Fishkiller and I went to Giant City today. Of course we stopped at the lodge to fuel up on some fried chicken and fixins before heading off into the woods.

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For anyone who hasn't been there, they have an all you can eat fried chicken dinner that'll rock your world.

The trees are near their peak right now. This is Fishkiller with the visitors' center in the background.

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The sign said 1 mile rugged trail, and they aren't exaggerating. Of course we took several side trails so I'm sure we went quite a bit over a mile.

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If you haven't been there, this is a great time of year to go.

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This is one of the side trails that didn't count in the 1 mile.

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Great shots, looks like you had a good time down there. Did you eat at the lodge? Family style chicken is a good meal.

That's a silly question. We had to fuel up for the hike. Their chicken is delicious.

Just kidding about it being a silly question. We stopped there right after the visitors' center.

Glad to see fishkiller's foot is all healed up now. Looks like yoou had a great day!

Man, I'm jealous. The family style fried chicken is awesome. With the hicking trails mixed in, looks like you guys had a great day. Need to take some time off and visit again. Great pics

Look's like you really did go for hike there. We go through there every so often, there are Hens in that area. We eat that fried chicken too...:)

I didn't see any hens while we were out. We could see where the trees had been down blocking the paths last year. They've worked hard getting everything cleared so people could walk the trails again.

And yes, that family style fried chicken is great. It's a couple hours' drive for us, but well worth it. When my days off fall on a weekend I spend that time with Fishkiller. Otherwise it's off to the woods for hunting.

If a fella is fishing or hiking- whatever outdoors down at Pyramid State Park you would be a fool to skip Pioneer Cabin in Willisville I believe it is.. Same deal, great food, family style, fairly priced.. The rainbow over the cash register is my Mom's biggest. We don't mount fish anymore, they all just end up gathering dust so we gave it to them.
There was a lady in there one time putting chicken in her purse, the owner came over and informed her that it was all you can eat, not all you can steal--- there were words leading up to that, she had it coming, but it was rather entertaining- dinner and a show!! Pioneer Cabin is great though. We ate at Giant City one time a couple years ago, I was blown away, really really imressed me- state run too isn't it? That really shocked me, we should get the crew that runs that park up to Springfield to straighten the rest of the idiots out.

I dont have links to my photos but I have photos of my great grandfather when he owned the park before the CCC came here

They take it from him, make him a "fair deal" tongue in cheek, or was it a legit fair deal for him, how did it go down? My father in law tells stories of the Feds taking land from people down in Shannon County Missouri during the Great Depression- but it is all second and third hand accounts.. Hear say and all.

(On nights this week, don't know how fellas do this all the time... Got home at 7a, woke at the crack of 4:30pm)

(On nights this week, don't know how fellas do this all the time... Got home at 7a, woke at the crack of 4:30pm)
I've been a shift worker most of my adult life. I'm still not used to it. Why else would I have gotten up before 6 when I don't have to be at work till 3pm.

I like what the CCC did with Giant City, but I'd be interested in seeing what it was like before too.

they were farmers, so to have GC was not the greatest piece of farm land. My research tells me that much of the lumber in the southern IL region was cut and depleted by the preople that lived there. I do have photos but how do I attach them if I dont have them on a web page?

The park nibbled them out of the area, the last to go was uncle Ernie, if you go down the big hill to the boy scout camp and cross the ford you took a hard left and about a mile back is an old foundation. from there is an old road due right. there are about ten old farm foundations back there. I use to hunt back there as a small boy.

My Dad said there were a couple of caves in the park that he would go into but the CCC closed them

Oh, his name was John Elder, his father was judge Samuel Elder that partly created Eldorado

The image hosting is a little tricky, I am not so good at it either..