GENESEO, ILLINOIS (August 26, 2022) — The Geneseo Chamber of Commerce announces its popular Cruise the Canal golf cart tours of the Hennepin Canal for 2022. The Cruise the Canal tours allow tourists in our area to enjoy one of Illinois’ State Parks and a second chance to experience the tours surrounded by fall foliage.
"The popularity of the Hennepin Canal State Parkway north of Geneseo has increased over the past few years.” says Zack Sullivan, Executive Director of the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce. "People organize group hikes, kayaking, and canoeing are popular, and, of course, the fishing is great! Combined with the majestic sights and sounds of nature at the canal, this is a unique opportunity to discover, or rediscover, one of our area’s best kept secrets.”
The popular golf cart tours are led by Zack Sullivan of the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce. Sullivan delights guests on the tours by telling the story of canal — including the construction, history, and ecosystem of the canal. Tours are offered three times per day, with tour times at 9AM, 11AM, and 1PM. All tours begin at Lock N° 24 and travels west to Lock N° 26 before turning back towards the starting point. The cost per person to participate is $25/person. The Geneseo Chamber also works with assisted living facilities to provide rides for seniors with no cost for the caregiver to drive.
A portion of the proceeds from the Geneseo Cruise the Canal tours goes to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for preservation, upkeep, and maintenance of the Hennepin Canal State Parkway. Information on how to get involved with canal preservation efforts is available at the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of the Hennepin Canal.
Cart Sponsorships Available
Cart Sponsorships are available for the tours. These sponsorships are a great way to get your message and brand in front of visitors of Geneseo, as well as residents looking for something to do in their own backyard. A cart sponsorship also helps the Chamber continue to provide high quality event programming like the Cruise the Canal events at an affordable cost going in our community. Sponsorships are available according to the following sponsorship schedule:
• 1 tour date: $75/cart
• 2 tour dates: $125/cart
The 2022 Geneseo Cruise the Canal Schedule is Friday, September 9, and Friday, October 14 (fall foliage tour).
For more information and to reserve a spot on one of the tours, call the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce at 309-944-2686 or e-mail geneseo@geneseo.org.
