Starved Rock Lodge and Cabins
Why it's listed
Starved Rock Lodge and its twelve cabins occupy a heavily wooded bluff above Starved Rock and the Illinois River in La Salle County. Built between 1933 and 1939 to designs by Joseph F. Booten, the lodge centers on a two-story lounge of unhewn logs on a limestone foundation, with a stone double fireplace and exposed log roof trusses. A two-story dining and service wing lies to the east and a three-story hotel wing to the west. The log cabins sit beyond a ravine called Fox Canyon, reached by footbridge, which gives them a camping-in-the-woods character. The nomination ranks the complex, with Pere Marquette, at the top of the state park lodge-and-cabin type and notes its picturesque design, including round log purlins with uneven ends projecting past the roof edge. It also reflects the state's emphasis on recreation at Starved Rock, then Illinois' most visited state park, about 90 miles from Chicago.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the complex as part of a thematic group of Illinois state park lodges, significant for architecture and recreation. It is described as one of the two largest lodge-and-cabin complexes in the state parks and the largest primarily wooden structure conveying the picturesque mode. It also reflects the state's emphasis on recreation at its most heavily visited park.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85002702, listed May 8, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Box 116, Utica, LaSalle-Peru |
|---|---|
| County | LaSalle County |
| Listed | May 8, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002702 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1933-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Joseph F. Booten |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as having a few exterior alterations, mainly replacement of the hotel wing's wood casement windows with metal casements; the hotel wing contains modern guest rooms. |
| Acreage | 17 |
| Coordinates | 41.31864, -88.99295 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85002702.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q124731269
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.