Top 8 Things To Do In And Around Lockport, Illinois

things to do in lockport illinois
Karla
Karla 
Updated
| 3 min read

Lockport is a city in Illinois, located just off the Illinois and Michigan Canal. It is well known as the “city that made Chicago famous”, due to its proximity to the canal, which connected Illinois with the Great Lakes. This connection that paved the way for development helped build Chicago into the flourishing city it is today.

Due to its proximity to Chicago, many people visit Lockport to see its beautiful parks and historical museums. Here is a list of the top eight attractions in and around the area.

1. Dellwood Park


Dellwood Park is situated on 150 acres (60.7 hectares) of land and has many fun amenities, such as a soccer field, tennis courts, and an inline skating rink. It is now also equipped with a 27 basket disc golf course, for people looking to improve their frisbee skills. If you are interested in exercising outdoors, there are also many nature trails to choose from. For those looking to participate in an event, this lively park holds various sports tournaments and even has an annual World War II re-enactment.

Dellwood Park

Address: Route 171 & Woods Drive, Lockport, IL 60441

Website: Dellwood Park

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2. Prairie Bluff Preserve


The Prarie Bluff Preserve is a 680-acre (275.2-hectare) piece of land dedicated to protecting wetland habitats and the animals that live there. Visitors are allowed on the premises to enjoy the paved trails that are perfect for biking, hiking, running, picnicking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. For those who would like to bring their furry friends along for an adventure, the preserve does allow dogs on most of the trails. Refer to the website for specific regulations.

Prairie Bluff Preserve

Address: 20205 W Renwick Rd, Crest Hill, IL 60403, USA

Website: Prairie Bluff Preserve

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3. Old Joliet Prison Park

Ame05167 07
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Gorup de Besanez used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Are you ready to be locked up in prison? Thankfully, you won’t be really going into a prison cell here. Old Joliet Prison Park, formerly known as Collins Street Prison, was transformed into a park and picnic area in 2009. Now it is a popular place for tourists and Lockport residents to take photos and share a meal with a unique prison backdrop.

Old Joliet Prison Park

Address: 1125 Collins Street, Joliet IL 60432

Website: Old Joliet Prison Park

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4. The Gaylord Building

Gaylord Building, Lockport IL
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user JoeBalynas used under CC BY-SA 3.0

In 1838, the Gaylord Building was the headquarters for the Illinois and Michigan Canal and has been an important landmark in Illinois, ever since. In 1983, the building was renovated and transformed into an exhibition hall and the Illinois and Michigan Canal museum. Guests can also dine at the attached Public Landing Restaurant, for lunch and dinner.

The Gaylord Building

Address: 200 W 8th St, Lockport, IL 60441, USA

Website: The Gaylord Building

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5. Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery

Come say "hello" to our extern, Abby Englund, a student from SIU-Carbondale. Here she is talking about the work of Robert Paulson (former SIU professor of art) with Director John Lustig (SIU-C alum).

Posted by Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery on Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Get a glimpse into Illinois history at one of the exhibitions at Lockport Gallery. The gallery offers different art forms, such as paintings, sculptures, quilts, and drawings, created by both past and contemporary Illinois artists. Each piece tells a story about the rich culture and history of the state.

To take part in this history, visitors to the gallery can visit during regular business hours or take part in special events that are held each month. Be sure to take a look at the events schedule online.

Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery

Address: 201 West 10th Street, Lockport

Website: Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery

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6. Siegel's Cottonwood Farm

things to do in lockport illinois | siegel's cottonwood farm
Source: instagram

Spend a day with your family picking pumpkins at Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm. The mission of this real, operating farm is to educate children on how food is grown. In addition to pumpkin picking, families with children will enjoy the many other activities here, such as Mia and Miley’s Mountain Slide, Giant Checkers & Tic Tac Toe, and Fly'n Farmer’s Ziplines.

Siegel's Cottonwood Farm

Address: 17250 Weber Road, Lockport, Illinois 60441

Website: Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm

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7. Legacy Paintball and Airsoft Park

Great week for private play! Thanks to @Triangle IIT for coming out! #legacypaintball #paintball #chicago #play #outdoors

Posted by Legacy Paintball + Airsoft Park on Wednesday, 2 November 2016

Legacy Paintball and Airsoft Park offers a unique paintball experience for its customers. Groups of 10 or more people can opt for private play to ensure a fun game for you and your friends. And there’s no need to worry about showing up alone. The staff will set you up for open play with other single players.

Legacy Paintball and Airsoft Park is constantly monitoring the safety of its guests. They provide all of the equipment you need to stay protected during your exciting game.

Legacy Paintball and Airsoft Park

Address: 2807 Canal St, Lockport, IL 60441

Website: Legacy Paintball and Airsoft Park

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8. HellsGate Haunted House

The Zombies are trying to get in, The Darkness is trying to get out, and the House Staff is trying to hold it all...

Posted by HellsGate Haunted House on Tuesday, 19 September 2017

You’re in for a fright when you visit HellsGate Haunted House. After a walk through the woods, you’ll experience the haunted house and its many surprises. Since the house is very frightening, staff urge visitors to stay with their groups on the path.

In order to visit HellsGate, you should buy your tickets in advance and arrive early, to avoid waiting in long lines. It is also recommended that visitors come on Thursday or Sunday, when it is less crowded. HellsGate Haunted House parking is located in the Metra parking lot, which is 10 minutes away. Because of this, an interactive shuttle bus will bring guests from the parking lot straight to the house.

HellsGate Haunted House

Address: 3101 Canal St, Lockport, IL 60441

Website: HellsGate Haunted House

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Enjoy Lockport, Illinois

Lockport is a progressive city with countless attractions for everyone to enjoy. Get outside for some outdoor activities, have a relaxing picnic in a unique place, or go back in time at a historical art gallery. If you are planning a trip to Lockport, use this list as a guideline to start your adventure. Your vacation days will surely be filled with lots of great activities!

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Karla is a blogger, photographer, and filmmaker with an insatiable curiosity for discovering new culinary delights and uncharted destinations.

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