Tourism in Joliet
Tourism is a growing contributor to the character of Joliet. The Harrah’s and Empress Riverboat Casinos draw hundreds of thousands annually to Joliet with their luxurious surroundings, gambling excitement, first-class dining, and nationally known entertainers.
Elegantly restored, the Rialto Square Theatre presents a variety of the biggest and best in entertainment while retaining the grandeur and ambiance of a lavish 1926 vaudeville movie palace. The Rialto holds more than 150 public and private events each year.
For those more inclined to enjoy nature’s gifts, the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor features state parks, forest preserves, fish and wildlife areas, hiking trails, canoe routes, and more along this unique river route. Joliet is also a popular starting point for trips along the Des Plaines River. Communities along the canal corridor host annual festivals and outdoor events that attract thousands of visitors every year.
Joliet’s two racing facilities are rapidly positioning the city as the auto racing capital of the Midwest. Chicagoland Speedway, the 75,000-seat NASCAR/IRL speedway, hosts two major racing weekends. The USG NASCAR Weekend takes place in the middle of July each year, and features the USG Sheetrock 400 (NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series) and the USG Durock 300 (NASCAR Busch Series).
Chicagoland Speedway also hosts its IRL weekend in early September each year, featuring the Indy Racing League’s IndyCar Series, ARCA RE/MAX Series and Menard’s Infiniti Pro Series. Route 66 Raceway, located right next to the Chicagoland Speedway, has a capacity of 35,000 fans and 38 luxury suites. Route 66 Raceway, which consists of a state-of-the-art drag strip and a dirt oval, hosts NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events, as well as demolition derbies, music concerts, AMA Flat Track Motocross, and monster truck shows. The two NHRA National Drag Racing events take place in the spring and fall and feature Top Fuel, Funny Cars, Pro Stocks, and motorcycle racing.
The JackHammers play minor league baseball at the state-of-the-art Silver Cross Field in downtown Joliet. Opened on May 24, 2002, the ballpark has 4,200 seats and features luxury suites, a hot tub patio deck, a tented picnic area, a children’s playground, and souvenir store.
Opened in August 2002, Splash Station Water Park provides relief from the summer heat with a 250,000-gallon pool and 12,000 square feet of water fun situated on a 20-acre property. The park is home to the Midwest’s only 200-foot, six-lane racing slide and also includes an 850-foot lazy river, various tube and body slides, a zero-depth pool, a sand play area, and full-service concessions.
The Autobahn Country Club is located in Joliet. Autobahn is a private automobile country club that features a north track of 1.5 miles in length, a south track of 2.2 miles in length – a combined 3.56-mile road course, the 3rd largest in the country. Autobahn also features a Kart track of .5 miles in length and 30’ in width. In addition to member usage, Autobahn hosts races from SCCA, Midwest Council, NASA, WERA, CCA, and our Spectator Vintage event, the Bobby Rahal Historic Races. Autobahn also hosts many driving schools and is the perfect place for a corporate event, including a fleet of Go Karts for corporate race events. Planned for completion in 2008 is the Speed Pavilion, which, at 120,000 square feet, will house a car museum open to the public, large banquet and meeting facilities, and a clubhouse for members. Our Teen Driving Experience is designed to provide real driving instruction for newly licensed drivers.
For those visitors who wish to stay the night and enjoy all that Joliet has to offer, the city is home to more than 20 major hotel chains and camping facilities featuring a range of amenities. Several facilities offer meeting and conference space.
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