Important Map Note
Do not attempt to map our location with mapping programs such as Mapquest or Google Maps (I placed the marker on the map above, so it is correct.) Those programs incorrectly show 835 N County Rd 1500 E as being north of U.S. Rt. 36 instead of south of it! Instead, use 1435E County Road 825 N, Tuscola, IL 61953 with your GPS or mapping software and you will end up just a few hundred feet to the south of us.
Things to do at and around Riverbend Retreat...
Here at Riverbend:
1. Have a cookout! There are two 8' tables on the Mission Trellis Patio that can be lit with our 60' strand of yellow lightbulbs hanging overhead. Bring some charcoal for the grill. Also under the lights is an 18' Sitting Circle where you can put your lawn chairs along with our four glider chairs.
2. Tell stories around the campfires, one in the yard and one above the river. We supply firewood, a swing grill and a griddle.
3. Fish the Embarras River. Visitors have caught channel, blue and flathead catfish, striped, largemouth and Kentucky bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye, snapping and softshell turtles. Preferred baits are nightcrawlers and chicken livers (sometimes IGA is out, so you might want to pack some in your cooler). Pamida and & Tuscola Pro Hardward have bait and fishing licenses.
4. Play Croquet on the riverfront lawn. We still need to buy a set, so bring your own!
5. Foosball (try 2 or 3 person teams) in the basement.
6. Pick mulberries (at the top of the riverfront lawn) strawberries, blackberries, raspberries (south side of the house) persimmons or tomatoes if they're in season.
7. Watch the birds. Turkey vultures, hawks, bluebirds and woodpeckers are regulars around Riverbend. Summer nights often feature an extraordinary firefly display beneath the stars.
8. Hike along the river. This is especially easy to do in the fall, winter and spring when hikes in the forest are much easier.
9. Bring a movie and watch it. The 1st floor has a DVD player and the 2nd floor has a DVD/VHS player. Or head up to Villa Grove 6 miles north and take in new release.
10. Take a short drive to the many attractions, shops and restaurants in Tuscola, Arcola, Atwood, Arthur, Chesterville and Bourbon, all right in Douglas County. Here are descriptions with hyperlinks, grouped by town:
TUSCOLA Tourism is located in the Tuscola Community Building. From Rt. 36, go north on Main Street and turn left right after you cross the tracks.
Tanger Outlet Center has new stores including Nike, Old Navy, Coldwater Creek and Bath & Body Works. To the south of Tanger, you'll find the Amishland Red Barn Buffet & Shoppes with 72,000 sq. ft. of enclosed dining and shopping including a bakery, cheese and meats, art glass, and an art gallery featuring Thomas Kinkade and Terry Redlin and Amish furniture. The Bible verse plaques on the first floor came from Amish Country Heirlooms. There is also an arcade with all kinds of games including air hockey and pinball.
Heading into town, you'll find John Davis' State Farm Insurance Agency at the first stoplight. This is also the also the delivery address for Riverbend Retreat if you need you to have anything shipped in during your stay (800 S Embarras Av • Tuscola, IL 61953). Stop in to say hello and see the building that John practiced on before tackling the renovation of Riverbend Retreat. Across 36 is Tuscola IGA which has a salad bar and hot food to go.
Further down 36 is Monical's Pizza, newly refurbished with the coolest signs in town! Paddy Wagon Antiques is on the left at Main Street (and the Riverbend Retreat billboard). Turn right on Main and you'll find the Douglas County Museum . The museum has wide ranging exhibits. You may find the museum filled with motorcycles during one visit and filled with dolls the next!
Midwest Galleries on Main Street has a great selection of furniture and furnishings. Just to the north, you'll find Flesor's Candy Kitchen, a beautifully restored landmark and a great place to enjoy a meal, a fountain soda, some ice cream and candy, of course! Kelsey Furniture is just north of Flesor's. Great prices and a wide selection right in Tuscola.
Ironhorse Golf Course is one of the finest public facilities in Illinois, a true links golf experience. The Ironhorse Grille has expanded their menu and now offers steaks!
AMAZING ARCOLA has festivals, attractions and many shops! Don't miss Arcola's Main St.!
Rockome Gardens has many events througout the year. Be sure to visit this central Illinois landmark attraction! They have a restaurant that is separate from the park too.
The Illinois Amish Interpretive Center is our state's only Amish Museum and you'll enjoy the detailed exhibits. Also a great resource for reserving a special meal in an Amish home.
The Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum is also on Arcola's Main Street. Very well done!
The Primitive Goose is a great place to shop for antiques, folk art and home and garden decor.
Yoder's Homestead Furniture has floors of furniture plus gift items such as jams and jellies.
Olde Brick Wall features a wonderful gathering of tinware, light fixtures, candles, redware, homespun fabrics, folk art and primitives.
Country Charm Furniture has a large showroom full of furniture right on Rt. 133.
A group portrait at Riverbend? Contact Michael Ryan Photography.
ARTHUR is home to wonderful shops in town and Amish businesses in the country. You can stop at the Arthur Visitor Center and pick up a map of all the rural businesses.
The Great Pumpkin Patch is another one of our favorite places in Douglas County and has been featured in Martha Stewart Living. The Homestead Bakery is open year round and features made-from-scratch breads, pies, cakes, rolls and cookies. Yum.
PJCC Worldwide, on Rt. 133 between Arthur and Arcola, displays a wide array of collectibles including coins and currency and Ty Beanies. Also at this location is My Amish Heritage and a sale lot with Amish buggies and other horse carriages.
Yoder's Kitchen is also on Rt. 133 on the way into Arthur from Arcola. They have a great buffet and a gift shop with a bakery items too. We always try to take our visitors to Yoder's!
Arthur is home to two apparrel stores with personal service and great Selection. Ladies, check out The Villa and gentlemen should cross the street and visit Delbert's.
Also on Vine St is Dick's Pharmacy with an old fashioned soda fountain and counter. Check out their phenomenal pop bottle collection! Aunt Susan's has delicous ice cream, cheese and freshly made fudge and Country Cheese and More sells jams, fruit butters, homemade baked goods, crafts and quilts. The Woodloft has locally Amish made custom furniture.
The Tintype photograpy studio is another option for your group photo at Riverbend Retreat.
VILLA GROVE is the second closest town to Riverbend Retreat and has a Monical's Pizza with a large menu and delicious food on Rt. 130 as you approach from Camargo.
Interested in a movie and refreshments all at a reasonable price? Head into downtown Villa Grove to Gemini Cinemas where you'll find two new movies on their screens.
SULLIVAN is home to The Little Theatre on the Square, bringing broadway quality theatre to the area since 1957. Sullivan is 35 mile from Riverbend Retreat.