Rockome Gardens
125 N. County Road 425 E.
Arcola, Illinois,
61910
Phone: 217-268-4106, Fax: 217-268-4226
Website: www.rockome.com
Email:
ldaily@rockome.com
Arthur
and Elizabeth Martin started off with a dream to have the largest
flower garden in Douglas County. With that in mind, they purchased
this 208 acre farm, five miles west of Arcola. They decided to devote
7 acres of the farm to flower gardens, rock formations and their summer
cottage. Over 50 years later, Rockome is still hosting its beautiful
flower gardens and unique rock fences and structures. As springtime
arrives in full bloom, the site comes alive with color and the
excitement of activity.
Special events are planned each weekend
throughout the entire summer and fall. The quilt show and auctions,
doll show, Kid’s Fest, model railroad show, Dog Days, National Counted
Cross Stitch Show, bluegrass music, Heartland Cloggers and the Wine and
Cheese Festival are only a few of the events back by popular demand.
For
history buffs, the Indian Pow Wow, Horse Plowing Days, Midwest National
Rendezvous, Lincoln Days, Farm Horse Pull, Coles County Regulators and
a spectacular World War II/USO Show will delight and inform you about
life in days gone by.
Regular daily activities include kayaking,
horse trail rides, buggy rides, the haunted cave, a petting zoo and
shopping in the quaint stores where artisans will demonstrate their
skills. The Rockome Restaurant provides lovely full-service dining or
a quicker fare can be found at the snack shop/bakery or the Olde Ice
Cream Shop.
Arcola City Park
Often
referred to locally as the “Old Park,” the City Park is approximately
2.4 acres and considered a traditional neighborhood park. The park has
a large pavilion complete with picnic tables and charcoal grills for
family gatherings as well as a mini-park shelter including a covered
picnic area as well as restroom facilities. An updated, mulched
playground area, basketball court, and soccer goals are available for
recreation.
Kelly Moore Memorial Park
The
Kelly Moore Memorial Park is a community park facility that encompasses
about 26.5 acres. Referred to locally as the “New Park,” the site is
much larger than the City Park. The site contains the community
athletic fields, including softball and baseball diamonds as well as
two soccer fields. In addition, the park has four tennis courts and a
basketball court that are lighted for night use. A skate park which
includes a number of ramps, skid surfaces and pipes for skateboards,
skates and bicycles is also available in the park. The park also
contains a larger pavilion with picnic tables for public use and is ADA
compliant. Handicap accessible bathrooms are on site and are easily
accessible from the pavilion and play areas. The park is the annual
home of the City’s 4th of July fireworks display.
Downtown Depot Park
The
City maintains an area of green space in the downtown area between
Jefferson and Washington streets along Oak Street. The site contains
the historic Illinois Central Depot. In the late 1980s, the interior
of the Depot was renovated and converted to serve as the Arcola Welcome
Center and houses the Arcola Chamber of Commerce. Further renovations
were done in 2006 to make necessary repairs and add handicapped
accessibility. The site also contains “The World’s One & Only
Hippie Memorial” developed by the late Bob Moomaw, a local artist, and
donated to the community by Gus Kelsey.
Rotary Gazebo Park
Rotary
Gazebo Park, located on Oak Street, is a small garden park with a
gazebo, courtyard, clock tower, gardens and a decorative water
fountain. The gazebo is handicapped accessible.
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