What makes Gay's sights so special is the silent story that is hidden between the old railroads and the vast corn fields. I remember the first time I went to the tiny village, which was built in 1872 when the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes Railway spread their net here – a piece of railway romanticism that hardly anyone notices today. The place bears the name of G. W. Gays, a little known railway officer, and is comfortably located in the heart of Whitley Township, Moultrie County.
When you take route 16 to the west from Sullivan, you almost pass a single crossing, where an old post office still murmurs the echo of past times. I don't understand the hype about big cities, but here you can feel the real heartland feeling you rarely find in the guides. The small shop on the main street sells homemade cakes that are surprisingly good – no joke.
For those arriving by car, parking is practically in front of the only inn that still carries a sign with the word “Welcome”. If you prefer the train, get off in Decatur and then drive the road, which is almost a mini adventure. And yes, I must admit: Gay's sights are not the glittering skyline, but the quiet whisper of a community that still cling to its own, slightly dusty charm.
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The first stop of my little Odyssey was Lake of the Woods State Park, a bit like a hidden gem you can only find if you accept the GPS signal loss in the prairie. The lake is only about 12 miles south of Gays, and parking is almost always a Klack – until you arrive on Saturday night with a horde angler, then it becomes a little drama. I rented an old kayak there, which was more squeaking than an old refrigerator, and yet the water plunder was a perfect counterpart to the dusty road that leads you here.
A short trip to Sullivan brought me to Moultrie County Courthouse, an imposing brick building dating back to 1913, which has more stories to tell than most guides. I stood there, while a court appointment just started, and heard the quiet murmuring of the present – a sound that is otherwise only known from old Western films. Parking right in front of the courthouse is practically always free as long as you do not collapse at lunchtime with local politicians who then take their daily walks.
Just a few steps further Moultrie County Historical Museum. I have to admit I was skeptical because I thought it was just a dusty collection of old agricultural machinery. Instead, I found a surprisingly well curated exhibition on the railways, which was the backbone of the region. The museum director, a real character, told me that the old locomotive display once served as a backyard for a local restaurant – a detail that made me sneak while wandering between the exhibits.
The Downtown Historic District by Sullivan is another chapter I could not leave. The cobblestone streets and the restored facades of the 19-century towns feel like a walk through a lively history book. I drank a double espresso in a tiny café while I looked at the old cinema, which today serves as a venue for indie films. There are parking spaces here in small, trees-lined gaps – a bit like a puzzle that is only solved with patience.
A little further north, almost on the edge of the city, this is Moultrie County Fairgrounds. I only visited the site during the annual fair, but even outside the main events the place has a certain charm. The old fair stands are empty, but the echo of past noises is almost tangible. When you arrive by car, you will always find a free space on the edge as long as you do not meet the local cattle breeders on Friday night, who then park their tractors.
To finish my little tour around Gays, Whitley Township, I still have to Sullivan Public Library mention. The building from the 1920s is not only a place to read, but also a social meeting place. I found an old town planning book there that found the development of Gays in the early 20th. Century documented – a real find for anyone who wants to know more about the roots of this spot. Parking is a children's game here: a small car park right in front of the entrance, which is rarely full, unless there is a reading festival.
Next time you think about where you want to spend your time in the area of Gays, Whitley Township, Moultrie, Illinois, the area has more to offer than what you see at first glance. From quiet lakes to historic court buildings to charming libraries – there is enough fabric for a long road trip. And yes, all that belongs to the Gay sightsI put you in the heart (and with a pinch of cynicism).
This guide invites you to explore with me a small, but surprisingly charming spot of Illinois – Gays, the heart of Whitley Township, where the word “Langweilig” appears only in the city maps.
My personal favorite place is this Gays Community Park. At first glance, it acts like any other field-edged playground in the Middle West, but when you hear the rustling of the grilled charcoal in the summer and the occasional “Bumm!” of a baseball flies over the field, you can see that the true life pulsates here. I once organized a spontaneous picnic with a friend, while a local high school team turned a hot game – that was more entertainment than one would find in some big city. Parking is usually a Klacks as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the field becomes a parking space for the annual Gays Fall Festival and the whole chaos is a bit too much.
A short walk northward leads to Gays Grain Elevator, a red monolith that has been sending the grain of the environment to the world since the 1920s. I don't understand the hype about modern art installations, but this rusty building has something monumental – almost romantic when the sun goes down over the silos and the light dips the metal surfaces into a warm orange. The elevator is still in operation, so you can't just jump over it; a small note: the entry of the site is only permitted with the permission of the owner, but a short view from the road is sufficient to anchor the image in the head.
A few blocks on this Old Gays Schoolhouse, which today serves as a community centre. The crunching wooden floors tell stories of generations who have practiced reading, writing and the inevitable “who stole the break?” here. I once participated in a Poetry-Slam where a retired farmer introduced a shark over corn-piston – that was really great and showed that culture is not just a fieldwork. The building is accessible to disabled people, and the small café in the cellar serves the best apple cake in the area if you want to recharge some energy after the visit.
Another must is that Gays Volunteer Fire Department- Building more like a mini-museum than a pure deployment station. There are old fire helmets, a rusty hose and a 1950s fire truck still in the rain, as if he were ready to save the next crop field. I once talked to the head of the team who told me that the volunteers are in use here almost all year round – a real proof that community is not just a word but a lifestyle. Parking is possible directly in front of the building, and the sign “No passage” is more a friendly hint than a strict order.
For those who seek a little spiritual tranquility, there are Gays United Methodist Church. The brick building from the early 20. The century impresses with its simple, but elegant architecture – no bright neon lights, only the quiet clinker of the wooden bench and the occasional sums of an organ that still dates back to the post-war period. I took part in a Sunday worship service where a local choir sang a Gospel piece that completely catapulted me from the comfort zone. The entrance area has a small garden where you can admire the first tulips in spring, and parking is almost always free thanks to a small side street.
If you are hungry, there is no way Gay Diner by. The sign “Home‐cooked since ’68” is not only marketing, but a promise. I tried the famous “Cornbread-Bites” there – a crispy, slightly sweet snack that fits perfectly with a glass of homemade lemonade. The diner is a popular meeting place for the locals, and the staff knows every visitor what is almost strange for a traveler from the city, but at the same time warm. The indoor seating is equipped with old vinyl chairs, which squeak a bit when you sit down – a small indication that history can be found not only on the walls but also in the furniture.
Last but not least, Gays Fall Festival do not miss that every year in October turns the little town into a colorful drive. Here all meet Gay sights to a single, chaotic but incredibly lively event: carousels, local artisans, a competition for the best pumpkin dish and a fireworks that illuminates the sky over the silos. I was the first time a local baker presented a pumpkin apple cake that was so good that I almost stole the recipe. The festival attracts visitors from all over the region, so you should secure a parking space at the outskirts of the park at an early stage – otherwise you end up like me, on the lawn, surrounded by corn and a bunch of good mood.
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