Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Lockport, IL

The history of this city in Will County commences in the 1830s when it was selected as the headquarters for the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal.

The canal constituted the final segment in a series of waterways that interlinked the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico via the Port of New Orleans, and the Atlantic Ocean via the Port of New York.

This initiative was advocated by Abraham Lincoln, who, at the time, served as an Illinois Congressman. He proclaimed its completion in 1848, asserting that the canal had already facilitated the transport of sugar from New Orleans to Albany in New York.

Structures and locations associated with the canal are preserved at the Lockport National Historic District, and the city commemorates its transportation heritage with an annual festival every June.

1. Gaylord Building

The initial point of interest in Lockport serves as the entrance to the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, which protects numerous historical sites across 100 miles and 60 distinct communities.

The Gaylord Building (1838) is a former warehouse that dates back to the earliest years of the canal’s construction, when nearly all territories west of Chicago remained largely untouched wilderness.

Constructed from the local yellow limestone, the building experienced various occupants after the canal’s completion in 1848 and received an Italianate extension on the eastern side in 1859, rising to three stories.

Upon entry, visitors can find comprehensive information about the Lockport National Historic District, alongside a reputable dining establishment, the upscale casual Public Landing.

2. Lincoln Landing

Established parallel to the canal in the 2000s, the space located in front of the Gaylord Building functions as an outdoor museum and plaza, honoring the foundation of this waterway.

Informative bronze medallions elucidate the canal’s history, Lockport’s significance as a crucial port, and Lincoln’s integral role in the canal’s development.

The original path of the canal, now slightly east of its present location, can also be traced. Visitors may engage with various interesting elements in a pleasant environment, featuring lawns, limestone blocks, and benches.

Every self-guided tour concludes next to the lifelike statue of Honest Abe, positioned along the original bank of the canal, contemplating the waterway.

3. Illinois State Museum – Lockport Gallery

The impressive Norton Building, constructed in 1850, originally served as a canalside grain processing facility.

Currently, the building fulfills multiple functions, housing offices, commercial spaces, residential lofts, and a museum dedicated to the art and visual culture of Illinois.

One of several branches of the Illinois State Museum, the Lockport Gallery hosts themed exhibits featuring paintings, sculptures, drawings, textiles, costumes, quilts, and a variety of other media.

At the time of this listing, the main exhibit was titled Fashioning Illinois: 1820-1890, showcasing costumes, textiles, and accessories while examining the evolving roles and societal attitudes of women during Illinois’ first 80 years of statehood.

4. Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail

In Lockport, visitors can access the multi-use trail that follows the route of the Illinois and Michigan Canal for over 60 miles.

This trail primarily runs along the towpath once traversed by mules approximately 170 years ago, leading to scenic vistas and riverside bluffs, while showcasing numerous historic sites related to the canal, including locks and warehouses.

From Lockport, the trail extends westward to Lasalle, with the northern direction directing visitors to the historic Isle a la Cache.

There, it intersects with the Centennial Trail, continuing for an additional three miles alongside the Des Plaines River, featuring a charming old swing bridge along the route.

5. Lockport Canal Days

The canal that was instrumental in the town’s foundation serves as the focal point of Lockport’s largest annual celebration, drawing tens of thousands of residents and visitors from across Illinois.

Conducted over a prolonged weekend in June, Lockport Canal Days features a multitude of events, including a Friday parade, carnival, artisan market, live performances on the main stage, bingo, and a variety of food and beverage vendors.

Guests can also partake in tours of the historic Lockport Cemetery, and the celebrations culminate on Sunday evening with an exhilarating fireworks display.

6. Dellwood Park

The Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway Company developed this park in 1905-06 to attract ridership.

For three decades, Dellwood Park emerged as a premier destination for the Chicago area, featuring a grandstand for sulky races and baseball games, attracting crowds of 15,000 or more on weekends.

During the summer, the lake offered boating and swimming opportunities, while the freezing temperatures during winter provided a venue for ice skating.

Today, remnants of those bygone days are observed throughout Dellwood Park, notably at the somber stone remnants of the abandoned dam that held back the lake.

The park is currently managed by the Lockport Township Park District, offering seasonal haunted hayrides in October, outdoor concerts, WWII reenactments, and summer car shows, in addition to one of the finest disc golf courses in the region.

7. HellsGate Haunted House

Frequently ranked among the top haunted houses in the state, HellsGate is a chilling Halloween attraction situated in dense woods adjacent to the canal.

This nightmarish, multi-story mansion is filled with ominous secrets, hidden passages, and a colossal slide.

The production quality at HellsGate exceeds conventional limits for haunted houses, featuring a large ensemble of enthusiastic actors, creative scenarios, impressive makeup artistry, convincing special effects, and eerie ambient music and sound effects.

The journey to the house itself is unsettling, as visitors must take a bus ride through the woods before disembarking for a torch-lit trek through a cemetery, all while engaging with the residents of this macabre realm.

8. Old Joliet Prison

For those wishing to reenact the opening sequence from The Blues Brothers (1980), the Joliet Correctional Center is located just five minutes south of Lockport. The East Gate is featured when Elwood picks up his brother at dusk following his release.

This prison, noted for its castle-like architecture and constructed with pale limestone quarried on-site, remained operational from 1858 until 2002.

Aside from its appearance in The Blues Brothers, these walls have been featured in a variety of films and television shows, including White Heat (1949) and the inaugural season of Prison Break (2005-06).

The Joliet Area Historical Museum conducts 90-minute walking tours of the facility, which encompasses over 20 buildings inside the outer walls, and has largely been preserved.

9. Will County Historical Museum and Research Center

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the previous office building for the Illinois and Michigan Canal now houses the headquarters for the Will County Historical Society.

This Greek Revival building, constructed in 1848, remains well-preserved, serving as the operational base for the Canal Commission until 1871.

At the southern end, a Victorian-style residence, added in the 1860s or 70s, is present. This location is remarkable for exploring local history, and visitors can further their historical journey at the Heritage Village, located slightly north along the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail.

This captivating campus includes several historical structures from across the county, including a one-room schoolhouse, smokehouse, railroad depot, farmhouse, and log cabin.

Complementing these structures is a Visitors Center that elaborates on each building while exploring the immigrant experience involved in constructing the canal.

10. Legacy Adventure Park

A short distance south of downtown Lockport features a paintball center situated on 66 acres of wooded and lakefront terrain overlooking the Des Plaines River.

This location boasts seven themed playing fields, allowing participants to engage in a variety of paintball and airsoft games. Legacy Adventure Park caters to both individual players and specializes in group events and parties.

Options include traditional paintball and airsoft, in addition to laser tag, archery tag, low-impact paintball, and zombie hunting, all utilizing advanced technology.

11. Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm and Fall Fest

From mid-September through October, one of Chicagoland’s foremost agritainment attractions opens its doors for various autumnal activities.

The offerings at Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm include carnival rides, hayrides, miniature train rides, a haunted barn, pig races, a kids’ village, pony rides, and a “pumpkin chucker” capable of launching a pumpkin a quarter mile.

Animals play a central role in the experience, featuring a petting zoo filled with adorable creatures like goat kids and rabbits.

Food is also a highlight, showcasing fall favorites such as kettle corn, sweet corn, apple cider donuts, alongside pizzas, BBQ, tacos, churros, and delectable specialty items like homemade sauces and flavored butters available for purchase.

12. Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve

Across the river’s floodplain, a couple of Will County forest preserves safeguard the landscape.

The nearest preserve, located less than five minutes to the west, features dolomite prairie on shallow limestone soils, a rarity that has largely vanished from the Midwest.

This preserve is home to unique plant species like low calamint, Ohio horsemint, and slender sandwort, adapting to a high water table during much of their growth cycle.

Most notably, the leafy prairie clover, previously believed extinct in the state, has been recorded here.

To the west of Lockport Prairie, the Prairie Bluff Public Golf Club presents an 18-hole championship course, interwoven with rich prairies and water hazards.

13. Prairie Bluff Preserve

The natural beauty extends across Illinois Route 7, where this 680-acre preserve unfolds across a predominantly flat landscape.

This area was acquired by the Forest Preserve District of Will County in the mid-2000s, previously under the ownership of the Statesville Corrections Center, where inmates from the Old Joliet Prison were relocated after its closure.

Gradually being restored, this prairie showcases vibrant blooms during its peak season in summer, best appreciated along over three miles of paved multi-use trails offering gentle inclines.

Near the northwest corner parking area, a picnic shelter can accommodate 150 individuals.

14. Gladys Fox Museum

Situated a few blocks from Lincoln Landing, there is an historic church erected in 1839 during the canal’s construction.

Constructed from local limestone, the Old Congregational Church has been restored and is currently maintained by the Lockport Township Park District.

This building, no longer serving as a place of worship, now accommodates a museum named after a notable local figure who served for decades on the park district board.

The exhibits include captivating photographs and artifacts related to the Illinois and Michigan Canal and Lockport’s illustrious Dellwood Park. Operating hours are variable, and it is advisable to contact the park district in advance.

15. Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm

Located ten minutes from the central area of Lockport, this farm has remained within the Siegel family since 1909, now spanning four generations.

In spring and summer, visitors can find annual flowers, perennials, trees, fruits, vegetables, and freshly baked pies.

As autumn approaches, the farm transforms into a vibrant day destination with over 35 unlimited attractions.

A standout feature is the 12-acre corn maze, designed with a fresh theme each year. Additionally, there are rides, games, and various entertainment options, including hayrack rides to a pumpkin patch where individuals can select pumpkins directly from the vine.

Various food stands offer an extensive menu, highlighting funnel cakes, apple cider donuts, and smoked turkey legs among the must-try items.