FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Alton, IL – June 9, 2025) A special groundbreaking ceremony for the much-anticipated Byway Discovery Center at Great Rivers Park, 10815 Lockhaven Rd., Godfrey, will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 11.

Local and regional elected officials will be on hand to put shovels in the ground for the new National Scenic Byway corridor activation project which is expected to open its doors in Spring 2026. The project was funded by a portion of a $10 Million Capital Bill Grant received by the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau.

“The new Byway Discovery Center will be a great asset to our Byway region,” Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau noted. “It is keenly positioned on the Great River Road where visitors will be treated to a natural riverscape and viewshed. We are creating a full immersion experience that we hope will help our visitors and local families discover and explore the region’s premiere outdoor recreation offerings.”

The Byway Discovery Center, a 4,500-square-foot visitor orientation facility, will be constructed on a parcel of land near the mouth of Piasa Creek on the Madison/Jersey County line. It is located west of Alton on the Scenic Byway.

The center will be a place where visitors can learn about Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway and will serve as a place of exploration and discovery with nature, history, and the regional nature-based tourism amenities that exist on the 33-mile stretch of road from Hartford to Pere Marquette State Park. The center will include a state-of-the-art video immersion experience and 1,400 square feet of permanent exhibit space, a gift shop, lecture facilities and public restrooms. The center will be open seven days a week and will be managed by the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau.

“Jersey County is pleased to be able to partner with the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau and Great Rivers Land Trust to provide a great site for the new Byway Discovery Center,” Jersey County Board Member Mark Wagner said. “This project will encourage our residents and visitors alike to explore the region and provide a boost to tourism and small businesses along the byway.”

The site is immediately upstream of the US Army Corps of Engineers Piasa Creek Recreation Area and Boater Access. Located just west of Alton on the Great River Road, the Byway Discovery Center sits directly on the Byway route and connects to the Mississippi River and the soon to be completed Upper Mississippi River Restoration project at the Piasa and Eagle’s Nest Island Complex, a US Army Corps Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project (HREP).

The Byway Discover Center is designed to contribute to the livability of the region while further activating the Byway Corridor with other key projects and programming that steward central natural and cultural assets, promote active living and build a vibrant livability destination for leisure travelers, our residents, businesses, investors and others, Mr. Jobe noted.

“Building the new Byway Discovery Center near Piasa Creek along the Great River Road is the best compatible use for the site. It is very exciting to see this project come to life along the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway and Great Rivers Land Trust is a proud partner in this project,” said Alley Ringhausen, Executive Director of Great Rivers Land Trust.

Mr. Jobe said the project would not have been possible without the support of the State of Illinois, the Illinois Office of Tourism, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, and Great Rivers Land Trust.

“The State of Illinois has been instrumental in protecting and growing visitor amenities along the Byway,” Mr. Jobe said. “We also want to thank the ongoing support we have received from Byway corridor mayors and residents of Calhoun, Jersey and Madison counties.”



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(The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau is a certified Destination Marketing Organization serving Madison, Jersey, Calhoun, Macoupin, Montgomery and Greene counties and East St. Louis in St. Clair County. The bureau is dedicated to educating visitors about the region by providing information regarding the area’s history, unique landmarks, recreational opportunities, leisure attractions, special events and scenic marvels.)