Rend Lake US Army Corps Visitor Center

This Visitor Center near the west end of the dam is the perfect start to any visit to the Rend Lake area. It offers extensive Rend Lake area information provided by the staff along with free brochures.

This beautiful center has a large hall full of interactive exhibits where visitors can see area reptiles, fish and more. It even has a working honey bee hive. See live bees travel outdoors to the on-site native plant garden where they collect pollen and nectar to take back to the hive.

The large meeting hall is home to the summer Environmental Science Series. This series offers a different presentation every Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Presentation topics include a wide variety of environmental topics. This room is also available to rent for parties and meetings.

The onsite outdoor sheltered picnic areas and the native plant garden provide the perfect setting to see and experience the beauty of nature in the heart of Southern Illinois.  While at the Visitor Center, be sure to review the safety information available and pick up a copy of the Rend Lake Map and also the Rend Lake Visitor Guide!