Lake Shelbyville Activities and Area Information

Current Events in Shelby County, IL

Shelby County always has something going on!

• Live music
• Arts and crafts fairs
• Festivals
• Fairs
• Farmers’ markets
• Park events
• And much more

Lithia Springs Marina

Visitors to Lithia Resort can find Lithia Springs Marina just 1/4 of a mile away. This full-service marina rents out:

• Daily/nightly slips 
• Kayaks 
• Boats (fishing, pontoon and party barge)

Boaters and other visitors can check out the marina store for: 

• Live bait
• Coffee
• Cold beer
• Snacks
• Apparel
• Safety gear
• Souvenirs
• And more! 

In addition, Lithia Springs Marina offers several dining options. They include the restaurant Nessie’s and, on tourism seasons weekends, food trucks and live music. Info about these features can be found on the marina’s Facebook page, the Lithia Marina website or by calling (217) 774-4121.

2060 E. 1500 North Rd.

Lake Shelbyville, IL 62565

Beach Access and Swimming

Lake Shelbyville Beaches 

Swimmers can enjoy Shelbyville waters on both sides of the lake. Just a short walk from Lithia Resort, guests can access the nearby Lithia Springs Beach. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers keeps the beach open during the peak visiting season. 

Across the lake, about a six-minute drive from Lithia Resort, the 9th Street Beach lines the shore of the Dam West Recreation Area. Also run by the USACE, campers swim free. The Corps allows swimming from 8 am to dusk. Neither beach permits pets. 

Shelbyville Family Aquatic Center 

Lithia Resort guests looking for pool recreation will enjoy the Shelbyville Family Aquatic Center, located about a six-minute drive from Lithia Resort. Center visitors can enjoy a variety of attractions: 

• Frog slide
• Water slide
• One-meter drop slide
• Wet and sand playground areas
• Concessions/food area
• Shaded picnic area
• Bathhouse
• Lap lanes
• Diving board

For small children, elders and handicapped individuals, the heated, zero-depth entry area provides safe, easily accessible and comfortable wading. The center offers recreation from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Monday-Friday (12-8 pm), Saturday (12-6 pm) and Sunday (1-6 pm). The Greater Shelbyville Chamber of Commerce provides pricing and more information on its website or by phone at (217) 774-4343.

Hiking, Biking, Running and Golfing

General Dacey Trail

Thinking about going for a hike, run, or bicycle ride? You might like the multipurpose General Dacey Trail. Nature lovers visiting this area can enjoy:

• Trail exercise
• Hiking
• Bicycling
• Running
• Bird watching
• Geocaching
• Photography
• Sightseeing
• 15-station outdoor fitness area

While the trail opened in 2006, it has undergone a number of development phases, so it always has something new for repeat visitors. Trail users can find trail heads with nearby parking at the Dam West recreation area, the Dam Overlook or behind the Forest Park Scout Cabin in Forest Park. 

Currently, the trail has two one-mile loops that traverse woods and lakefront, and projections call for more than seven miles of developed trails. Different sections of the trail cover the:

• Dam West (9th Street) Recreation Area
• Dam overlook rest area
• Army Corps of Engineers Visitors Center
• Lower spillway
• Forest Park
• Wooded areas along Lake Shelbyville
• Downtown Shelbyville
• Glenwood Cemetery

 A number of events, including the Tom Short Trail 5k Trail Run and an annual candlelight walk, occur throughout the year. The General Dacey Trail community maintains a Facebook page with information about activities on the trail sites. 

Mountain Biking at Camp Camfield

The MTB Project describes the Camp Camfield multi-use (hiking/biking) trail system as "your best option in this part of Illinois." It consists of a number of loops forming about seven miles of mountain biking trails. Located on the north end of Lake Shelbyville, near Sullivan, IL, it lies less than 30 minutes from Lithia Resort. 

The trail has become especially well-known for its intermediate skill level single-track mountain bike trail. Race number seven of the Illinois MTB State Championship, known as “Clash at the Camp,” takes place there each August. Bicyclers can find updates on the CIMBA Facebook page. 

Camp Camfield trails wind through beautiful woodlands with lakeside views. The Central Illinois Mountain Bike Association (CIMBA) cooperates with the Army Corps for trail development at Camp Camfield. 

Lake Shelbyville Area Golf

Golf fans can play a number of courses near Lake Shelbyville without traveling more than half an hour from Lithia Resort. On-site courses include Eagle Creek and Oak Terrace. Fox Prairie Golf Course, near Windsor, IL, lays only a 15-minute drive from Lithia Resort. Also within a reasonable drive from the Resort golfers will find quite a few championship golf courses:

• Eagle Creek Golf Course (18 holes) - (217) 756-5550 (Facebook)
• Sullivan Country Club (9 holes) - (217) 728-4406 (Facebook)
• Timberlake Golf Course (9 holes) - (217) 797-6496 (Facebook)
• Moweaqua Municipal Golf Course (18 holes) - (217) 768-3411 (Facebook)
• Oak Terrace Golf Course (18 holes) - (217) 539-4477 (Facebook)
• St. Elmo Golf Club (9 holes) - (618) 829-3390 (Facebook)
• Meadowview Golf Course (18 holes) - (217) 258-7888 (Facebook)
• Lakeshore Taylorville Golf Course (18 holes) - (217) 824-5521 (Facebook)
• Hickory Point Golf Club (18 holes) - (217) 421-7444 (Facebook)
• Bent Tree Golf Course (formerly Pleasant Grove) (9 holes) - (217) 348-1611 (Facebook)
• Red Tail Run Golf Club (18 holes) - (217) 422-2211 (Facebook)
• Rogala Golf Course (9 holes) - (217) 235-5518 (Facebook)
• Scovill Golf Club (18 holes) - (217) 429-6243 (Facebook)
  

Local Wineries

Willow Ridge Vineyards & Winery

Only 20 minutes from Lithia Resort, Willow Ridge Vineyards & Winery makes a great meeting place for family and friends. It lays eight miles northwest of Shelbyville and 1/2 mile west of Westervelt, IL. 

There, patrons can enjoy fine Illinois wines amid Tuscan-style décor, surrounded by beautiful countryside. Visitors enjoy wine by the glass or the bottle along with complimentary wine tasting.

The tasting room features a beautiful stone fireplace, a handcrafted bar and stained glass windows. Outside, the terrace overlooks the vineyard for refreshing relaxation. 

For large groups and events, the establishment’s banquet room seats 190 people and is available all year long, with the exception of major holidays. The wine tasting room seats an additional 40 people. 

Normally, the winery opens from Wednesday through Sunday, and on holiday weekends, it opens on Mondays. In addition, Willow Ridge offers wine delivery on the weekends. Parties looking for more information can visit willowridgewinery.com or call (217) 738-2323.

Vahling Vineyards

Vahling Vineyards specializes in wines made from local indigenous grape varieties. They also carry nonalcoholic beverages. It lays only about 20 minutes from Lithia Resort, near Stewardson, IL. 

Vahling operates all year long, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am through 5 pm, Sundays from noon until 5 pm and Mondays of holiday weekends. Individuals can learn more about the facility at vahlingvineyards.com or by calling (217) 682-5409. 

Niemerg Family Winery

The Niemerg Family Winery occupies a restored 100-year old building on Main Street in downtown Findlay, IL. Just a 25-minute drive from Lithia Resort, this winery operates with grapes from throughout the U.S., so it offers quite a variety of wines. 

During the summer it opens Tuesday through Friday from 12 to 8 pm, Saturdays from 11 am to 8 pm and Sundays from 12 to 5 pm. During the winter it closes on Wednesdays.

For more information, visit the Niemerg Family Winery Facebook page, email them at niemergwinery@frontier.com or call (217) 756-5521.

Tourism

Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center-USACE Offices

At the Dam East Recreation Area, on Lake Shelbyville, tourists can visit the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers offices. The corps opened its project office in December 2010 and the visitor center in 2011. Features of the center include: 

• Exhibit hall
• Aquariums and terrariums
• Grand lobby
• Gift shop
• Auditorium
• Restrooms
• Library
• Outdoor deck
• Observation platforms
• Outdoor classroom/pavilion
• Butterfly house and gardens
• Telescope overlooking the lake

Project office personnel work Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Meanwhile, the Visitor Center’s hours during the summer months span from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday through Thursday and 9:30 am to 6:30 pm on Friday and Saturday. During the non-peak spring, fall and winter months, it operates on weekdays from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. The Center closes on Federal holidays except Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. 

From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, the center offers dam tours Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm. The center personnel encourages participants to meet at the visitor center a half-hour prior to the tour. Tourists can get more information by on the Corps' website or by calling (217) 774-3951. The Corps provides a 24-hour lake info recording at (217) 774-2020. 

Boarman’s Roxy Theater

The refurbished, early 1900s Boarman’s Roxy Theater plays first-run movies in its award-winning classic environment. It operates seven days each week with shows at 6:30 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, it features 2:00 pm matinees. To find the current feature movie, check out the Now Playing page on the theater's website, its Facebook page or call (217) 774-7699.

The Little Theater on the Square

The Little Theater on the Square lays about 25 minutes from Lithia Resort in Sullivan, IL. Since its opening in 1957, more than 175 famous stars performed on the Little Theater stage, including:

• Mickey Rooney
• Alan Alda
• Ann Miller
• Don Ameche
• Betty Grable
• John Carradine
• Leonard Nimoy
• Forrest Tucker

Fans can see what is going on at the theater by visiting its website or Facebook page or call (217) 728-7375.

Antique Shopping 

Antique collectors visiting Lithia Resort will enjoy the antique stores in Shelbyville, Sullivan and Arthur. In Shelbyville, visitors will find several antique stores right on Main Street. Only 20 minutes away in Sullivan, IL, Lithia guests can enjoy antique shopping just south of town and another five minutes north, in the downtown area. Finally, another 20 minutes northeast, Arthur, IL has several more antique shops. 

Visit Amish Country in Arthur, IL

To really get a feel for the regional culture, nothing beats a visit to Arthur, IL, the home of the state’s largest Amish settlement. It lays only 45 minutes northeast of Lithia Resort. Visitors can see Amish farms and horse-drawn buggies there. 

In addition to the Amish homesteads, newcomers to the town will enjoy interesting shops, stores and bakeries. Shoppers go to see traditional Amish furniture, quilts, crafts, clothing, foods and more. 

Beachy’s Food Store offers fresh produce, a deli, specialty food items and plenty of finely crafted food items. Check out its Facebook page or call the store at (217) 543-3447. The store operates Monday through Friday from 7 am until 5:30 pm and Saturday from 7 am - 4:30 pm. It is closed on Sunday.

The owner of Yoder’s Kitchen, Anna Herschberger, grew up in a traditional Amish home. She learned to serve homemade meals through her mother's traditional business, Miller’s Home Cooking. Today the restaurant offers traditional Amish menu items, buffet selections and catered food. The restaurant operates Monday through Saturday, from 7 am until 8 pm. It is closed on Sundays. Diners can see its extensive menu on the restaurant website, or get more information on its Facebook page or by calling (217) 543-2714.

Shelby County Tourism

Looking for even more things to do near Lithia Resort? Check out the Greater Shelbyville Chamber of Commerce webpage or the City of Shelbyville Illinois official Facebook page. Visitors can also call the Chamber at (217) 774-2221. 

Learn about Shelbyville and Shelby County: 

• Biking
• Hiking
• Boating
• Swimming
• Fishing
• Hunting
• Historical sites
• Wineries
• Dining
• Shopping
• And more!

There’s even more information available on the official website for Shelby County and Lake Shelbyville Area Tourism, sponsored by the Shelby County Tourism and Lake Shelbyville Area CVB (Facebook or Instagram). Visitors can reach them by phone at (217) 774-2244 or (800) 874-3529.

Wedding or Banquet Rentals and Catering

Wedding & Banquet Rentals

At Lithia Resort, people get together, and friendships and love happen. So many of our guests come to the area to attend or organize weddings and other special events. These wedding and banquet rental businesses are popular choices.

Spruce St. Studios

Lithia Resort guests know Spruce St. Studios, Shelbyville’s own upscale private events venue for weddings, receptions, reunions and meetings. This wedding venue and reception hall offer space suitable for weddings and large event banquets. 

Available via phone Monday through Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm, the studios offer private showings Monday through Friday by appointment by calling (217) 566-4055. The Spruce St. Studios website provides information and images. Its Facebook page and Instagram provide the latest on the venue.

Best Wedding Chapel Services

Best Wedding Chapel Services offers both a historic wedding chapel and a mobile wedding chapel. Couples use them for both weddings and vow renewals. The service offers plenty of options for fun, simple and affordable weddings.

To contact the service, call (217) 774-7809. Darrell and Lisa Best offer visits by appointment from 9 am to 10 pm every day of the week and an additional 15 minutes on Thursday nights! To learn more about their service, check out the Best Wedding Chapel Services website or its Facebook page.

Catering

Lithia Resort guests often stay at the resort for special events that require catering. Two options, both with delicious food, have convenient nearby locales:

• Deb’s Catering - We highly recommend Deb’s Catering in Altamont, IL. They offer more than a dozen main dishes and plenty of desserts and extras. Interested parties can see their menu on their website. Also, take a look at their Facebook page or call (618) 483-3777.
• Griffins' BBQ Crew Catering - Griffins’ BBQ Crew Catering, near Sullivan, IL, has an amazingly extensive menu online. For more information, call them at (217) 620-4003. Check out their Facebook page to see what they are up to.