PEORIA MAGAZINE May 2023

S P O T L I G H T

PEORIA’S ‘HIDDEN GEM’

For 50 years, Wildlife Prairie Park has provided every excuse to vacation close to home

BY KATIE FALEY PHOTOS BY RON JOHNSON T ucked beside the bison and elk pastures sit six cabins, freshly built for the modern lodger. They’re the Legacy Cabins at Wildlife Prairie Park and they’re getting rave reviews. Wildlife’s newest lodging additions were a labor of love from the community, for the community. They were named for the legacy of noted philanthropist, attorney and conservationist Bill Rutherford, who gave the park as a gift to his wife, Hazel, and to the community in the 1970s. Peoria as we

know it would be a very different place without the significant contributions of Rutherford, specifically on the nature and environment fronts. “We raised $2.4 million from the community to build the cabins,” said Calli Dicks, marketing director for the park. “We don’t receive ongoing public funds but rely upon the revenue we generate and the support of local individuals and organizations.” The cabins are the intersection of simplicity and luxury, as satisfying for the avid camper as they are for the “I’m good inside by the fireplace” traveler.

For those who’d rather wake up on vacation to peace and quiet rather than the hustle and bustle of room service wheeling down hotel hallways, the Legacy Cabins provide the best of both worlds. “It’s a great way to create memories with families and friends while being immersed in nature, but still have access to modern amenities,” Calli said. “They’ve been built with all modern appliances and luxuries: fully equipped and stocked kitchens with ovens, full refrigerators, dishwashers, and so much more. Each unit also has an indoor

66 MAY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE