New Byway Discovery Center Along Great River Road Is Celebrated With Grand Opening
Byway Discovery Center Grand Opening
GODFREY — Travelers have a new starting point for exploring the Great River Road after the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau celebrated the grand opening of its Byway Discovery Center on Nov. 6, 2026, at Great Rivers Park.
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Designed to connect visitors with outdoor recreation and nearby communities, the center at 10832 Lockhaven Road opened its doors at 1:30 p.m., followed by a grand opening celebration at 2 p.m.
The center introduces visitors to the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, a 33-mile stretch between Hartford and Grafton in Southwest Illinois. Interactive and immersive exhibits highlight hiking, cycling, fishing, paddling, birding, scenic drives and wildlife viewing. They also encourage visitors to explore nearby attractions, restaurants, shops and lodging.
Cory Jobe, president and CEO of the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, said development began about four years ago. He expressed pride in opening the center and described the project as a partnership involving the Great Rivers Land Trust, Jersey County, the state of Illinois and the Corps of Engineers.
Jobe said the location at the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, along the Mississippi River Flyway and river trail, offers opportunities to connect the public with nature and outdoor recreation.
Developed by the tourism bureau with public and private partners, the approximately $7.4 million project is the first phase of a larger plan for Great Rivers Park. The center received a $7 million capital grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
The park sits along the Mississippi River near Piasa Creek, with approximately 55 acres intended for outdoor recreation and direct access to the waterways.
Alley Ringhausen, executive director of the Great Rivers Land Trust, said the organization’s goal was to acquire the property and make the river directly accessible to the public. Early restoration work on the property included demolishing seven derelict buildings and old trailers and remediating a former gas station site.
Ringhausen said the tourism bureau approached the land trust about collaborating while restoration was underway. The result, Ringhausen said, was “a perfect partnership.”
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