Visit Onarga Iroquois Illinois and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the charming small town of Onarga in the US state of Illinois! Experience the Old Mill Museum and the Butterfly Garden. Eat yourself through local specialties like Onarga Burger. Don't forget to visit Lakeside Park and enjoy the magnificent sunset!
Onarga attractions are less a marketing term for me than an honest indication that this small town has more to offer in the heart of Iroquois County than one would suspect at first sight. Honestly, Onarga was founded in 1875 when the railroad ran the prairie and a few brave settlers decided to build a piece of home here – a bit like a Western film, only without the dramatic duel.
I usually drive by car over the US‐24, because the bus here is more of a relic from another era; that gives me the freedom to spontaneously hold on to the old grain silos that dominate the cityscape. The Township itself is a typical middle layer landpiece, where corn fields extend to the horizon and people still know how to greet each other with a friendly pitch.
A short trip to the historic town hall – a simple brick building from 1902 – makes me wonder how little the exterior has changed for over a century. I don't understand the hype about modern art installations, but the rustic authenticity here is just fantastic. And if you're looking for a place where you can feel the real land life while feeling stuck in a time capsule, you're right in Onarga.
I have to confess to you: the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Onarga is the huge, crunching Grain elevator on the edge of the main road. Yes, this is not exactly a romantic photo motif, but the sheer size of this silver colosse that has been sending the grain of the environment to the world since the 70s has something almost monumental. I stood there at sunset, the crying of the wind wheels in the background, and thought to myself: “Here the true heart of the Middle West is beaten.” Parking is usually a Klacks, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then farmers turn off their machines.
A short walk further (and a bit more patience, because the field in between can be a bit tedious) leads you to Onarga Community Park. This is my personal favorite place, because here the life pulsates – from the kids who hit the baseball field to the seniors who play chess on the benches. I once made a picnic with my neighbor, and we argued about whether the new playground swing is too high – no joke, that was a real showdown. The car park is practically an open field, so just turn off the car and go.
If you're looking for a place where you can recover from the noise of the tractors, you'll definitely look into the Onarga Public Library. This is not some library, that is a small refugium of wood and dust that exists since the 50s. I once borrowed a book about the history of grain production and caught the librarian as he secretly solved a crossword puzzle – that was almost too human to be true. The library has no big opening hours, but this is not a problem because you can simply spit in as long as the door is not closed.
A bit further down the road, hidden between an old painting of corn fields and a modern quick snack, stands the Onarga United Methodist Church. I don't quite understand the hype about church visits, but here the building has an amazingly good acoustics – I sang a song once at a church service and the voice echoed so that I thought I was suddenly in an opera. The parking lot is a small but fine place behind the nave, and the whole is always well signposted, so no stress.
A short trip to the town hall, which you can easily find over the main road, is worthwhile because the building itself is a piece of history. The Onarga City Hall from the 1900s has this charming brick façade, which you can only see in movies from the Great Depression. I met the mayor there who told me that the town hall used to serve as a meeting place for the annual Thanksgiving celebration – a bit of nostalgia that you still feel here.
Another, almost overlooked jewel is the old Onarga Water Tower. He's a little off, but when you see him from a distance, he reminds you that even in a tiny city like this, the water doesn't just flow but is also a symbol of resistance. I took a photo there that now hangs in my living room because it somehow captures the “small but fine” feeling of Onarga.
And because you are Onarga Attractions you shouldn't forget a short trip to Onarga Fire Department to make. This is not only a place where firefighters attract their red armor, but also a small museum that exhibits old fire extinguishers. I once saw an old hose there that crawled so that I thought he would go back into operation – a real adrenalinkick for a quiet afternoon.
The first stop of my little Odyssey leads me to the heart of Watseka, where the Iroquois County Historical Museum like a dusty but proud relic from an era that most visitors only know from history books. I found an old field neck wheel there, which was supposedly used by a local farmer in 1912 – a piece that immediately reminds me of the hard winters I experienced as a child in Onarga. Parking is almost always a children's game: a small parking lot behind the museum still takes place on Saturday afternoons, as long as you don't try to arrange a picnic at the same time.
A short walk further (approximately five minutes walk) Iroquois County Courthouse and its neo-Gothic façade, which expresses more about the ambition of the founders than any modern glass façade. I have to admit that I have never fully understood the hype about such government buildings, but the artistic stonework on the pillars are really impressive. The courtyard is a popular meeting place for seniors who play chess there – a good sign that the building is still alive and not just a dusty tourist magnet.
If you have enough of concrete and history, it is worth a detour to Kankakee River State Park, about 30 minutes south of Onarga. The river swells there through wide meadows, and I rented a canoe for the first time in summer that had more holes than a Swiss cheese. Nevertheless, paddling was a real highlight because one is suddenly followed by a group of ducks who apparently decided to show the tourists who is in charge. The parking lot at the main entrance is large enough, but on weekends it can come to a small mess when all families spread their picnic blankets.
Back in Watseka, but this time not in the museum, this is Iroquois County Fairgrounds. There are various events all year round, from Rodeos to Oldtimer meetings. I remember an evening that I accidentally landed at a local BBQ because a friend had me “just briefly” accompanied. The food was better than in most urban restaurants, and the live band played country hits that even brought my grandmother to sing. Parking is practical: a huge, open area that leaves room for a few extra cars even when fully loaded.
A little further north, almost on the edge of the city, rises Onarga Wind Farm – a sea of white towers that could be considered a futuristic artwork from a distance. I stood there once at sunset and watched the rotor blades as they turn slowly, while I thought about how little energy we actually consume if we don't always deal with the phone. Access is free, but a small parking lot behind the main road is usually empty unless a maintenance crew has just taken a break.
Another less respected jewel is the old Iroquois County Jailwhich today serves as a museum. The cells are still equipped with the original iron bars, and I found an old handcuff set there, which was allegedly used by an infamous lawless from the 1920s. The building is not very large, but the atmosphere is dense enough to give you the feeling that you have landed in a Western film. Parking is a bit tricky here: a small side strip is only enough for a car, so better to come early.
And then there is the annual Iroquois County Fair, which takes place in August and turns the whole valley into a colorful drive. I participated the first time in 2015 because I thought it was just a small market – but I was surprised by a huge giant bike ride and a competition for the best pumpkin dish. The stands are well distributed, and parking is not a problem due to several temporary areas as long as you do not try to complete the whole festival in one day.
Whether you’re looking for historical walls, windy landscapes or deserted festivities – the surroundings of Onarga offer more than enough fabric for curious travelers. My personal favorite route leads from the museum's dusty halls to the majestic nativity of the court building to the wide fields of the wind farm, and each stop has its own history to tell. So the next time he thinks where to spend his time, the Onarga Attractions not overlooked – they are a real mix of nostalgia, nature and a little unexpected charm.
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