Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area Campground

About

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area covers more than 16,000 acres of restored tallgrass prairie, wetlands, and timber in Cass County, Illinois. The area was developed through a partnership between the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and local conservation groups to restore native prairie habitat while providing diverse recreational opportunities. Three lakes offer fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill, with accessible fishing piers at Prairie Lake and Gridley Lake. Prairie Lake Campground sits a quarter mile south of the main office on County Highway 11 and serves as the primary camping destination. The campground features 18 Class AA sites with individual sewer drops and water hookups, plus 65 Class A electric sites. Nine rent-a-cabins along Prairie Lake's shore provide two-room accommodations with bunks, ceiling fans, and heaters, though guests must bring their own mattresses and bedding. A shower building serves the campground. Questing Hills Campground, located 6.5 miles north off County Highway 2, caters specifically to equestrian campers with 51 electric sites and direct access to the extensive trail system. The primitive camping area offers seven three-sided wooden shelters about a quarter mile hike from parking, providing a more rustic experience at $6 per night. The area is popular with hunters during fall seasons and birders year-round who come to observe prairie chickens and other grassland species on the restored habitat. Reservations for campsites and cabins are handled through ExploreMoreIL.

Directions

From Chandlerville, take County Highway 11 north. Prairie Lake Campground is located 1/4 mile south of the main office on County Highway 11. Questing Hills Campground is on Questing Hills Road off County Highway 2, 6.5 miles north of the main entrance. Main office address: 10149 County Hwy 11, Chandlerville, IL 62627.