Jubilee College State Park

Jubilee College State Park is a 3,200-acre park in Peoria County with rolling hills, forests, and steep ravines. The grounds stretch between Kickapoo and Brimfield and offer a varied landscape of wooded areas and open spaces with a preserved college building from the 1800s.

Bishop Philander Chase founded the college in 1839, but it had to close in 1862 due to financial troubles. The time it operated was brief, but the memory of this early school shapes the site today.

The preserved building shows what education and religious training looked like in this region during the 1800s. Visitors can see how teaching and faith were connected and what role schools played in developing this frontier community.

The park offers over 40 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking in all seasons. There is also a dedicated equestrian campground with facilities for visitors who bring horses.

The park's equestrian campground is one of the few places where visitors can stay overnight with horses and use designated riding paths. This setup makes it a special destination for riders in central Illinois.

Location: Peoria County

Website: https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/JubileeCollege.aspx

GPS coordinates: 40.81690,-89.78110

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:05