PEORIA MAGAZINE June 2022

C O M M U N I T Y S P O T L I G H T

TAKE A CHANCE ON CHILLICOTHE The small town offers visitors and residents abundant experiences

BY LAURIE PILLMAN PHOTOS BY RON JOHNSON

W hen asked what makes Chillicothe different from other small towns, Mayor Michael Hughes does not hesitate. “For such a small town, we offer so much for the citizens.” Located 15 miles north of Peoria along the Illinois River, Chillicothe has a little over 6,000 residents. During his 12 years as an alderman, Mayor Hughes took part in initiatives to improve the town’s historic district, expand park offerings, and build up small businesses. But he says he has to share the credit. The community members play the biggest part in making Chillicothe a destination. The city has spent a decade building up riverfront and historic areas so it can draw residents and tourists. The Chillicothe Park District and Pearce Community Center offer year-round programming to physically engage visitors, while Chillicothe Players and the Chillicothe Library help residents explore the arts. Chillicothe Players is currently in rehearsals for summer shows Beauty and the Beast Jr . and Gilligan’s Island . The library’s ongoing schedule has everything from game nights to craft events. “We’vehadfamilycomeupandwhenwe give them a tour of Chillicothe, they’re like, ‘How can such a small community do so many things?’” said Economic Development Director Amanda Beadles.

today, using profits from $5 tickets and their newly offered subscription plans to fund scholarships and support local youth groups. First-run Hollywood movies are always on the marquee. Steps from the theater, shoppers can find an eclectic collection of stores that offer resale shopping, unique gifts, and delicious sweets. Triple Dipple’s 80 flavors of artisan cheesecakes led them to be recognized by the Illinois Office of Tourism’s Illinois Made Program. Little Land of Candy n More’s fudge, sweets and old-fashioned soda shop make it a delight for young and old alike. Beadles says that local merchants have been spearheading efforts to provide opportunities for locals and tourists alike. The merchants help arrange the popular Second Saturday Market where the retail businesses of 2nd Street, 4th Street, and Santa Fe turn shopping into a festive event with live music and special discounts. “We have great merchants,” Mayor Hughes says. “None of this could happen without our merchants.” Chamber of Commerce Facilitator Molly Bishop is quick to point out that those merchants include both Chillicothe and Lacon businesses, which run the gamut from financial planners to non-profit organizations. “What makes our chamber a little different is that we have about 15 to 20 nonprofits,” she said. “A lot of them are volunteers for the different things that we do.”

“The Chillicothe Library by itself could entertain [a family]. There’s music, art, book readings.” “I don’t think your magazine’s big enough to put all this in,” Mayor Hughes jokes. Chillicothe does have a lot going on. Visitors can immerse themselves in history at two different museums: the Rock IslandDepot, which displays a 1929 Santa Fe caboose, and the Chillicothe Area History Museum, which features an exhibit honoring Zorro creator and Chillicothe High School graduate Johnston McCulley. A few blocks from the museum is Chillicothe’s historic 2nd Street. The iconic art deco front of the Town Theater stands out as a beacon of nostalgia among quaint retail shops. The Optimist Club purchased the theater in 2009 and continues to run it

74 JUNE 2022 PEORIA MAGAZINE