If you're looking for Loda attractions, let me tell you why this tiny little town in the heart of Loda Township, Iroquois County, Illinois has more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. I'm just sitting in an old café on Main Street, which still breathes the flair of the 1870s – yes, Loda was founded in 1869 when the railway slit the prairie and brought the first settlers with their tractors and hopes to the edge of the country. Honestly, the story is not exactly Hollywood material, but the quiet plunder of the nearby Vermilion River reminds me that once real pioneers sought their luck.
A short trip by car over the US‐45, which leads practically through the center, brings you to the few but charming shops that are still run by families – no joke, here everyone knows everyone. And if you ask yourself how you come here at all, a short stop at the I‐57 is enough to catapult you into the rural idyll without having to torture you through endless highways.
I don't quite understand the hype about big metropolises, but the quiet moments in which you look over the field and hear the quiet sum of the bees are unpaid. And that's exactly what makes Loda's sights an underestimated jewel – a place where you can throttle the pace and feel the real Illinois.
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You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
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The old station of Watseka, barely more than a rusty box of bricks, at first glance looks like a relic from a time when trains still formed the backbone of the Middle West. I stood there once in autumn, while a train rushed past, and the crunching of the rails was almost the only sound that broke through silence – a perfect place to wonder why you're going to the city at all if the car is in traffic. Parking is usually a children's game as long as you don't come on Saturday night, then the field behind the station becomes a battlefield from parked pick-up trucks.
A short detour to Watseka inevitably leads to Iroquois County Historical Museum. The building itself is a little too big for what is to be seen inside, but the collection of old land machines, photographs and handwritten diaries has something almost magnetic. I remember how I discovered a yellowed photo of a horse car in a dusty closet that immediately reminded me of the stories of my grandparents who told me about endless fields and hard winters. The entrance is free, and the staff lets you stroll through the corridors almost unobserved – a rare luxury in museums where you have the feeling of constantly being observed.
Just a couple of miles away Iroquois County Courthouse, an impressive 19th building. Century that expresses more about the ambitions of the founders than about the current jurisdiction. I observed a court appointment there – not because I had legal curiosity, but because I wanted to take the opportunity to admire the artistic pillars and the massive clockwork. Parking is a bit trickier here, because the town hall has a small but well-used parking, which is quickly full when the town hall is full.
If you have enough of historic bricks, you will be worth a trip to Kankakee River State Parkabout 30 kilometers south. The river sounds through dense forests, and the hiking trails are so well maintained that you almost feel that they would be relocated by a professional trail designer at any moment. I spent a weekend fishing there, and the only thing that bothered me was the occasional quaken of the frog, which was almost louder than the noise of the water. The parking lot at the main entrance is large enough to catch a few campers, but on sunny Saturdays it can come to a small mess when families move in with picnic baskets.
Another highlight is the annual Iroquois County Fair, which takes place at the Fairgrounds in Watseka. The fair is a colourful mix of cattle shows, rides and local food stands that offer everything from corn flasks to frozen apple cake. For the first time in summer 2019, I have had the opportunity to see a pig competition – an event that is fascinating and slightly grotesque at the same time. The terrain is huge, and parking is practical because it was specially designed for the fair; However, you should come early, otherwise you have to escape to the surrounding streets.
Lastly, Veterans Memorial mentioned in the central square of Watseka. It is a simple monument of granite that bears the names of the soldiers fallen in the First and Second World War. I once had a quiet conversation with an older gentleman who told me that his grandfather was engraved there – a moment that suddenly filled the otherwise so dry atmosphere of the place with personal history. The monument is accessible around the clock, and parking is almost always easy thanks to the nearby shops.
Whether you are a fan of dusty museums, imposing court buildings, wild river landscapes, colourful year markets or silent memorials – the surroundings of Loda have something to offer for everyone. The mix of history, nature and local culture makes the Loda Attractions to a surprisingly rich experience you should not underestimate.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Loda is the old one Depot is – a crunching relic from the railway history, which sprays more charm than some hip neighborhood in Chicago. When you arrive there, you will be greeted by a small parking lot that is usually free, except on Saturday night when the local oldtimer fans hold a small meeting and suddenly every gap is occupied. The building itself is made of red brick, the roof has more rust than a neglected grill, and inside you will find some yellowed schedules that remind you that once trains came to transport the grain from the surrounding fields.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Loda Public Library. I once found a book about the history of Iroquois County, which I have never finished reading because I was too busy admiring the creeping wooden chairs. The library is small, but the staff is cordial – they like to give you an overview of the local events, and parking is a children's game here as long as you don't come to the weekly Bingo night, then the small pre-garden parking suddenly becomes the battlefield.
If you're looking for something that requires a little more movement, then the Loda Community Park That's right. The square has a baseball field, which is played in the summer from the kids from the surroundings to the sunset, and a playground that has more squeaking swings than one would expect in a big city. I once made a picnic while a tractor passed and filled the air with fresh maize fragrance – an experience you don't have every day. And yes, parking is practically always present here because the car park consists of a field path you can easily drive by car.
A little away from the center lies Loda United Methodist Church, a building from the 1880s that breathes more history than most museums. The stained glass windows are not particularly large, but the light that falls through them makes the interior look almost like a painting. I once participated in a Sunday worship service, only to find out that the church seems to talk more about the weather than about the Bible – but that is exactly what the country life is. The access is free, and parking is a little further back where you can park your car between a few old tractors.
For those looking for a little nostalgia, there is Loda Historical Society Museum, located in a former school building. There you will find old school books, a few dusty maps and a model of the city that is so small that you could almost overlook it if you don't look closely. I once discovered an old photo of me as a child that I had never seen before – a little moment that reminded me of why I came here at all. The museum has no fixed opening hours, so just stop by if you feel that you want to inhale a bit of history; Parking is usually a short walk from the entrance.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Loda Grain Elevator. This massive silo shaft dominates the city skyline and is a symbol of what Loda really does: grain, hard work and a bit of dust in the air. I once asked a leader to show me the inner mechanisms, and he explained to me how the grain is loaded into the elevator by the farmers – a process that sounds so simple, but in reality is a little wonder of engineering. Parking next to the Silos is practically always free as long as you do not come to the harvest time, then the entire terrain is overrun by trucks.
Last but not least, a small hint for all those whoLoda Attractions‘ googeln: The city may be small, but it has more heart than some metropolises. Every place here has its own history, and the best is that you can discover them all at your own pace – without crowded tourist streams, without loudspeakers, only you, a few friendly faces and the occasional squeaking of an old train that penetrates from the depot.
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