Tourism Information

Your first stop in Arcola should be the Tourist Information Center located in the historic Illinois Central train depot. In addition to visiting our small museum at the depot, you can pick up information about Arcola and the surrounding area.  Take a peek next door and you’ll see the World’s One and Only Hippie Memorial.

Make sure to grab a guide to our historic murals at the Tourist Information Center. There are 17 murals painted in and around the downtown that tell a number of our community's great stories including Arcola native, Johnny Gruelle, and his famed Raggedy Doll or learn how Arcola businessmen conspired to win a football game by hiring college athletes to beat the Decatur Staleys, which would eventually become the Chicago Bears.    

If it’s Amish furniture you’re after, you’ll have plenty of options at various Amish furniture dealers in Arcola. Bring the family and spend the day at Aikman Wildlife Adventures where you can see exotic animals up close in the only drive thru park. You can also visit their walk-thru park, petting zoo and visit the recently expanded Museum of Prehistoric Life.

Stopover to the Carnegie Library, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and observe the classic revival architectural details.  Bring your bicycle and ride through the countryside to take in the country air, miles of farm scenery, and view diverse farming styles and techniques for planting and harvesting and Amish farms.