as the Buffalo Trace Prairie, a replanted tallgrass prairie matching the ecosystem that is celebrated in the museum located immediately to the east.
Facility rentals
[edit]Lake of the Woods allows visitors to rent 7 different facilities as well as wedding rentals at the Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden. These facilities are available for partial day and full day rentals.[5]
Carillon
[edit]The 100 foot (30 m)-tall HI-Tower Bell Carillon, which can be climbed by visitors,[6] and a reconstructed covered bridge round out the list of forest preserve attractions.
Access
[edit]The nearest limited-access highway exit to the park is Exit #172 on Interstate 74, near Mahomet.
References
[edit]- ^ ""Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve"". Champaign County Forest Preserve District. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
- ^ Benner, Amelia (2014-08-16). "Renovation ahead for Lake of the Woods gardens". The News-Gazette. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ ""Museum of the Grand Prairie"". Champaign County Forest Preserve District. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
- ^ ""Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden"". Champaign County Forest Preserve District. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
- ^ "Champaign County Forest Preserve District > Forest Preserves > Facility Rentals > Lake of the Woods Facility Rentals". www.ccfpd.org. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
- ^ ""HI-Tower Bell Carillon"". Champaign County Forest Preserve District. Retrieved 2012-05-05.