Ottawa Preps To Become The Top Vacation Getaway In Illinois
Ottawa, IL – (December 14, 2007) – In recent years, the civic leaders of Ottawa, Illinois, have begun to promote both the city’s past and its current attractions, while planning a future designed to make Ottawa one of the top tourist destinations in the Midwest. They believe Ottawa provides visitors with a remarkable range of activities as well as a cost-effective alternative to many of the Midwest’s better-known vacation areas.
Located at the confluence of the Fox and Illinois Rivers, Ottawa has long enjoyed the sort of features that–in the Midwest, at least–are often synonymous with vacationing. The city boasts a riverfront setting, and four state parks are minutes away, which means wilderness, wildlife and recreational opportunities are abundant and year-round. Ottawa itself offers tourists a mix of historic sites and small-town ambience that go hand-in-hand with big-city convenience and contemporary sights, such as ethnic restaurants, specialty shops and live theatre. And with a location less than two hours southwest of Chicago, Ottawa can draw from one of the nation’s biggest tourist pools. However, with the exceptions of nearby Starved Rock State Park and Sky Dive Chicago, the charms of Ottawa have remained largely a local secret, until now.
Today, The City of Two Rivers is avidly promoting its attractions, and inviting development of perhaps its greatest asset, the Illinois River. To see the early returns on their efforts, visitors need only look at Heritage Harbor Ottawa, a vacation home, marina resort-style community that opened on the banks of The Illinois Waterway in August of 2007. When finished, it will draw thousands of annual new vacationers to the area, benefiting Ottawa economically, and further elevating the city’s profile through word-of-mouth advertising. The new community is the brainchild of Tom Heimsoth, the developer, but he insists it couldn’t have become a reality without the close collaboration of Ottawa Mayor, Bob Eschbach, the city commissioners and municipal planners.
“They’ve been great to work with,” said Heimsoth, “from the initial land surveys and population density studies through the zoning and infrastructure issues. When you’re building a huge resort community like ours, with up to 900 single-family homes and condos, a 461-slip marina, yacht club, central harbor town and a whole lot more, supportive local government is a godsend. Then again, we’ve been lucky with Ottawa right from the start. First we find this fabulous river site for the community, and it turns out to be in Ottawa, a terrific town loaded with its own tourist attractions. That’s a really big help when you’re developing a new resort area the way we are.”
Of course, Heimsoth wasn’t the first person attracted to Ottawa. Native Americans traded up and down the Illinois centuries before explorers Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette made their famous passage in 1673. By the 1820s, hunters, trappers and early settlers were tapping Ottawa’s natural resources, and in 1831, Ottawa was named the county seat for the newly formed LaSalle County. But it was really the Illinois and Michigan Canal, built in the 1840’s to create a navigable commercial waterway from Chicago to the Mississippi, which turned Ottawa into a boomtown.
“We take a lot of pride in our heritage,” said Bridget O’Brien, executive director of the Ottawa Visitors Center. “We’re particularly proud that, in a very real sense, Lincoln’s political career took off right here in Ottawa. The year 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of the first great debate, so naturally, we’ve planned a number of historically themed events to celebrate the man and the moment. Everyone is welcome, and anyone who would like to get the specifics has only to contact the Visitors Center.”
Besides special events, Ottawa already has a variety of existing tourist sites that are available throughout the year. Monumental bronze replicas of Lincoln and Douglas still draw spectators to Washington Square. Newly commissioned murals decorate the city, creating a colorful record of its famous people and major events. The Ottawa Scouting Museum preserves the memory of W.D. Boyce and the traditions of scouting. And the I&M Canal National Trail not only follows the path of the original canal, paralleling the Illinois River, but provides walkers and bikers with 61 scenic miles. It’s considered a national treasure.
Tourists can also visit the 22-room Reddick mansion, built before the Civil War; tour Ottawa’s Historic District, with its many landmark homes and churches; sample the offerings of the city’s Old Town District, with its Farmer’s Market, unique shops and eateries; or take a leisurely stroll along the riverwalk, right at the water’s edge. For more active pursuits, the city has over 100 acres of parkland equipped for everything from boating and fishing to baseball and tennis. The city also hosts a number of annual fairs, festivals and events, the biggest of which is Riverfest, a celebration of summer highlighted by a parade, carnival, fireworks and much more.
Ottawa’s attractions don’t end at the city limits. Those who like the great outdoors, will find four seasons of recreation and nature at Buffalo Rock, Illini State, Matthiessen, and Starved Rock State Parks, all literally minutes from town. Riders can mount up at nearby Black Sock Stable. Golfers can tee it up at four area courses. Skydivers can rise up at Skydive Chicago. And water lovers can sign up with Fox River Adventures. In short, the Ottawa Visitor’s Center has a lot to talk about.
To learn more about Ottawa, Illinois, visit www.experienceottawa.com or phone the Ottawa Visitors Center at 1-888-OTTAWA-IL (1-888-688-2924). They will be happy to send you a copy of Heritage Tour, Your Illustrated Guide to Places, Faces and Ornamentation of Ottawa.
For more information and a video tour about Heritage Harbor Ottawa, the all-new, vacation home, marina resort community, visit HeritageHarborOttawa.com, or phone 815/433-5000. The first decorator model and the community grand opening are scheduled for spring 2008, but preconstruction sales have already begun. Condominiums are available from the upper $200’s, with single-family cottage homes from the upper $300’s.
