They are busting up Rockome Gardens and auctioning off the pieces:
The Gardens had been opened and closed and open and closed several times over the last 15 years.
Located out in the countryside between Arcola and Arthur, it was a major, MAJOR tourist attraction in Central Illinois at one point.
But times change.
Rockome was dated.
And really had little to offer to the families of today.
Plus most of Central Illinois had been there at least once.
And for most, it was a "been there, done that" type of place. Unless there was a compelling reason to go back a second time, most did not.
And that lack of "compelling reason" doomed them.
I was there 4-5 times. Here's a couple things I remember:
Rockome survived several things thru the years, including:
And a failed auction:
But it did not stay relevant.
And thus couldn't survive the passage of time and declining interest in seeing/experiencing the "old ways" of doing life.
A drive-thru animal park and petting zoo is moving in.
Out for now.......
Matt