While traveling on Interstate 55 towards Memphis, Tennessee, my wife and I made a stop in Blytheville, Arkansas. A nearby welcome center caught our attention. Nestled in a natural stone building with post-and-beam construction, the center invited travelers inside.
The interior featured slate floors beneath exposed beams. We walked past display cases showcasing the state’s natural wonders and racks filled with brochures. For us, Arkansas was a brief stop on our journey to Tennessee. As my wife explored, I picked up a brochure about the Historic Dyess Colony, linked to Johnny Cash’s early life. As a fan, I found this intriguing. With encouragement from an attendant, we decided on a detour to Dyess.
We ventured across northeast Arkansas, navigating roads that cut through sandy fields and rustic homes. Eventually, we reached Johnny Cash’s childhood home, a place dating back to the mid-1930s. Under the guidance of the former mayor turned museum manager, we learned about Cash’s upbringing. His experiences in the New Deal community played a role in shaping his early music career with Sun Records in Memphis. This detour offered both enjoyment and deeper understanding.
Reflecting on this, Illinois announced the closure of eight interstate visitor centers by September’s end. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity cited evolving travel planning methods as a reason. Travelers increasingly rely on digital platforms like Google for trip planning, considering traditional brochures outdated.
Online resources do offer a wealth of information. For instance, planning a trip to Chicago can involve checking Tripadvisor for top hotels, attractions, and restaurants. Yet, these platforms might miss hidden gems along the journey.
Consider traveling on I-57 to Chicago. A 50-minute detour takes you to Chester, the birthplace of Popeye the Sailor Man, and Fort Kaskaskia from the American Revolution. On I-55, a detour leads to the American Giants Museum in Atlanta, Illinois. It offers insights into Muffler Man statues and other roadside attractions.
Traveling on I-72, you might discover the Monticello Railway Museum, housing a 1907 vintage steam locomotive. Finally, on I-80 to Joliet, Exit 97 reveals the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Marseilles, with over 8,000 names of military service members.
In 2025, according to Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, visitor spending reached $50.2 billion. Despite this, the budget for Illinois visitor centers, amounting to $1.6 million, was eliminated. These visitor centers are essential front doors to Illinois, welcoming 115 million visitors. Closing them raises questions about Illinois’s approach to tourism.
Frank Hosek is a freelance travel writer based near Chicago and a former human resources director. You can submit a letter of up to 400 words to the editor or email [email protected].