Jacksonville, IL - 04/26/14

Saturday – April 26, 2014
Moonshine, Illinois
Jacksonville, Illinois

We departed Fox Ridge State Park in Charleston, Illinois at 10:00 a.m. After a short drive of thirty miles, we reach our first stop: Moonshine, Illinois (population: 2).

In the fall of 2003, we were watching a segment on the CBS Sunday Morning television program. The segment was on Moonshine, Illinois and the Tuttle family that operate a store there. It was such a nice piece of Americana that we put it on our list of places to visit. Our first visit there was in the summer of 2004 and we have been returning there every year since.

Moonshine, Illinois is surrounded by farmland in the southwest corner of Clark County. It is located at the intersection of rural roads 300 and 600. The first time we went there we got lost. We finally got directions from a local realtor and as we approached a rural intersection, we encountered another vehicle with the driver waving for me to stop. He too was looking for Moonshine! I told him to follow me, unsure at that point if I even knew where I was going. But we made it into Moonshine just fine. Part of the fun is just finding the place!

Roy and Helen Tuttle bought the old-time (circa 1912) country store in 1982 and promptly made it the best eating house in town. Actually, it's the only building in town, unless you count the porta-potty across the road that’s reserved for visitors.

Aside from cold cut deli-style sandwiches, drinks and snacks, Moonshine is the home of the world-famous Moonburger. You can get a double beef cheese Moonburger, you can get a bacon Moonburger, you can get a Moonburger just about any old way you want it.

The store guest-book has visitors from all 50 states and around the world. The visitors get a chance to enjoy hospitality and ambience from days gone by, no fancy menus or dinner tabs here, just give Helen your first name when you order over the deli counter and pay as you leave. You can sit down on the inside benches or enjoy your Moonburger on one of the several picnic tables in the side yard.

We enjoy the Moonburgers, they are very tasty, but we go there for the ambience of the place and the wonderful people you meet there.

We departed Moonshine at 11:15 a.m. and arrived in Jacksonville at 3:00 p.m. We will spend the weekend here visiting Sharon’s brother and two sisters.

Miles traveled today: 191

Tomorrow another adventure begins.