Starved Rock Foundation

08/17/2026

Two members of the Starved Rock Foundation have been selected as 2026 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Volunteers of the Year in recognition of their service to Starved Rock State Park and its visitors.

08/15/2026

08/14/2026

We’re proud to share that two members of the Starved Rock Foundation have been named 2026 IDNR Volunteers of the Year!

Congratulations to Pamela Grivetti, Chairman Emeritus, and Gene Anderson, Board Member, on this well-deserved recognition for their dedication and service to Starved Rock State Park.

Pam and Gene will be honored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on August 22 at the Illinois State Fair.

Please join us in congratulating them!

View the full press release on our website;
https://www.starvedrock.org/post/two-starved-rock-volunteers-named-among-illinois-best

, Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks

07/25/2026

Only a few days left to submit your photos for the 2027 Starved Rock & Matthiessen Calendar!

Each year, the calendar features images captured by park visitors and photographers who love these places. If you have a favorite photo from Starved Rock or Matthiessen, now is the time to send it in.
Photo submissions close July 31, 2026.

https://www.starvedrock.org/calendar-submission

, Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks, Starved Rock Hikers, Heritage Corridor Destinations

07/10/2026

Meet the Team: Coleen Piggott
For Coleen, Starved Rock has always been more than a beautiful place to visit. It’s where she feels most connected to nature.

“I grew up in the country and appreciated all that nature gives us with her beauty.”

After moving to Ottawa, she found that connection again at Starved Rock. Today, she serves as Secretary of the Starved Rock Foundation and enjoys sharing that passion with others.

One of her favorite parts of volunteering is hearing visitors talk about their experiences.

“Listening to all the visitors that come to the Visitor’s Center from all over the world and hearing the delight of what they experienced is a true delight to hear.”

Thank you, Coleen, for your dedication to the Foundation and to preserving this special place.

07/02/2026

Every refill helps the parks. 💧

This summer, Heritage Corridor Destinations and Enjoy Illinois are making it easier to hydrate and give back through the new Fill It Forward reusable water bottle program.

Pick up a complimentary bottle, scan the QR code each time you refill it, and each scan triggers a donation to the Starved Rock Foundation in support of Starved Rock State Park.

Bottles are available at the Starved Rock Country Welcome Center in Utica and will also be available while supplies last at Join Us Out Here: Refill for the Parks on Thursday, July 10 from 5–8:30 PM at

Come grab a bottle, roast a s’more, and help support the parks one refill at a time.

07/02/2026

Every refill can help support Starved Rock State Park this summer. The Fill It Forward initiative turns each refill scan into a donation supporting the Starved Rock Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of Starved Rock State Park since 1991.

"Helping save the planet with these stylish reusable water bottles while also supporting the Starved Rock Foundation is an easy and effective way to give back,” said Mike Toohey, Vice President of the Starved Rock Foundation.

Learn more and view the full release;
https://www.starvedrock.org/post/new-reusable-water-bottle-program-supports-starved-rock-foundation

, Heritage Corridor Destinations, Enjoy Illinois

Fill It Forward initiative turns each refill scan into a donation supporting Starved Rock State ParkUTICA, IL - The Starved Rock Foundation is proud to be the nonprofit beneficiary of a new reusable water bottle initiative launched as part of Heritage Corridor Destinations’ Appetite for Adventure ...

07/02/2026

07/01/2026

06/19/2026

This article compliments of Gene Vogelgesang

You’ve no doubt heard the legend of Starved Rock, the story about Indians who died after being trapped atop our area’s most notable geographic feature while under siege from enemies below. Be advised, that’s all it is, a legend. “It’s a nice story,” Joe Jakupcak told Peru Rotarians at their weekly meeting June 19th at Lou’s LaGrotto. A longtime trail guide at Starved Rock State Park, Jakupcak presented an informative program about how the legend got started while also giving a brief history of the park.

The events that comprise the Starved Rock legend supposedly happened in 1769 but they weren’t put down on paper until a lawyer recorded the story in 1880 after claiming he had once talked to survivor of the siege. Jakupcak said there is no historic or forensic evidence to support the legend and, perhaps more importantly, there is no oral history among the Indian tribes supposedly involved in the Starved Rock siege that give the tale any credence.

Jakupcak said Starved Rock became Illinois’ second state park when the state purchased the park’s first 400 acres from a local property owner in 1911. The park today encompasses 3,400 acres and attracts 2.3 million visitors per year, putting it fourth on the list of American state parks in terms of attendance.

Guided hikes at Starved Rock State Park are offered year-round. Jakupcak said his favorite time of the year for hiking is winter because of the opportunity to see ice falls then and also because the lack of leaves on trees opens up good long-range views.