8 One-of-a-Kind Small Towns in Illinois
If you are looking for places to visit that are a little unusual, these one-of-a-kind small towns in Illinois are well worth the drive. They are a few steps off the beaten path, blissfully far removed from the bustle of big cities, and they have an undeniable charm you won’t find anywhere else in the state. From visiting Superman’s hometown (well, second hometown, because you can’t exactly visit the planet of Krypton), to iconic Route 66 stops, these are places you won’t soon forget. So, pack a bag and get ready to explore the fun side of Illinois!
Casey
Everything may be bigger in Texas, but everything is literally bigger in the east-central community of Casey! Casey is a tiny town with a population of only around 2,300 residents, but it is home to the World’s Largest Rocking Chair. And wind chime. And mailbox. In the heart of Casey, off N. Central Avenue, is a short stretch of giant items, many of which are found in the Guinness Book of World Records. Taking a photo with them is a rite of passage for visitors, and it brings a bit of whimsy to the small town.
When you stop by the Casey Township Library, you’re greeted with a giant bookworm that looks like it's crawling under the front lawn. The Casey Country Club boasts the World’s Largest Golf Tee. All the best attractions in Casey are situated near something huge, and driving down all its city streets feels like a scavenger hunt in the best possible way. If you work up an appetite along the way, you might want to stop in Tetzel Prime for one of their freshly made pretzels; you’ll find it across the street from a giant Mouse Trap.
Metropolis
Along the banks of the Ohio River on the southern tip of Illinois is Superman’s hometown of Metropolis. It borrowed its name from the Greek term Metropolis (meaning ‘mother city’) in 1839, but leaned into the happy coincidence when Superman first appeared in comics nearly a century later in 1938. Metropolis is the official Superman City, with charming landmarks scattered across town like the Lois Lane Statue. It even has the Super Museum that celebrates all things Superman with over 20,000 comic books, toys, and movie props.
As you drive through Metropolis, you’ll find unique Superman-themed attractions. Kryptonite Rock sits at the corner of East 3rd and Ferry Street, where you can pose with a large green rock and learn a little more about the Man of Steel. Even local businesses embrace the Superman lore, with cozy spots like the Super Cafe and Ms. Lane Sandwich Shop serving up tasty bites in a Superman-themed eatery.
Chester
From one cartoon hero to another. The idyllic riverside community of Chester is known for being the birthplace of Popeye the Sailor. Popeye’s creator, E.C. Segar, was born in Chester, and the town captures the whimsy of the animated sailor in a few ways. First, there’s the Statue of Popeye that sits along the banks of the Mississippi River, where you can snap a photo and visit the welcome center to get you better acquainted with Chester.
In the heart of town is the Popeye Museum, where you can tour over 2,000 unique pieces of Popeye memorabilia, or pick up Popeye-themed merchandise at its gift shop, Spinach Can Collectibles. The small parks in Chester, like Cole Memorial Park, celebrate Popeye with themed statues and local festivals. Popeye's Fall Festival is held every October and is always a good time, with live music, carnival rides, and spinach-themed activities. No matter what time of year you visit Chester, it’s bound to be a memorable trip.
Nauvoo
On the western border of Illinois is Nauvoo, a peaceful place along the banks of the Mississippi River. Its most stunning attraction is one that dominates the Historic Nauvoo State Historic Site. The eye immediately draws to the towering Nauvoo Illinois Temple built by early Mormon settlers in the mid-1800s. While you can’t exactly go inside the temple, you can explore the Joseph Smith Historic Site, where original cabins of the early settlers of Nauvoo illustrate scenes from their daily lives.
As a relaxing riverside retreat, visitors can also spend the day exploring Nauvoo State Park, found in the center of town on Horton Lake. The park even has a small museum in an old 1840s home depicting the rich history of the area, dating back to the Native Americans. The perfect way to top off a lovely day in Nauvoo is with a trip to Baxter's Vineyards and Winery, where you can enjoy a chilled glass of white wine on their outdoor patio.
Fulton
Visiting the town of Fulton feels like stepping inside the pages of a storybook. Settled by Dutch immigrants in the mid-1800s, the most charming site in Fulton is the De Immigrant Windmill. The windmill, which stands almost 100 feet tall along the banks of the Mississippi, was built in the Netherlands, shipped to Fulton, and assembled by local Dutch craftsmen. If you want to learn more about the windmill and the early settlers of Fulton, the Windmill Cultural Center is located across the street from the iconic structure.
If you visit Fulton in May, you can join in on the fun during the annual Dutch Days Festival, which celebrates Fulton's roots with costumed performances, dancing, traditional street-scrubbing, and tours of the De Immigrant Windmill. The event takes place downtown as well as in Heritage Canyon. While Heritage Canyon comes alive during the festival, it’s still a great place to visit year-round. It’s a recreation of a 1800s village in a former rocky quarry with an old schoolhouse, church, blacksmith, and other buildings ready to explore.
Collinsville
Just outside of St. Louis is the quirky town of Collinsville, home of the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle. Collinsville used to be home to G.S. Suppiger Company’s Brooks Catsup factory, which built a water tower in the shape of a catsup bottle as a fun way to advertise their product. The factory has since closed its doors, but the giant water tower remains a beloved local landmark of Collinsville and a must-see for anyone visiting the area.
Visitors come to Collinsville to see the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, but stay for the delightful attractions in the area. There’s the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site on the grounds of a former Native American city. The park highlights Illinois' breathtaking landscape with gently rolling hills and historical mounds that used to be the foundations for a large Native American village. You can also visit the Willoughby Heritage Farm, which operates as a public park where visitors can discover what rural life looked like in Collinsville in the 1940s. Admission is free and includes acces to the barns, tractors, and farm animals, including donkeys, cows, chickens, and goats.
Atlanta
In the heyday of Route 66, Atlanta was a very popular stop, and it still retains its 1950s charm today. Every town along Route 66 fought for travelers' attention to stop and rest a while, and Atlanta is no different. Its biggest roadside attraction is quite literally the American Giants Museum. The museum is American kitsch at its finest, with a collection of rotating giant statues of things like Bob’s Big Boy, Texaco Big Friend, and Snerd (an Alfred E. Neuman-like figure).
Driving down the old Route 66 through Atlanta is like traveling back in time. The buildings and storefronts have a retro vibe, with delightful little spots like the 217 Roadhouse Bar and Grill along the way. Atlanta is the kind of place that pulls you in and makes you want to stay a while. It has delightful things to see, like the Smiley Face Water Tower, or the J. H. Hawes Elevator, which is one of the last remaining wooden grain elevators in the country.
Woodstock
If Woodstock, Illinois, looks familiar, you aren’t imagining it. While the 1993 movie Groundhog Day was set in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, it was actually filmed in Woodstock! When Bill Murray's character, Phil, wakes up to film the ceremony at the park, he’s actually in Woodstock Square. You can walk in the small park and up to the original gazebo from the movie, which still looks identical 30 years later. The Woodstock Opera House also transformed into the Pennsylvania Hotel, where Phil stayed. Today, it’s a great place to watch live performances in an opulent setting.
Waking up and reliving the same day in Woodstock would be such a delight. You could spend countless hours picking berries and enjoying sweet treats at Heider’s Berry Farm, or hunting for treasures at the Roscoe Woodstock Antique Mall. With wonderful parks just on the outskirts of town and beautiful scenery, Woodstock is a delightful little escape on the very northern tip of Illinois.
Discover the Whimsy of Illinois’ Small Towns
From reliving Groundhog Day in Woodstock to snapping a selfie with the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, these small Illinois towns are packed with quirky fun. Each stop is unforgettable in its own one-of-a-kind way, and they are made for unforgettable road trips. Whether it’s the historical attractions in Nauvoo or Popeye's Fall Festival in Chester, they are places that never take life too seriously. When you’re ready to get weird in Illinois in all the best ways, plan a route to one of these darling communities.
