Arts and Culture

GenKota Winery in Mt. Vernon Illinois has developed award-winning wines in reds, blushes, and whites from dry to semi-dry, semi-sweet to sweet. International award winning Port is a deep ruby gem. In addition to selling wine by the case, bottle or glass, GenKota can also create personalized, made to order gift baskets and personalized labels. The lovely tasting room and gift shop offer delightful gift items and gourmet foods and banquet facilities for small parties, weddings and receptions are available. Enjoy wine by the glass or bottle along with a snack tray on the beautiful wrap-around deck overlooking the growing vineyard.

Pheasant Hollow Winery is nestled on the eastern shore of Rend Lake in Southern Illinois. It is located on over 5 acres of scenic woodland in the heart of a recreation destination that includes a marina, boatel, artisans center, golf course, and many restaurants. Sit on the deck, enjoy the wildlife and sip one of our finely crafted table or fruit wines. You can tour the cellar, or enjoy the gift shop and tasting room.

The Appellate Courthouse, located in the center of Mt. Vernon at 14th and Main Streets was constructed in 1857 in the Greek revival style. It houses the southern division of the Illinois Supreme Court. Anyone interested in historic buildings and architecture won’t want to miss the courtroom appointed with walnut benches and judges’ chairs along with other period furnishings housed inside.

Appreciate the beauty and historical significance of the Brehm Memorial Library constructed in 1905. Then discover the treasures inside including a vast collection of genealogy materials reflecting the migration patterns of people in Southern Illinois.

The buildings and quiet, wooded grounds and gardens provide a graceful setting for the Cedarhurst Sculpture Park on the 90 acre estate which features the Mitchell Museum, a nature walk and bird sanctuary, a beautiful outdoor sculpture park, art center and a multitude of visual and performing arts programs. The Creative Art Center provides year round classes and workshops for adults and children including weaving, basketry, pottery, painting, stained glass, and photography. The Cedarhurst Craft Fair, named one of the top 100 events in North America by the ABA for 2003 is an annual event that draws visitors and craftsmen from all parts of the country and is held the first weekend after Labor Day. This festival features over 160 craftsmen, an area for children, and continuous entertainment and concessions. A series of Chamber Music performances by national and international artists is held throughout the year, including summer outdoor concerts, dinner theater, and choral concerts.

Authentic log structures and historical memorabilia from the area are carefully preserved and displayed at the Jefferson County Historical Village. The log structures include log cabin homes, the first log jail house in the county, a one-room school, blacksmith shop, log church, and more. The general store and museum display antique tools, harnesses, photographs, household items, an antique printing press, and many other items.

With 13 different hotels, there are over 1200 rooms to choose from, including the Holiday Inn’s convention area and there are over 60 restaurants. Attractions to see while you’re here include museums, historical attractions, wineries, antique mall and shops, car races, golf, special events, and great shopping. For a complete list, go to www.mtvernon.com under the convention and visitors bureau link.

Rend Lake:

The Rancho Bandera Stables, located in Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park offers trail rides as well as mule drawn wagon rides.

The fields and forests of Rend Lake and Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park offer numerous animal sightings.

Explore nature at Rend Lake on foot, on bicycle, or on horseback.

Selected as one of the best in the Midwest the Rend Lake Golf Course is a 27 hole championship course featuring a pro shop, large lighted driving range, Bent Grass greens and Zoysia fairways.

The Rend Lake Shooting Complex is a state of the art shooting facility. There are 10 pits with fully automated all new pat traps, 4 are lighted; 38 station sporting clay range, complete with towers, elevated stands, ponds, water shots, and concrete cart paths; a lighted 5 stand with a tower and seven traps; 3D archery range with 30 targets, fully ADA accessible; a lighted skeet field; lighted fields to accommodate shoot offs and night time derbies. It is also wheelchair accessible.

The Rend Lake hunting preserve is surrounded by over 400 acres of timber, hedge row, prairie filled with ample cover for the finest in upland game hunting.

Rend Lake is an 18,000 acre reservoir built to provide a dependable domestic water supply to a two county area. The Fish and Wildlife area was developed to provide public hunting, and other recreational opportunities. With marinas, boating, water skiing, camp sites, nature trails, golf, picnicking, swimming, fishing, and hunting, Rend Lake is one of the premier vacation spots in Southern Illinois.

See our Convention and Visitors Bureau link for more information.