HR0198 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0198 LRB102 17528 ECR 23134 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Giant City Lodge is located within the boundaries of Giant City State Park and located in parts of Jackson and Union Counties in Southern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The Giant City Lodge was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1934 and 1935; and

WHEREAS, In the early summer of 1946, work began to make the six cabins located near the lodge even more comfortable and convenient; this helped the Giant City Lodge establish a thriving business; and

WHEREAS, Increasing dining room business created the need to add a new dining room to the Giant City Lodge; the Bald Knob Room was added in 1958, followed by the Shawnee Room in 1969; and

WHEREAS, Since its construction, the biggest improvements to the Giant City Lodge occurred under Governor James Thompson's Build Illinois Program; this program was started in 1985, over half a century after President Roosevelt's CCC was commissioned; and

WHEREAS, The twelve original overnight cabins, which were beginning to deteriorate, were removed, and twelve new cabins were added; built on the same site as the "historic" cabins, the new cabins were built, styled, and finished exactly the same as the original ones; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the historic cabins, 22 new cabins were built around the Granite City Lodge, along with outdoor swimming and kiddie pools; and

WHEREAS, In 1981, a new era of management and hospitality began as Richard A. Kelley, with his son Mike, became the 6th concessionaire of the Giant City Lodge; and; and

WHEREAS, In 2021, Richard and Michael Kelley and the Kelley Family celebrated 40 years of service in running the operations of the Giant City Lodge; and

WHEREAS, The Kelley family has welcomed visitors both local and distant; they have been accommodating to those who drive from local communities as well as those touring the region's orchards, vineyards, and parks; and

WHEREAS, The staff of the Giant City Lodge provide a high level of hospitality for everyone who visits; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Kelley Family on their success and thank them for their tireless work to preserve the history and beauty of the Giant City Lodge, which has served as a gathering place for family dinners and celebrations of all kinds for 40 years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution shall be presented to Richard and Michael Kelly, the Kelley Family, and to the staff of the Giant City Lodge.