State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) is encouraged by work being done to reopen the Rend Lake Resort. He joined officials from the state of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Capital Development Board for a tour on Monday.
Severin says construction crews are cleaning up the grounds and completing a wide variety of construction and renovation projects, including new walls, new flooring, new roofing, new HVAC systems, a new kitchen in the Great Room area, and a new laundry room. Conference rooms are being completely redone. Old rotted wooden decks are also being replaced with composite non-slip decking. Progress is being made in renovations to the cabins and boatels as well.
Severin says this is an impressive renovation. Quite simply, IDNR is doing this right, and the people of Southern Illinois will eventually have access to a world-class facility where they can gather for special events and make memories that last a lifetime.
Severin says that IDNR plans to be finished with renovations in the spring of 2026 and seek a Request for Proposal from a potential vendor with the goal of reopening the entire Resort and Conference Center in 2027.
