Visit Ridge Farm Vermilion Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Ridge Farm in Illinois: Experience nature and animals! A beautiful outdoor resort for families and friends of agriculture.
Honestly, if you think Ridge Farm is just a slept spot in the heart of Elwood Township, then you haven't really sniffed the story of this place yet. Founded in 1857 by a handful of courageous pioneers who wanted to claim the fertile land on the banks of the Vermilion River, the village has hardly changed since then – and that is somehow its charm. The old wooden houses, which still line the road, tell of a time when life was slower and the greatest adventure was a tractor that was not in the middle of the field. I don't understand the hype around the big metropolises, but here, between the endless corn fields and the occasional cow bell sound, you'll find a rest you never get in Chicago.
When you arrive by car from Champaign, follow Highway 1 to Elwood exit; the highway leads you directly to the heart of Ridge Farm, where you almost feel the time here is a bit slower. And yes, the “Ridge Farm Sights” are not listed in a shiny catalog, but that doesn’t matter – a walk through the historic cemetery, a short stop at the old cereal silo and a coffee in the only diner in the city give you the real, unfailed feeling that you really get here. I swear, this is not a tourist gag, but pure, slightly cynical love for a place that has more to offer than you suspect at first sight.
I have to confess: what I love most at Ridge Farm is that Press Release. Yes, you have read correctly – a library that not only dusts books, but actually is a small centerpiece of the village. I borrowed a book about maize cultivation there, because I thought that was the nonplusultra here, and then I have an old farmer in the reading room who told me about his first tractor ride when drinking coffee. Parking is usually a Klacks, because the property hardly holds more than a few cars, but if you're there on Friday night after the weekly Bingo, you'll have to push a bit through the cars – no joke.
Right next to the library Ridge Farm Park, a place I like to name as the “Freizeit‐micro-universum”. There is a baseball moon, which is not exactly suitable for the Major League, but offers more than enough room for a spontaneous game with the locals. I once played with a 12-year-old who claimed he was “the next Babe Ruth”, a complete inning – that was a real cult moment, because the field after the rain was so muddy that we almost slept in the mud. The playground is small, but the swing is surprisingly stable, and the barbecue on the edge is always open when you are lucky.
A short walk leads you to Ridge Farm Community. Here the weekly yoga classes take place, which I would personally call “yoga for farmers who want to stretch their tractors”. The hall is equipped with worn wooden benches that tell more stories than any Instagram story. I once participated in a “Koch-und-Kunst-Abend” where the local bakery served their famous maize bread muffins – that was really great, although the works were more of old barn boards.
If you want to experience the industrial flair of Illinois, you can Ridge Farm do not miss. The massive silo system, which is operated by one of the large cereal groups, is almost up to the sky and is what I call lovingly “the concrete coloss”. I stood there once in the summer, while a tractor delivered the grains, and heard the rhythmic rat, which almost looks like a metronome for the village life. There is no official visitor area, but a short look from the road is enough to appreciate the impressive scaffold – and parking is a children's game here because you can simply stop at the edge of the road.
A little further north, almost hidden between the fields, lies the Ridge Farm United Methodist Church. The Church is not only a place for worship, but also a popular meeting place for the annual “Kuchen‐und‐Kaffee Festival”. I tried an apple cake there that was so dry that I could almost use it as a decoration for the museum – but that was just what the villagers call “authentic”. The interior is simple, but the benches made of old pine wood have a certain charm, and the bell game sounds like it's coming from another time.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Ridge Farm Fire Department. The building is a small, red brick house, which at the same time serves as a museum for old firefighter equipment. I once saw an old hose there that crawled so that I thought he would explode every moment – fortunately, it was just an effect for the annual “Fire Gun Show”. The staff is super friendly and will let you look behind the scenes when you dare to open the door. Parking is practically always free here because the property hardly holds more than a few cars.
Last but not least, Press Office mentioning that is small, but the heart of the village is particularly loud. I once delivered a package that accidentally went to the wrong address, and the friendly staff personally brought it back – a service that you hardly find in the big cities. The building is a classic red brick house with a small canopy, under which you will find a bit of shade in the summer when you wait for your stamp album.
If you now think that all this sounds a bit too vivid, then don't let yourself be fooled: Ridge Farm Attractions have their own unmistakable charm, which at the same time calms you down and brings you a little bit to the spun. I have experienced more than I would have ever thought possible – and all this without ever booking a hotel. So, grab your car, grab some snacks and get ready to discover the true heart of Elwood Township.
The first stop I put to every newbie is the Kickapoo State Recreation Area – a huge piece of nature that lies only about 12 miles north of Ridge Farm and is perfect for a spontaneous picnic or an extended hike. The lake is not the deepest, but the clear water attracts anglers and kayaks alike; I once tried to catch a pike, and only ended up with a wet shoe and a story that I've been telling since every barbecue. Parking is usually a children's game as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the field full of family cars becomes a small battlefield.
A short trip to Danville leads to the River Walk, a 2.5 km path along the Vermilion River, which is ideal for a relaxing walk after the Kickapoo adventure. The paths are well maintained, the water glitters in the sunlight, and the local ducks seem to be happy with the visitors – at least if you don't get too close to them. I once discovered a small street music duo that played classic jazz standards; that was a real lucky handle because otherwise I would only hear the noise of the river.
The Danville Museum of Fine Arts is a must for art lovers (or for those who simply want to see something “cultureally grown up”). The building itself is a little inconspicuous, but the changing exhibitions are surprisingly well curated – from regional landscape paintings to modern sculptures. I must admit that I cannot fully understand the hype around the “local art scene”, but the museum has a quiet reading room where I could retreat outside after a long day. Parking is free in front of the museum, which is rare in a small town.
A short trip to the Vermilion County War Museum brings a bit of history to the tour. The museum is located in a former court building and houses an impressive collection of uniforms, vehicles and personal belongings from all American wars. I was there to surprise my grandmother who was veteran of the Second World War; her look when she saw the old M16 was unpaid. Parking is somewhat cramped, but this is a small price for the opportunity to touch a piece of American history.
A little further east, in Union, lies the Illinois Railway Museum – the largest railway museum in the USA. Here you can not only admire old locomotives, but also take a short trip with a historical steam locomotive. I took the ride because I thought it was a nice “Nostalgie-Trip” and was then bombed by an enthusiastic leader with anecdotes over the “golden days of the rail”. The museum has a spacious parking lot, which is not full even on hot summer days.
For those who prefer to travel on two wheels, the Danville Prairie Trail is a real secret tip. The approximately 15 km long cycle path stretches through fields, small forests and past historic farm houses – a perfect place to enjoy the rural idyll of Vermilion County. I once met a local baker who sold me fresh cinnamon chicks while he told me why the area is so good for wheat. The Trail-Head parking lot is small, but sufficient when you arrive early enough.
Finally, a short trip to the Brees Mall in Danville – yes, a shopping center that is usually overlooked, but here there is a surprisingly good offer of local crafts stands that sell handmade ceramics and jewelry. I found a piece of handmade wooden toy there, which is now in the nursery of my niece. Parking is directly at the Mall building, and most places are free as long as you don't come on Friday night.
Whether you’re looking for nature, history, art or a bit of shopping, the surrounding area of Ridge Farm offers a colorful mix that satisfies every modern traveler. The places mentioned show that the rural Illinois has more to offer than one would suspect at first glance – and all this just a short drive from the Ridge Farm Attractions removed.
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