South Wilmington Firemen Beach

South Wilmington, Illinois · on Mazon River

Verified · 2 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $50
SEASON: July

About South Wilmington Firemen Beach

South Wilmington Firemen's Beach & Park Club is a membership recreation club in Grundy County, Illinois, founded in 1957 by the South Wilmington Volunteer Fire Department on former coal-company land. It operates a sandy, lifeguarded swimming beach on one of the club's private lakes, along with fishing, boating, and camping, giving members a dependable swimming hole and lake to swim in from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

The club sits on land originally leased and later purchased from Northern Illinois Coal and Sentry Royalty Coal Company starting in the late 1950s; by 1960 the club held roughly 680 acres that were developed into picnic grounds, campgrounds with electrical hookups, playgrounds, and more than 30 stocked fishing lakes typical of reclaimed strip-mine terrain in this part of the Illinois River valley near the Mazon River.

Swimming at South Wilmington Firemen Beach

Swimming takes place at a designated sandy beach on club grounds, staffed by Red Cross-certified lifeguards during posted hours; swimming elsewhere on the property is explicitly prohibited. It is oriented toward families with children, with mandatory adult supervision for kids 12 and under and hourly lifeguard-enforced water breaks.

How to get to this swimming hole

The club is located at 7019 Rice Rd, South Wilmington, IL 60474, in Greenfield Township, Grundy County. Access is restricted to members and their sponsored/registered guests entering through a gate house.

The hike in

Drive-up private club: vehicles enter through a gate house and park on club grounds near the swim beach, no trail or hike involved.

No published walk-time or distance from the parking area to the beach itself.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Sandy beach staffed by Red Cross-certified lifeguards during posted hours, with a designated shallow 'Kids Lake' separate from the main swim lake where paddle boats/canoes/kayaks are prohibited. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at the beach and on docks; hourly lifeguard-enforced water breaks apply club-wide. Access is members-and-sponsored-guests only, so it is not a walk-up public spot.

Parking

Lot

No published lot size or standalone parking fee; access is through a staffed gate house restricted to members and registered/sponsored guests. On-site speed limits are 20 mph on paved roads and 10 mph on gravel roads, and parking is prohibited in boat-launch and pavilion areas.

Restrooms

Yes

Outdoor rinse-off showers before using washroom facilities; porta-johns are maintained weekly during peak season, with special-needs arrangements available through the Grounds Department. No permanent restroom building was identified in official sources.

Hours

Beach operates seasonally from Memorial Day weekend (Saturday) through Labor Day; specific daily swim/lifeguard hours are posted through the club's own announcements and on the Gate House board rather than on a standing web page. Concession stand hours: Monday-Thursday 11:00am-4:00pm, Friday-Sunday & holidays 11:00am-5:00pm.

Swim smart

Natural water changes with weather and season. Check depth before jumping, watch for current, and never swim alone.

Rules: Membership requires sponsorship by a current member in good standing, with applications available at the club office. Members may bring up to four guests daily (fewer on Sundays/holidays except immediate family), and all guests must sign in at the gate house with the sponsoring member present; unregistered guests cause immediate loss of membership. Cut-off jeans and thong bikinis are prohibited swimwear. Alcohol is banned on or near the beach. Boats require life jackets, 5 mph speed limits in no-wake zones, and all visitors must leave by 10 p.m.

This is an informational listing, not an invitation. Conditions and access change; verify locally before you go. Visiting any swimming hole is at your own risk. See our Terms of Use.

On the water

KayaksCanoesMotorboatsPaddleboat

Restrictions: Motorized boats (ski, fishing, pontoon) require a valid IDNR sticker; kayaks and canoes require an annual club sticker tied to a membership number; paddle boats permitted only at designated areas. No paddle boats, canoes, or kayaks allowed at Incline 2 or at Kids Lake. No-wake zone (5 mph) at Incline 1 and across from the beach; boats must minimize speed near fishing/swimming areas. Max boat length 22 ft (ski boats) / 24 ft (pontoons); pontoons cannot tow anything; flotation devices mandatory for all occupants; no alcohol on any watercraft; operators under 18 must complete a boater safety class.

All boating privileges are for members/registered guests only on the club's private lakes, not the Mazon River itself.

What regulars say

Visitor feedback is broadly positive, averaging about 4.6 stars across roughly 101 reviews, with one visitor calling it a 'great family club'; detailed commentary on crowding or water clarity was not available.

Backstory

Founded in May 1957 by the South Wilmington Volunteer Fire Department after it approached Northern Illinois Coal about leasing land in Greenfield Township. The fire department first acquired 6 acres, then received an 8.5-acre donation from Sentry Royalty Coal Company that became the beach and change-house site, opening June 5, 1958. In 1960 the club purchased an additional 680 acres from Sentry Royalty, subsequently developing camping, picnic, and playground facilities and stocking over 30 fishing lakes.

South Wilmington Firemen Beach: FAQ

Does South Wilmington Firemen Beach charge a fee?

Access requires paid annual membership (dues due by March 1; a $50 late fee applies through April 1, after which membership lapses). Camping costs $5/night without electric hookup or $9/night with electric. No day-use fee schedule for the public was found, since the beach is not open to walk-in visitors.

Is South Wilmington Firemen Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach South Wilmington Firemen Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for South Wilmington Firemen Beach?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to South Wilmington Firemen Beach?

All boating privileges are for members/registered guests only on the club's private lakes, not the Mazon River itself.

When is the best time to visit South Wilmington Firemen Beach?

Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (the club's official operating season); swim lessons are scheduled in early-to-mid July.

What are the rules at South Wilmington Firemen Beach?

Membership requires sponsorship by a current member in good standing, with applications available at the club office. Members may bring up to four guests daily (fewer on Sundays/holidays except immediate family), and all guests must sign in at the gate house with the sponsoring member present; unregistered guests cause immediate loss of membership. Cut-off jeans and thong bikinis are prohibited swimwear. Alcohol is banned on or near the beach. Boats require life jackets, 5 mph speed limits in no-wake zones, and all visitors must leave by 10 p.m.

What water body is South Wilmington Firemen Beach on?

South Wilmington Firemen Beach is on Mazon River, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.