J T's Caliber - Sparta

This place offers enjoyable sporting clay courses along with an impressive variety of trap and skeet fields. The woman at the counter was extremely helpful. Tha... read more This place offers enjoyable sporting clay courses along with an impressive variety of trap and skeet fields. The woman at the counter was extremely helpful. Thank you!

The WSRC is a wonderful outdoor experience. I'm removing one star from my first review because of the decay that is taking place as the facility ages. Many of t... read more The WSRC is a wonderful outdoor experience. I'm removing one star from my first review because of the decay that is taking place as the facility ages. Many of the wood signs along Cardinal Road are rotting and falling off of the post. Cardinal Road itself is breaking up and the repair is just oil and chips. (This section of the road has been repaired and other much needed road maintenance is under way. There has also been a much needed improvement to the UTV trails behind the trap line using oil and chips. Much less dust and no mud. 8/2019)Honeysuckle bush (an invasive species) along with thorn trees and weeds are taking over the fields. No sign of reforestation with native trees or grasses. It's still a wonderful facility, but given it's present rate of decline, won't be for long. Hopefully the IDNR will give the facility more of the attention it deserves soon.

Visited the wedding reception facility at the Event Center. This place is beautiful and the food was acceptable. And a new daughter in the law. Great! read more Visited the wedding reception facility at the Event Center. This place is beautiful and the food was acceptable. And a new daughter in the law. Great!

I utilized an AA camping site for my weekend, and according to the DNR website, there are literally hundreds of AA sites, along with A sites and various other t... read more I utilized an AA camping site for my weekend, and according to the DNR website, there are literally hundreds of AA sites, along with A sites and various other types, totaling 1,001 campsites on the property. This is likely the largest campground in Illinois and possibly one of the largest in the country. Despite this, the occupancy over the weekend seemed to be less than 10%, and I'm being generous with that estimate! The property is stunning, very well-maintained, and extremely clean, making it easily accessible for activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, and boating with small electric boats, kayaks, or canoes. You'll truly enjoy the surrounding nature, alongside various shooting sports for which the property is well-known. However, it would have been beneficial to have clearer information about the different shooting sports for campers not part of an organized club. The well-equipped shooting areas are located in a separate part of the property, away from the campsites. When I camped here for the first time, I had very little information about accessing these specialized areas. The DNR's shooting website is outdated and needs to be refreshed, particularly regarding the pistol and rifle sections. The information available is the same as it was a few years ago when I first showed interest in visiting, without any updates on the availability of gun and rifle ranges for the public. There’s no detail about what kinds of ranges exist or public usage times where you can speak to someone on-site about these facilities. While it seems there is a strong emphasis on shotgun sports, I couldn't find any information on archery or its availability on the property, even though an archer is part of the logo on the large entrance signs and the water tower. I brought my own equipment but couldn't find any indication of how to use the archery facilities during my stay. In summary, the camping experience is fantastic, and I highly recommend this Illinois DNR property to anyone considering a visit. It truly is a great facility and a hidden gem among state recreational offerings. If you’re interested in shooting while here, you may find yourself at a loss for information. The ranges are state-of-the-art and well maintained, but without clear guidance on accessing the other recreational areas, you might struggle to make the most of your visit. Nonetheless, I give it 5 stars because my experiences and the opportunities available during my stay were exceptional, even if the shooting sports areas seem geared more towards private use.

The location is excellent. However, it seems the restaurant has neglected regular maintenance, as evidenced by the rotting and crumbling signs scattered around... read more The location is excellent. However, it seems the restaurant has neglected regular maintenance, as evidenced by the rotting and crumbling signs scattered around the property. They also have yet to invest in planting shade trees, which would be a wonderful enhancement, especially for a summer spot reminiscent of the 90s. Additionally, it's quite an interesting place to observe various heavy machinery that extends well beyond what is visible to the naked eye!