Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Romeoville, IL

The Village of Romeoville is situated on the west bank of the Des Plaines River in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.

The Des Plaines River has played a significant role in the region’s history. During the 18th century, fur traders trapped beavers and stored supplies at Isle a la Cache.

Subsequently, the adjacent Illinois & Michigan Canal opened Chicago and the Midwest to international trade in the mid-19th century.

The headquarters for the canal project were located in Lockport, adjacent to Romeoville, where several historic sites await exploration.

Romeoville has much to offer, including an impressive vintage car museum, a vibrant craft brewery, a packed events calendar, a world-class golf course, expansive parks, and several forest preserves to enjoy nearby.

1. Isle a la Cache Museum

The island in the Des Plaines River on the east side of Romeoville holds a captivating narrative due to its involvement in the American fur trade.

The island received its name as a storage, hunting, and trading location for French voyageurs in the 18th century.

A visitor center, managed by Will County, has been established on the island. With well-researched and engaging exhibits, the museum explains the methods and tools used by the Native American Potawatomi people and the fur traders for trapping, skinning, and fishing.

Visitors can learn about the connection between the two cultures, enter a wigwam, touch historical beaver pelts, and view traditional canoes crafted from birch bark.

Additionally, the museum features a terrarium housing a Blanding’s turtle. Afterwards, visitors can take a leisurely stroll around the island, which is home to mink, various songbirds, turtles, and bald eagles.

2. Beller Museum

Primarily focused on Ford vehicles, the Beller Museum hosts a remarkable collection of vintage and classic cars and trucks from the 1920s and 30s.

What sets this museum apart from typical showrooms is the abundance of technical and historical detail provided alongside the vehicles, evoking memories of Detroit’s heyday and Henry Ford’s revolutionary assembly line.

Visitors are likely to discover intriguing details they were previously unaware of. In addition to over 60 vehicles, the Beller Museum contains numerous car parts, badges, signs, historic car accessories, and an extensive library with a captivating section dedicated to Ford print advertising from the 1920s and 30s.

3. Lincoln Landing

Initiated in the 1830s, the Illinois & Michigan Canal (I&M Canal) represented an ambitious endeavor that profoundly influenced the region, connecting the Mississippi River, Great Lakes, and New York, thereby opening Chicago and the Midwest to international trade.

Abraham Lincoln was among the eight legislators involved in the inception of the canal, selecting Lockport as the construction headquarters.

Lock No. 1 of the canal can be seen in Lockport, where a park and open-air museum celebrates the city’s unique transportation heritage.

This site showcases the I&M Canal’s original lines and features a series of bronze medallions that highlight different aspects of the canal’s history, with a statue of Lincoln as the centerpiece, gazing toward the canal.

4. Gaylord Building Historic Site

The initial years of constructing the I&M Canal were challenging, as this area of Illinois was largely wilderness.

A storage facility was necessary, which was constructed in 1838 from local yellow limestone, likely excavated from the canal itself.

Named after an owner later in the 19th century, the Gaylord Building is situated at the northern end of Lincoln Landing and features a three-story Italianate extension added in 1859.

By the 1980s, the building had fallen into disrepair but has since undergone a multimillion-dollar restoration, now standing as a fine monument to the canal and a venue for various programs and exhibits.

On the first floor, visitors can explore a permanent exhibition detailing the history of the canal and its vast effects on Illinois.

5. Illinois State Museum-Lockport Gallery

The canal-side Norton Building (constructed in 1850) hosts an exceptional museum that focuses on contemporary and historic Illinois art.

The museum features rotating themed exhibitions, enhanced by interpretive information, showcasing paintings, sculptures, drawings, quilts, and various decorative and ethnographic arts.

Accompanying programs include talks, guided tours, and an array of outreach activities for both adults and children.

The building originally served as a grain-processing facility for the I&M Canal, characterized by oversized windows once utilized for loading and unloading grain.

6. Metal Monkey Brewing

Located near the Des Plaines Riverbank, this craft brewery was founded by a team with extensive homebrewing experience.

Metal Monkey initially operated with a small 3bbl system, but its rapid success has enabled an upgrade to a 10bbl setup.

The taproom is open from Thursday to Sunday and accommodates over 200 patrons. The draft selection includes a variety of Sours and Pale Ales, along with Belgian dark beer, an IPA, a Stout, a Porter, a Red Ale, a Mexican-style Lager, a Pilsner, and hard seltzer.

The brewery also hosts live music events, emphasizing local metal bands (with acoustic sets on Fridays) and features a lineup of food trucks on weekends.

7. O’Hara Woods Preserve

Located in the heart of Romeoville, behind the village hall, is a stunning tract of woodland that connects to a network of local parks.

The O’Hara Woods Preserve is part of the Lily Cache Creek preservation system, offering an inviting environment adorned with mature trees and a breathtaking display of wildflowers in spring, including toothwort and Virginia bluebells.

To the south lies the contiguous Village Park, featuring the Romeoville Recreation Center, while to the east is Romeoville’s own portion of O’Hara Woods.

This area includes a well-equipped playground surrounded by wood chips, as well as picnic areas, horseshoes, and a pavilion.

Further east is Conservation Park, situated on the banks of Lake Strini, popular for fishing and equipped with another playground and amenities for picnicking, birdwatching, horseshoes, and volleyball.

8. Centennial Trail

Starting from Isle a la Cache or Schneider’s Passage, you can enjoy a walk or bike ride northeast alongside the Des Plaines River.

The Centennial Trail spans just over three miles, providing picturesque views of the river and both contemporary and historical waterfront industries.

Certain portions of the trail traverse peaceful woodlands, with the highlight being the 135th Street Bridge, an iron and steel swing truss bridge constructed in 1899 and relocated to its current site in 1996.

At the northern end, the trail connects with Cook County’s own Centennial Trail, while at Schneider’s Passage in the south, access to the I&M Canal Trail (3.17 miles) and the Veterans Memorial Trail (4.73 miles) is available.

9. Mistwood Golf Club

This multi-award-winning golf course in Romeoville is surprisingly a public facility.

Following an impressive two-year renovation by designer Ray Hearn, Mistwood Golf Club draws inspiration from Scottish links courses, particularly St. Andrews.

The course features authentic St. Andrews-style sod wall bunkers, with water coming into play along Mink Creek and two expansive lakes.

In 2015, the finishing touches were added to a stunning clubhouse resembling a Scottish lodge, which is home to McWethy’s Tavern, offering comforting pub cuisine.

10. Romeoville Area Historical Society Museum

Named after prominent community figure and Lewis University alumnus, James P. Sczepaniak (1935-2014), the local historical society museum is well worth a visit.

At the time of writing, it was raising funds for a new building on Independence Blvd., having previously operated at 14 Belmont Drive.

The museum is open on Saturday afternoons and every second and fourth Sunday, featuring a wealth of intriguing materials related to various facets of Romeoville’s past.

Artifacts from local history, donated by Sczepaniak, include documents on the Illinois & Michigan Canal and The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, tools used by early farming families, and historic maps.

Additionally, visitors can view documents pertaining to the Valley View School District’s All Year Round School Program, a pioneering educational initiative from the late 1960s adopted by schools nationwide.

11. Prairie Bluff Preserve

Located on the east bank of the Des Plaines River, between the Lewis University campus and the Stateville Correctional Facility, is a parcel of restored wetland and prairie on former prison land.

Acquired by Will County in the mid-2000s, Prairie Bluff Preserve showcases the gradual resurgence of nature.

This site spans 680 acres and features over three miles of trails for hiking, running, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Additionally, a large picnic shelter offers a scenic view of the landscape.

12. Heritage Falls Water Park

Open during the summer months, this outdoor water park in Romeoville is operated by the Lockport Park District.

Families looking to cool off on hot days will find much to appreciate about Heritage Falls, which features a large pool combining lanes and a deep end with a beach entry wading area.

For younger children, there is a splash pad equipped with various spray features, while the park also includes two slides and a diving area. Parents seeking relaxation will find ample sun loungers with good visibility of the main pool.

13. Canlan Ice Sports

The primary ice skating facility in Romeoville is Canlan Ice Sports, which is part of a network of ice venues in Illinois and Canada.

The Romeoville location features modern facilities with three sheets of ice, hosting a variety of special events, leagues, tournaments, and development programs for all ages, as well as birthday parties.

For casual visitors, a schedule of public skating sessions and a range of drop-in activities, from stick and puck to rat hockey and freestyle figure skating, are readily available.

Programs offered include “learn to skate,” figure skating camps and clinics, and hockey training for all levels.

14. Lake Renwick Preserve

This expansive wetland habitat located west of Romeoville was formerly an aggregate quarry that flooded, becoming a crucial rookery for wading birds.

Numerous species, including great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, great egrets, cattle egrets, and double-crested cormorants, make their nests on the network of linear islets within the lake.

During nesting season, from March to mid-August, access to the reserve is restricted; however, a dedicated bird-watching area is available at the nearby Copley Nature Park.

The remainder of the year allows exploration of the preserve via a three-mile trail that follows former railroad spurs and tracks used by trucks at the quarry.

15. RomeoFest

The most significant event of the year in Romeoville is a four-day celebration typically occurring the first weekend in August.

RomeoFest is structured to appeal to a diverse audience, featuring an eclectic lineup of live music from Thursday to Sunday, in addition to a carnival brimming with rides, midway games, and delectable food.

A variety of events are featured throughout the weekend, including a softball tournament, bingo, a classic car show, a one-mile race, a bean bag tournament, and fireworks displays on Friday and Sunday.

On Saturday morning, individuals with special needs can enjoy various carnival attractions at no cost. Over the four-day event, families can visit the Family Fun Zone, which offers mini-golf, laser tag, Lego activities, face painting, and more.