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Experiences of People That Visited Carlyle Lake

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Carlyle Lake is located in southwestern Illinois, 50 miles east of St. Louis, principally in Clinton County. Water-oriented outdoor recreation opportunities including camping, picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, and hunting. Especially attractive to sail-boaters and nature lovers. Illinois’ largest lake. Here you can learn experiences of people that visited Carlyle Lake

History of Carlyle Lake

Americans first entered the Carlyle area approximately 10,000 years ago. Wildlife and Indians roamed the vast prairies and forested riverways and used a natural ford created by hard river bottom to cross the Kaskaskia River. The first settlers also used the ford when travelling the overland route from the Ohio River to St. Louis. The historic General Dean Bridge now sits on the former ford location. The General Dean Bridge is named in honour of Carlyle native Maj. Gen. William F. Dean, winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor, hero of both World War II and the Korean Conflict. The settlement of Carlyle began at the river ford in 1812 when John Hall built a log fort and lock house as a means of protection against Indians.

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Kaskaskia River Valley Project

With the frequent flooding of the wild Kaskaskia River, citizens of Clinton County formed an organization in 1933 to discuss the Kaskaskia River Valley Project. This group made efforts to study all of the physical, economic, and social aspects of the Kaskaskia River throughout the state of Illinois. The hard work of these citizens was rewarded in 1938. When Congress approved the Flood Control Act of June 28, 1938, which authorized a major reservoir at Carlyle, levees downstream. And a plan for the development of the Kaskaskia Basin. World War II put a temporary halt to the construction of the Carlyle reservoir. After the war, interest in the river was received in the 1950s. Shortly after settling in Carlyle, Eldon E. Hazlet became interested in the Kaskaskia River and points along the banks.

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Carlyle Lake project

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a comprehensive plan for the Kaskaskia River Project in 1957. The Carlyle and Shelbyville Reservoir Projects were authorized in Congress by the Flood Control Act of July 3, 1958. Construction began on October 18, 1958. The government purchased 26,000 acres for the lake, in addition to the land surrounding the lake for flowage easement. Homesteads were moved, along with country roads and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. Tracks containing five bridges span the water between Keyesport and Boulder, dividing the upper and lower parts of the lake. The rights to 69 oil wells were purchased and plugged in to prevent pollution in the lake.

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Carlyle Lake project was completed in April of 1967

The damming of the Kaskaskia River at Carlyle is 107 miles from the mouth of the river and creates the largest man-made lake in Illinois. At normal pool, Carlyle Lake is 15 miles long by 3 1/2 miles wide, covering 26,000 acres. Built for the primary purpose of flood control. Carlyle Lake has come to have four other purposes. A secondary purpose is a downstream navigation on the Kaskaskia River. Carlyle Lake is also a prime place for recreation. Recognized as one of the nation’s top-ten sailing inland sailing lakes. Carlyle Lake is host to many races and regattas. Others find plenty of good opportunity for boating camping. And Carlyle Lake is an excellent place for the sportsman to go fishing and hunting.

Source: https://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Carlyle-Lake/History/

Experiences of people that visited Carlyle Lake

Always clean and lots of space to picnic and cookout

Debbie Seaton

Peaceful and easily practice social distancing.

Chris Davis

This place is very family and friends oriented. Nice place to go to have some fun in the summer.

SENSUAL BEAST

Amazing free fun for everyone in the family. It never gets old.

Royal R

Great place to fish as long as u find a spot lots and lots of people fish the bank area alot

Kevin’s bumb apcstech5

Nice atmosphere, great

Angie Roberson

Beautiful lake with lots of walking, biking and hiking trails. There’s a beach and a massive dock with a solid selection of boats to rent.

David Griffith

What else you can experience at Carlyle Lake?

If you want to experience Carlyle Lake and enjoy in it’s full beauty you have to see it from the sky. How? You can visit us, Gateway Skydiving Center located near the Carlyle Lake. Our mission is to create a fun and friendly environment for our first time and experienced jumpers alike while putting safety first.

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At Gateway Skydiving Center we treat you like family and not just a number. We have a very hands-on approach, because we understand that, while exciting, first jump can also be intimidating. If you want to know what others think of us please visit THIS site.