Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center

Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center occupies a singular position in Illinois — the only hotel and conference facility located within Starved Rock State Park, set among the canyons, waterfalls, and pine-covered bluffs of one of the Midwest's most recognized natural landscapes. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1933 and 1939 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the authentic log-and-limestone lodge carries the craftsmanship of the New Deal era into a full-service event destination. The centerpiece of the property is the Great Hall, a soaring room featuring dark timber beams, a rich hardwood floor, and a two-sided limestone fireplace — the largest of its kind in Illinois — that anchors both formal dinners and wedding receptions for up to 200 guests. Adjacent to the lodge, the Canyonside Courtyard and Sunrise Shelter provide outdoor ceremony settings framed by towering pines and park views. For smaller gatherings and corporate events, six dedicated conference rooms accommodate groups ranging from boardroom-scale sessions to theater-style presentations of 200. The venue offers full-service in-house catering, 90 private accommodations including original lodge rooms and log cabins, and team-building activities throughout the year — all less than two hours from Chicago.