Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for March 28, 2007 SEVEN WONDERS OF ILLINOIS

From the Southern Illinoisan...

Something's in the water

A satellite image shows the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers at Cairo. The Ohio river is shown on the right. The confluence is a finalist in the Seven Wonders of Illinois campaign. (PROVIDED)

BY JIM MUIR, THE SOUTHERN

And then there were two. That's the number of Southern Illinois locations announced Monday by the Illinois Bureau of Tourism that are still in the running to be named as one of the "Seven Wonders of Illinois."

Earlier this year the bureau began a promotion seeking nominations for anything residents and visitors find wonderful about the Land of Lincoln. The list could include scenic spots, quirky out-of-the-way places, parks, historic sites and museums.

The lengthy list has been pared down twice and the announcement made on Monday shows that Rend Lake, located in Franklin and Jefferson counties, and the Confluence of the Ohio River and Mississippi River, near Cairo, are the final two locations left from more than a dozen Southern Illinois selections.

Area residents can go to www.enjoyillinois.com and cast a vote for the Southern Illinois site. Voting will continue through March 31 and the bureau will announce the "Seven Wonders of Illinois" on April 30.

Keith Thomason, general manager of Rend Lake Conservancy District, was excited about 19,000-acre Rend Lake being a finalist.

"I think the opportunity for us to even be considered is very good," Thomason said. "But for us to make it this far is a testament to the wide appeal that we have for people. With fishing, hunting, biking, golfing, swimming, boating and camping, we appeal to so many different people. It supports what I continue to say, 'Rend Lake is great spot to visit.'"

Thomason noted the success of the hundreds of camping sites, the golf course and restaurant, Rend Lake Resort and the many outdoor activities available is proof that once tourists visit the Rend Lake area they return.

"We always say that we believe if we get them here once they'll come back," Thomason said.

Cindy Benefield, director of the Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau that serves Alexander, Johnson, Pope, Massac, Pulaski and Union counties, also was thrilled with the announcement that the Confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi made the latest cut.

"There is a development project being planned for Fort Defiance, which is there at the confluence, and it's a multi-million-dollar project that will include many tourism attractions," Benefield said. "So, the announcement that the Confluence has been selected as a finalist only adds to that excitement."

Benefield said the confluence of the two legendary rivers has "wide appeal" - a point she discovered during her first week on the job 17 years ago.

"I received a call from Paris, France, from a freelance photographer who wanted me to arrange a helicopter for aerial photos," Benefield said. "I'm always amazed at the people who ask about the confluence. It literally has international appeal and recognition."

In order to begin the selection process, the state was broken down into seven regions: Chicago, Chicagoland, northern, western, central, southwest and southern.

Other finalists in other regions include:

Chicago: Museum of Science and Industry and Wrigley Field.

Chicagoland: The Baha'I House of Worship and Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio.

Northern: Illinois Railway Museum and Starved Rock State Park

Western: Black Hawk State Historic Site and Wildlife Prairie State Park

Central: Allerton Park and Retreat Center near Monticello and Cozy Dog Drive-In at Springfield.

Southwest: Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway.

Other sites that did not make the final cut include the Old State Capitol in Springfield, the Superman statue in Metropolis, the Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest, Millennium Park in Chicago and the giant 170-foot catsup bottle in Collinsville.