Visit Coal City Grundy Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the small town of Coal City in Illinois! Experience the Mining Museum and the old mines. Walk in the park with Lake Murphys Mound or visit the Museum of the American Negro Cowboy. Eat well in the local restaurant "The Pit" with barbecue specialities.
On the first steps through Coal City attractions you can immediately feel that this small town is more than just a stop on the highway to Chicago. I remember driving over the old railway bridge as a child with my grandfather and telling me that Coal City was founded in 1857 as a coal mine – a name that is almost ironic today, because the mines have long since become museum pieces. The whole area is located in Felix Township, which in turn is part of Grundy County, explaining why the streets here run a little bit more slanted than in the planned suburbs further east.
When you walk the main road honestly, you realize that people here have a peculiar self-confidence: They talk loudly about their weekly peasant markets while at the same time they praise the latest fast food truck from Illinois – no joke, this is almost a ritual here. I took the bus from the Metra station in Joliet, because the car would have cost me too much time, and suddenly I stood in the middle of the small but charming center where the old town hall still forms the heart.
For those who want to experience the authentic Middle Land, Coal City not only offers a few nice cafes, but also a sense of resistance that you rarely find in the fast-paced suburbs. And yes, the Coal City sights are not packaged in a shiny guidebook, but are hidden in the conversations of the locals, which are best heard with a cool beer in the local pub.
This guide invites you to stroll with me through Coal City's slanted-harmant world, as if we met in the pub after a long working day and chat about the best corners of the city.
For me, the Coal City Historical Museum, a tiny but surprisingly well-stocked museum in a rebuilt railway depot. I remember standing there as a child with my grandfather and marveling at the old coal production – that was not exactly what was expected of a “historical” attraction, but the original tools and the dusty photos really tied me up. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, the small car park in front of the museum suddenly becomes the battlefield of the weekend hunters.
A short walk further leads to Coal City Public Library. Yes, I know libraries are not exactly the highlight for adventurers, but here there is a corner with local works of art that I have completely overlooked during the first visit – until I have crumbled in a cozy reading chair and was suddenly surrounded by an old photo album about the city history. The library even has a small café where you can drink a coffee while enjoying the “Stille” of the shelves – a real secret tip for those who are looking for a bit of rest without going straight to the monastery.
If you have enough of dusty memories, that is Coal City Park exactly the counterpart. The park is not huge, but the green areas are surprisingly well maintained, and the playgrounds have the charm of 90-year designs that somehow seem nostalgic. I once made a picnic with friends, and we made fun of the “great” idea that the car park next to the playground is a bit too close – but hey, this is Coal City, where everything is a bit thrown together.
Another must is that St John the Baptist Catholic Church. The church is not only a place of prayer, but also an architectural piece of jewelry with a stone façade, which acts almost like a set of films in the sunset. I took part in a choir sample there – no joke, I tried to sing, and the result was... let's say, a good example of why some talents should stay in the head better. Nevertheless, the acoustics is impressive, and the interior is a quiet retreat when you want to escape the hustle of the city.
For those who prefer something more active, there is Coal City Golf. The place is not exactly a PGA-Turnier-Venue, but the fairways are well maintained and the clubhouse has a rustic charm that invites you to stay. I played a 9-hole game with an old colleague there, and we argued about whether the water barrier is a “strategic element” or just a “bad design” – the result was a few lost balls and a good laughter.
A short detour to Coal City Farmers Market on Saturday morning is also worthwhile. Fresh vegetables, homemade jams and a stand with handmade candles – this is the true “local” flair that you don’t find in the big supermarkets. I tried the best maize bread of my life there, which was baked by an older lady named Marge; she even gave me a recipe that I've been baking every time I have guests.
A little away from the main roads Coal City Community Center. There are regular art exhibitions, dance evenings and even a small film classic evening. I was once at a retro movie night when we saw “Casablanca” on an old canvas – the popcorn was a bit too salty, but the atmosphere was so cozy that I almost forgot that I had only come because of the snack.
And yes, if you are looking for a good photo motif, you can choose the iconic Coal City Water Tower not overlooked. The tower rises over the city like a silent guard, and at sunset it throws a warm light on the surrounding houses. I have made a few recordings that are now hanging in my Instagram feed – no joke, that is the only building I would ever call a “must-see” because it is simply so distinctive.
If you now think that all this is a bit too much, let me tell you: Coal City Attractions are not exactly the glittering metropolis that you know from travel guides, but that makes the charm. There are no crowded tourist streams here, just a few nice people who give you a smile when you ask for the way, and a few places you leave with a slight symphony because they are so honest and unpretentious.
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