Cougar Campground

Camping outdoors while watching people fall from the sky?!  Yep, it's possible here at Cougar CG.  As my post from a bit more than a year ago provided quite a bit of detail on this campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing more fotos as well as providing a topline update:

Highlights: (1) Closely located to I80 so access is a positive; (2) Built-in entertainment with skydivers to watch falling from the sky; (3) The CG community here is fairly welcoming and friendly; (4) A decent amount of peace & quiet; (5) Designated tent camping is separated from the RV / trailer tribe; (6) Decent hiking can be had nearby at Starved Rock, Matthiessen and Buffalo Rock SPs; (7) Proper ‘Tiki Hut’ with designated Happy Hours

Lowlights: (1) This CG could use some TLC with some areas in need of actual repair; (2) Some of the RV and trailer overnighters here appear to be more LT residents; (3) There’s not much in the way of amenities here, so bring whatever you really need

Happy Camping!

First and foremost, if you've read the prior review for this site - just disregard it.  This site is not in any way connected to the actual Chicago Sky Diving company.  Instead, it just happens to be located right in front of the take off / drop off site.  Which is very fortunate for you if you've come here expecting some degree of entertainment.  That said, trust me, if you come rolling up with an RV, 5th Wheeler or in my case, just want to pitch a tent, then the very good folks here at Cougar Campground will gladly take your $.

Mile High Campground? No, not really, but hey, I’ll give this campground extra points for erecting a proper Tiki Hut that will serve up some great Mai Tais for the unencumbered who jump 3K feet out of the sky to land on the little bull’s eye on the ground that sits in front of Sky Dive Chicago here. And let me just add that while other campgrounds have their own version of entertainment, I certainly appreciate the thrilling spectacle of watching people plunge to the earth from the safe confines of a nice campfire! 

While you would think that this campground is really earmarked for those that are planning to plummet from the sky at a very high altitude, you really can have it all by just staying here for a night or two, where no doubt you will be surrounded by other fellow skydivers who will revel in this greatest of all risk-taking stunts. Again, trust me - even if you don't plan to jump out of an airplane and, like me, are simply looking for a place to lay up for the night, then you will find refuge here.  From an RV’ers point of view, expect just the basics here – you’ll have a front row seat to the landing field, which will be pretty amazing, but the grounds themselves are less-than-impressive, although there is a very odd leather sofa set that you’ll find atop a makeshift treehouse platform (seriously, just check out the foto!) that someone has been drinking a lot of beer on for what looks to be, a very long time. 

RV slots aside, if you’re here to either camp out in a tent or rent a cabin, you’ll be richly rewarded as these spaces are located away from the RV’s and actually face north towards the Fox River, so you’ll have brilliant sweeping views of some pretty awesome waterfront shores, plus, the aforementioned Tiki Hut is closer to you than the RV crowd, so how’s that for sky diving benefits?! 

Insider’s tip? Here's a few: (1) If you are looking for some fantastic fried chicken - OK, really, the best on the planet - then head on over to Rip’s Chicken in Ladd, which is just a 20 minute drive from this location, where you won’t be disappointed ... plus, you’ll have an eager crowd who wants to hear about all of those sky diving stories!.; (2) If you want to get some good hiking in while camping here, then just a short drive away you will have access to two of the area's best spots: Starved Rock State Park and Mathiessen State Park; (3) Should you come with a kayak or canoe and are looking to get for a dip, then just 15 minutes away you can dunk your watercraft in the amazingly strong currents of the Illinois River; and (4) When the time comes when you'd like to 'whet your whistle' in some other spot than that infamous Tiki Hut here at Cougar Campground, then head on over to nearby Ottawa where, if you are fortunate, you'll discover the Lone Buffalo, which operates both as a gastro pub where I HIGHLY recommend the fish & chips as well as the local micro-brewery itself, where the stout is pretty amazing. 

Happy Camping!

You must be a skydiving customer in order to camp here.