Jubilee College State Park

Review Date: October 14th, 2015 First impressions are hard to change… If you live in Illinois at all, you know of the budget cuts, budget cuts, tax increases, budget cuts. Jubilee College State Park is one of those that has been hit by budget cuts. Decided to check this place and Jubilee Cafe out in the same day. My first time there, I encountered a few areas that were closed due to inadequate staffing. So a lot of places have become overgrown and broken down. This state park is beautiful and it’s a shame that it is in such a bad shape. While looking up some info on it to write this short blog, it appears that after 3 years they finally have a (volunteer?) Park Ranger and a volunteer group to help clean the place up and make it usable. Having never been here, I tried quite a few different places that I thought were openings to go hiking, but I really never could tell what was what since everything was overgrown. Now if this volunteer group is helping out and making the place a bit friendlier, I would love to go back and check it out again. Maybe even update this blog post. I just hope I don’t have to mark it ‘Closed’. It fills me with such sorrow that beautiful recreational places like these are cut short on budgets and fall into disuse. I won’t get into politics, but I hope they figure something out and restore this park and all the other closed/understaffed to their rightful natural beauty.

This is a beautiful state park. There were lots of hideaway areas for privacy and outdoor pavilions. It is filled with wildflowers which was perfect for our photography session. We also enjoyed just driving around. The old church and graveyard was interesting. It also made perfect photography opportunities. I would love to go back and see it in the fall. I would also like to take more time to explore.

I gave this park 4 stars because the sites are very close together. We happened to be camping with friends so our close together site was a bonus. However, it would’ve been WAY to intimate with strangers. Other than this, the park is beautiful. Some sites are very in-level. There is no wifi. Lots of hiking trails that are wide and easily navigated. Bathrooms(compost style) are scattered throughout the park. Campsites only have electricity as most state parks. There are water spigots scattered around as well. Online reservations were easy and the sites are priced right. The area is very rural, but there are a couple of towns within 30 minutes if needed. We will def be back.