Kankakee County Proves Its Status As A Premier Destination In Illinois, Drawing Tourists And Boosting Local Economy, Here’s All You Need To Know

Published on September 6, 2025

Recent developments person only reinforced Kankakee County’s estimation arsenic a attraction area for tourism growth. Data from nan agency of tourism indicates that Kankakee County’s tourer expenditure for nan twelvemonth 2024 reached a whopping 166.9 cardinal dollars. While nan county’s expenditure dipped somewhat from nan 167.7 cardinal dollars successful nan twelvemonth 2023, it still underscores Kankakee County’s increasing value arsenic a tourism destination successful Illinois. With aggregate caller attractions, events, and initiatives, Kankakee County’s tourism manufacture shows nary signs of stopping. Expectations for 2025 conjecture moreover greater outcomes arsenic a consequence of caller business strategies that purpose to bolster nan visitant acquisition alongside sustainable economical maturation successful nan area.

Kankakee County’s Tourism Growth and Economic Impact

The $166.9 cardinal spent by visitors successful Kankakee County successful 2024 underscores nan region’s value to Illinois’ broader tourism landscape. Dave Baron, nan president of Visit Kankakee County, expressed optimism for continued maturation successful nan coming years. “Kankakee County tourism had a coagulated twelvemonth successful 2024, and location is ample logic to expect moreover much successful 2025,” Baron said, noting nan influx of caller developments aimed astatine attracting visitors.

Tourism plays a important domiciled successful nan county’s economy, not only done nonstop spending but besides by creating jobs and generating section taxation revenue. In 2024, tourism successful Kankakee County helped prolong 1,247 jobs successful nan hospitality and tourism sectors. This support extends to section businesses, from restaurants to unit shops, each of which use from nan visitant economy. Moreover, nan assemblage generated complete $6.8 cardinal successful section taxation revenue, helping money basal services for illustration nationalist information and infrastructure.

New Attractions and Community Improvements Drive Visitor Interest

In summation to established attractions specified arsenic nan Kankakee River State Park and nan Frank Lloyd Wright-designed B. Harley Bradley House, Kankakee County has made important strides successful expanding its tourism offerings. New attractions and ongoing organization improvements are contributing to nan county’s increasing popularity.

Some of nan latest highlights see nan Kankakee East Riverwalk, nan 315 Sports Complex successful Bradley, Bourbonnais’ Grove, and Manteno’s Square connected Second. These caller developments connection visitors a broader scope of experiences, from outdoor recreation to organization events. For example, nan Kankakee River Valley Regatta, an yearly arena that attracts hundreds of spectators, showcases nan county’s vibrant outdoor culture. These events, on pinch caller nationalist spaces, supply further reasons for visitors to sojourn Kankakee County, whether for a time travel aliases an extended stay.

Tourism’s Role successful Sustaining Local Communities

Nicole Gavin, nan executive head of Visit Kankakee County, highlighted that tourism is much than conscionable welcoming visitors—it’s astir sustaining section communities. Every show summons purchased, each overnight stay, and each repast astatine section restaurants contributes straight to nan spot of nan section economy.

“The numbers show that tourism is an integral portion of Kankakee County,” Gavin said. Beyond nan economical benefits, tourism helps support nan vibrancy and entreaty of nan area, attracting some repetition visitors and caller travelers from crossed nan authorities and beyond. This spending supports mini businesses, promotes section culture, and ensures that nan region remains a move spot to unrecorded and visit.

Key Economic Indicators Show Positive Trends

Recent information from Zartico Lodging shows promising trends successful nan region’s tourism performance. Hotel occupancy rates successful Kankakee County roseate importantly successful 2024, jumping to 61% from 51% successful 2023. This summation suggests that much group are staying successful section hotels, further boosting nan section economy. The emergence successful occupancy is simply a beardown parameter of some accrued tourism and nan effectiveness of section tourism trading efforts.

Additionally, short-term picnic rental occupancy grew somewhat from 45% successful 2023 to 47% successful 2024, reflecting nan increasing request for replacement lodging options. Labour income successful nan tourism assemblage besides saw an uptick, rising from $41.2 cardinal successful 2023 to $41.9 cardinal successful 2024. This maturation reflects not only higher visitant numbers but besides an summation successful nan value of jobs disposable successful nan section tourism industry. Local taxation gross from tourism accrued from $6.7 cardinal successful 2023 to $6.8 cardinal successful 2024, further emphasizing nan financial publication of visitors to Kankakee County’s economical stability.

Festivals and Events Continue to Drive Visitor Engagement

Kankakee County’s vibrant events almanac plays a cardinal domiciled successful drafting visitors year-round. The yearly Kankakee River Valley Regatta and Shoe Fest are premier examples of festivals that lend importantly to nan section economy. These events not only supply intermezo for locals but besides pull visitors from crossed Illinois and surrounding states.

Gavin emphasized nan ripple effect of specified events: “Every show summons purchased, each overnight stay, each meal out, each fill-up astatine nan state pump contributes to nan spot of our economy.” These events are an basal portion of nan county’s tourism strategy, showcasing nan area’s civilization and earthy beauty while stimulating economical growth.

Looking Ahead: Kankakee County’s Bright Tourism Future

As Kankakee County looks to nan future, location is simply a clear attraction connected continuing to build nan region’s floor plan arsenic a must-visit destination. “As we look to nan future, Visit Kankakee County will proceed spotlighting our communities arsenic an overnight visitant destination, elevating locally owned businesses, and strengthening organization partnerships for early growth,” Gavin said.

With an oculus connected some short-term occurrence and semipermanent sustainability, Kankakee County is positioning itself arsenic a premier destination for visitors seeking a operation of outdoor adventure, taste experiences, and small-town charm. The ongoing investments successful caller attractions, events, and nationalist spaces are expected to proceed driving tourism maturation successful nan years to come.

Kankakee County’s Tourism Impact is Evident

Kankakee County continues to fortify nan system of nan region. The county’s features are now gaining nan accrued attraction of caller visitors acknowledgment to nan caller developments. The region surely has much to bask astir it arsenic it enjoys nan Kankakee River Valley Regatta, pinch much to come, and nan unceasing upgrades to nan area’s strategy and attractions. This will surely amended Kankakee’s estimation arsenic 1 of nan halfway venues of attraction successful Illinois. The count’s tourism effort becomes much wide and much prosperous. It genuinely has nan imaginable to supply much organization pride, economical value, and tourism effect successful nan complication of nan year.