For the 2025 recreation season, Sullivan and Wilborn Creek beach will be closed until further notice.
Forrest W. ''Bo'' Wood Recreation Area has a large campground and day use area on the northern shore of Lake Shelbyville in the heart of central Illinois. The lake and surrounding land offer outdoor activities for people of all ages, including fishing, swimming, picnicking and simply relaxing.
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Forrest W. ''Bo'' Wood Recreation Area has a large campground and day use area on the northern shore of Lake Shelbyville in the heart of central Illinois. The lake and surrounding land offer outdoor activities for people of all ages, including fishing, swimming, picnicking and simply relaxing.
There is 1 reservable picnic shelter. This shelter has 6 picnic tables, 1 group grill, overhead lights, and 2 electrical outlets. Across the street is the dog park. Down the road from the dog park are flushable restrooms. There is a small parking lot available for parking near the shelter; more parking is available down the road.
For the 2025 recreation season, Sullivan and Wilborn Creek beach will be closed until further notice.
Shelter hours are 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily
Read Lake Shelbyville Picnic Shelter Reservations Policy
Adult chaperones are required for youths under 18 years of age
No Off-Road Vehicles allowed unless written approval from Operations Manager
First-come first served available when shelter is not reserved
Firewood brought into this facility must be purchased, or collected locally due to invasive insects
This facility lies on the shoreline with a steep descent down to the water. Oak and hickory forests offer plenty of shade. Foliage turns a variety of red, orange, purple and yellow each fall, while prairie flowers dot the landscape in spring and summer. Numerous species of songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors inhabit the lake area, as do mammals such as cottontail rabbit, white-tail deer, gray and fox squirrel, muskrat and mink.
Wolf Creek State Park, Woods Lake Waterfowl Refuge and Okaw Bluff Wetlands Complex are popular locations for wildlife watching, birding and hunting near Lake Shelbyville. The town of Sullivan is located 3 miles north and offers several restaurants to grab a bit to eat.
Unique to this location is the dog park which features 2 enclosed fenced-in areas for pets to explore as well as training equipment (hurdles, tunnels, ramps) for pets to exercise. Lake Shelbyville offers a multitude of fishing opportunities for catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskie, walleye, white bass and bluegill. The recreation area has a boat ramp for easy access to the water, and for those without a boat, several ponds with farmed fish are available around the lake. Hunting areas located within a short drive offer numerous game species, including quail, rabbit, pheasant, deer, dove, turkey, waterfowl and woodcock.
1989 STATE HWY 16 SHELBYVILLE IL 62565
For campground inquiries, please call: 217-774-3951
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
From Sullivan, Illinois, go three miles south on State Route 32 to Forrest W. "Bo" Wood Recreation Area. Turn right into Forrest W. "Bo" Wood Recreation Area. Follow the road past the campground to the turnaround to reach the day-use picnic shelter
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