City Hall - 208 N. 19th St. - Mattoon, Illinois 61938
Recreation
Mattoon has a wide variety of recreational activities in the area to offer folks of all interests and activity levels.
The Great Outdoors
City of Mattoon Park Department
208 N. 19th St.
217-234-3611
Douglas-Hart Nature Center
The Douglas-Hart Nature Center is located on Route 316 at the eastern edge of Mattoon. The Center was established to recreate and maintain two native habitats of Illinois, the prairie and deciduous forest, as they appeared before intensive use of modern man.
Trails wind throughout Douglas-Hart Nature Center's thirty-five acres. Observation stations are designated along the length of our 0.8 mile loop. An accompanying trail guide, detailing interesting and unique features of the prairie and deciduous forest, is available to all visitors.
The Visitor Center is open year round. It features interpretive exhibits and sensory displays to be enjoyed by kids of all ages. A bird observation area allows one to enjoy birds as they feed, bathe, and play. Programs and guided walks are conducted throughout the year. They are intended for the general public and cover such topics as wildflowers, gardening, reptiles, and pond life.
For more information, please call the Center at 217-235-4644. Reservations are required for large groups.
Visitor Center Open:
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sundays - 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Trails Open:
Daily from dawn until dusk.
Lake Mattoon
217-254-6680
The Annual Y-Flyer Fleet 39 Regatta is always held on Lake Mattoon the second weekend in June.
Owned by the City of Mattoon, Lake Mattoon is located in the counties of Coles, Shelby and Cumberland. Having a maximum depth of 35 feet, the average depth is 10.5 feet. The capacity is 2.6 billion gallons with a surface area of 1,050 acres. 53% of the 55.5 mile shoreline is owned by the City of Mattoon, along with 348.5 acres of surrounding property. Lake Mattoon is fed by the Little Wabash River and is a popular recreation spot for boating, fishing, and camping. Approximately 1,042 boat permits are issued every year. The primary use of Lake Mattoon is supplying water to the City of Mattoon, Illinois.
Lytle Park Pool
3298 Cedar Ave
217-258-9801
Lytle Park Superintendent: 217-234-2464
The Great Indoors
Mattoon Area Family YMCA
221 N. 16th
217-234-9494
AMC Showplace Mattoon 10
2509 Hurst Drive
Showtimes: 1-888-AMC-4FUN
Guest services: 217-234-8900
Silver Star Roller Rink
North Route 45
217-234-6667
Golf Courses
Mattoon Golf & Country Club
6700 Country Club Rd
217-234-8831
Meadowview Golf Course
6489 Meadowview Ln
217-258-7888
Rogala Public Links
1322 State Hwy 16
217-235-5518
Pumpkin Patches and Orchards
Buxton Garden Farm
217-728-7993
Located 3 miles west of Sullivan or 3 1/2 miles east of Bethany on IL Route 121. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Roadside market spring, summer, and fall with seeds, plants, flowers and veggies, along with fresh produce. Corn, straw mazes and hayrides free! 200 varieties from 80 acres, you pick or we pick pumpkins, some may weigh 200 lbs! Colors include all shades of orange, yellow, red, white, and blue with shapes from flat to round and big to small. Also available, squash, gourds, Indian corn, cider, 1,500 plus mums, 5,000 cabbages, and a varitey of fall items. Gourd painting Oct 2 with gourd artist Karenlee Spencer. The first Buxton's Pumpkin chuckin Contest Oct 9.
Great Pumpkin Patch
217-543-2394
Located 2 miles south, 1/2 mile west of Arthur, off the Cadwell Road. 500 varieties of pumpkins, winter squash and gourds. Among the featured sights to see is the goat bridge, which is 12 feet long. It spans from the original goat pasture to a pasture behind the historic one-room school house. Also featured is the Wall O' Squash, bigger and better than last year. Joining the goats, sheep, pigs, llama, and alpaca at the patch is a display of chickens called Japanese Silkies, bred for their boa-like "poofy" feathers. Now in it's 17th year, owned by Bruce and Mary Beth Condill, they are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct 31. Haunted Barn, straw-bale maze, and new this year is a corn maze and wagon rides around the patch on weekends. There is also Indian corn, honey, pumpkin butter, gourds, gift shop, hardy mums, sweet shop, and sandwiches. School Field trips welcome. Small admission charge, but children 12 and under are free.
Moran Orchard
217-895-3408
Located 10 1/2 miles south of Mattoon on IL Route 121. They are open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 19 varieties, including Yellow Delicious and others coming up. Cider, apple butter, peach butter, Indian cron, pumpkins, crafts, painted pumpkins, and honey are also available.
Okaw Valley Orchard
866-APPLES1 (866-277-5371)
Located about 4 miles North of IL Route 121 on IL Route 32, follow signs. 15 varieties of apples available at different times throughout the season, pasturized apple cider and cider slush, apple butter, applesauce, jellies and jams, caramel apples, fresh apple doughnuts, frozen apple dumplings, freah fruit pies available. Large playground and picnic area. October 9 and 10 Applefest with music, vendors and crafts
Shady Crest Orchard
217-543-3009
An Amish owned orchard one half mile south of Arthur. Golden and Red Delicious, Jonathan apples and other varieties available. Also, apple butter, jams and jellies, comb and strained honey, sorghum and maple syrup, popcorn, cider and blooming mums. Vegetables and squash are also available. Open 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday. Take Main Street South on the county line road to the orchard sign.