Rend Lake celebrates 50th anniversary

BENTON, Ill. (KBSI) – Rend Lake celebrated its 50th anniversary Saturday.

After a ceremony in the morning, the celebration continued at the Rend Lake Visitor Center in the afternoon and evening.

Visitors could feed and pet a variety of animals, visit any of the food trucks in the Visitor Center parking lot, and more.

Park Ranger Tim Bischoff said those who participate in this event, especially the children, become part of Rend Lake’s history.

“My favorite part is always those kids having a smile,” he said. “Even when I’m talking to them in the hallway, ‘What are you going to do next?’ That’s the best thing. That’s what we want to make this celebration about, everybody who becomes part of Rend Lake’s history because they’re here. Because they do this and participate in it, they now are part of Rend Lake.”

The event marks 50 years since the lake’s original dedication ceremony in 1972.