Vishnu Springs

Cool, spooky place... I wouldn't want to go there at night! CJ :0

said lovethemsteiff 2002.07.09 at 20:09:14 PDT

Looks like an interesting place, do you have any more info on it? Great photos too.

said kimfoos 2002.08.09 at 17:40:17 PDT

Was wondering if you know who owns the land out there now??? E-mail me @ jtontheroad@hotmail.com

said 2002.09.12 at 11:29:58 PDT

Who does own the land and who is the caretaker.

said 2002.09.16 at 12:51:19 PDT

Used to be Irish-Hicks land and then WIU owned it but sold it in 1998 to some lady I will find out. PS i've been out there over 20 times at night!!! awesome as hell

said 2002.09.20 at 10:07:15 PDT

have walked back there with my wife and 4 kids is a wonderful reminder of the past and i have always thought it should be preserved or at least kept up better then it is today! still wonder who actually owns it , heard a lady owns it and left it back to w.i.u . if anyone knows for sure please let me know at roberts6@winco.net

said 2002.10.13 at 08:51:44 PDT

I have read about it and seen pictures, and I am very curious to see it for myself, but I don't exactly know how to get there. I'm in Macomb, and I think I take rt.350 north from tennesse towards the Lamoine...but then what?

said blake 2002.10.28 at 17:23:21 PST

Seek the place out. You can still feel the mystery of that valley...A very real experience.

said 2002.12.26 at 22:37:07 PST

A very beautiful experience as well as disgusting! I don't understand WHY people who seeked Vishnu would destroy the property! I walked in recently and I couldn't believe how IGNORANT some people could be to something that is such a great mystery! It was truely amazing, and I keep going back for more pics! and soon to start a BRAND NEW Vishnu Springs website! p.s Whoever goes there please take care of what is left..you don't need to be another immature idiot that writes what they had to drink that night, or they came looking for "ghosts&quot ; and didn't find any! hahaha you would be very suprised about that!

said andreawiu19 2003.04.02 at 08:22:01 PST

i am interested in finding this place, but im rather new to southern illinois, could anyone send me some directions or send me in the right area? also im looking for caves from limestone, or old abandon mine shafts, vertical or horizontal. ive been speelunking for many years and i enjoy it. please help me if you can. thank you!

said awg1980 2003.04.07 at 10:29:09 PDT

Vishnu Springs is not just a cool getaway. It is a tale deteriorating by time. If you can get passed the trash left behind, just stand in the valley in silence. It is awesome to imagine the once mystical town that surrounded the Capitol Hotel. An interesting way to find Vishnu is to go to the library and look up McDonough County or Tennessee Township Plats. Vishnu actually is shown from the 1880's til around the 1950's. Use that as your map, it makes the adventure more mysterious. Especially, since many of the roads, schools, and churches do not exist like they once did on the map. Please experience Vishnu for the rights reasons. P.S. Kiraboobear, What year are your pictures of Vishnu from?

said kris8207 2003.04.14 at 12:11:23 PDT

The pictures were taken in 1994. The hotel was in terrible shape then and probably shouldn't have been explored because of safety reasons not to mention trespassing. Anyone that visits the place should be careful and like so many have said before, please respect the place.

said kiraboobear 2003.04.14 at 13:02:18 PDT

J.R.,Dave, connie,becko, the murph,anyone else from yesteryear, its been 30 years and i'm comin out to macomb in october. See whats left of the ole homestead. the S man.

said sman74 2003.04.22 at 07:52:45 PDT

Hello all you Vishnu people! I just heard from my RPTA professor that a NEW caretaker now owns Vishnu! I hope they don't tear it down! If you find out any more info about it...please post..I would appreciate it! I don't want to see such a legend be torn down on account of a few votes! Andrea

said andreawiu19 2003.05.03 at 09:36:53 PDT

I got to say that Vishnu Springs is a really historical and interesting place. It is probably one the most unique places in western Illinois. I've been there twice and its awesome. Sadly it is falling apart because of time and vandalism. Something needs to be done about it and soon. I'll write back here soon about any restoration information. That is if I get any. P.S. The sigma pi's should be ashamed for spray painting thier letters out there. You are all a bunch of sorry losers. So if you go to vishnu Springs respect it. Later the C-Bass.

said cbass123 2003.06.04 at 15:19:07 PDT

Myself and an associate are doing a paper and presentation about Vishnu Springs for the Illinois Conference On History in October. We are looking for any information that might be helpful in this endeavor. Specifically, original letters, photographs, documents and certificates, written narratives or other primary sources not already available in the WIU archives. Also, we are looking to interview anyone who may have lived, worked at, or visited the Capitol Hotel at any period of it's existence. We would also appreciate any second-hand accounts that might be available (e.g. a story passed from one relative to another, etc.) Any help would be greatly appreciated. The ultimate goals of our research are the compilation and evaluation of Vishnu Springs literary and documentary sources, contributing to the available scholarship on the subject, and eventually submitting the arguement to appropriate governmental agencies for protection and restoration of Vishnu springs. If this is something that others want to be a part of, their efforts are most welcome. Brad Wiles Macomb, IL

said bradwiles 2003.06.19 at 12:36:58 PDT

BRAD: Email me please at Andreawiu19@yahoo.com. I can help you on trying to contact a person from Vishnu that lived there in the 80's... Andrea

said andreawiu19 2003.06.22 at 21:06:54 PDT

been there once.very cool place.

said milkman158 2003.07.21 at 07:37:39 PDT

if it is of any assistance i lived there for a a couple of years on and off from 72-74. It was a great place to live. There were eight of us back then. People used to come out with their mason jars and ask if they could fill them up in the spring house. It was god awful tasting water, but it was rumoured to cure a lot of ills.In the winter we couldn't get up the hill in the driveway and would have to park at the top and use the hundred stairs. We were young then although after a night at the taco house in town or Dicks Tennessee Tap, the climb down was something that aged us all.To this day vishnu and its memories are the stuff that made going out to western worthwhile. Come october i'll be comin back to take a look see. If connie, gary b,dave C, J.R or any of the original crew are still on the planet, it'd be nice to see them in macomb in october.

said sman74 2003.08.10 at 21:10:15 PDT

Good Luck getting to Vishnu! Cops patrol the road now!! Anyone know a back way in?

said andreawiu19 2003.09.06 at 15:20:56 PDT

I visited Vishnu yesterday evening. I've been doing a little research and until yesterday have never seen the place. I didn't venture into the hotel but i would like to. It is quite a place, and once the vegetation diminishes a bit the view will even be better. I actually ran into the new caretaker and he gave me directions to get out there. Seems like a really nice guy. I really hope this place can be restored. I would like to offer my assistance if anyone is interrested. If anyone has any information on Vishnu, please e-mail me. I'd love to hear what you have found. Natelj@macomb.com

said ndogg81 2003.10.09 at 09:43:43 PDT

Hi, I am a descendent of the Owners of this place. I do have many stories from here, but most are posted. If anyone would like info, please feel free to email me. I DO NOT want to see this place taken dowm, and I have been informed that these are not the plans at this time.

said jbduals 2003.10.18 at 03:22:33 PDT

jbduals: Can I please have your email address? You did not post it. Thank you.

said andreawiu19 2003.10.20 at 08:11:06 PDT

Just got back from illinois. Went out to vishnu after 30 yrs and time has not done it well. Idjits have destroyed the place and as a result WIU, who is now finally the owner DOES have plans to take it down. it appears the big attraction now is that it's a spook shack. I ran into some locals who had the kids out there to take a look at the old haunted house. Seems some local ghost busters were out there with a film crew from the tv station and supposedly filmed strange occurences. Anything for 15 minutes of stardom. I spent 5 days out there in the middle of december 1972 by myself(because i wasn't smart enough to park at the top of the stairs before the storm)and everyone else had to take off for the holidays.Well it was quiet and there were some nosy animals but nothing went bump in the night and the ghosts of residents past were nowhere to be seen or heard. Hopefully now that the university has clear ownership they will try to save whats left of the old place. I'd hate to see it go, lotta memories out there.Maybe they can convince the amish to homestead it, much as they have done south of 136 in tennessee. Who Knows?

said sman74 2003.10.27 at 11:33:14 PST

I'm a proud local and i love to scared people who goes there!!!!!!

said vishnu_local 2003.10.31 at 10:26:36 PST

your a proud local huh? I can tell with your lango..."i love to scared people" scared? pretty immature huh? It's not yours, so why you scaring people off...you don't own nothing! Grow up hillbilly! Try and scare me..see what happens to your lame ##### ....

said andreawiu19 2003.10.31 at 17:07:43 PST

As a WIU student in 72-74 I enjoyed visiting Vishnu Springs and recall the hotel as being in pretty good shape. It was certainly livable and there were 4 or 6 or so mellow people living there. I'm pretty sure I remember the wooden steps heading up the hill and I do recall the distinctive odor of the springs. I remember one of the residents telling us about the lease or rental agreement....it contained a very long and odd list of "donts" ....like no dynamite, blasting caps, gunpowder, incendiary devices, etc. Kinda overboard paranoid we all thought. All we knew of the history at that time was what the locals told us... that it had been a "health resort for the rich" in the 20s and 30s. In 72 it was a very secluded and especially serene space inhabited by a few mellow people who had seemingly succeeded in escaping the rat race. I've always dreamed of going back but after seeing pictures of all the vandalism, I think I'll just keep my memories. I wouldn't trade away a one of those serene summer afternoons detached from the rat race.... stoned on the tree swing !

said 1402lincoln 2003.11.12 at 11:52:51 PST

It is not nice to know that the pictures that were posted for a Vishnu Springs website have been taken down due to the fact of MORE vandalism has taken place there. This is recent infomation I have received. I am voting for "Close it up tight, and let noone in!" Email me if you want to help with those plans..Andreawiu19@yahoo. com...Please make the title Vishnu Springs...or else I will delete it..Thanks

said andreawiu19 2003.11.18 at 07:44:41 PST

hello i have been there several times it is a very peaceful place to get away and it has alot of history behind it i would like to see it restored one day it is a peace of history maybe not to alot of people but to some you say close it how would you like it if some one colsed a piece of your history i think if it was restored that the vandalism would stop because people hear of it and then go see it and it is trashed so they think they can trash it to if it was restored people could go see it read about it and then they would respect it i would like to know who ownes it now and more info,pic,maps please email me ernie smith292@hotmail.com put in subject vishnu

said erndog2 2003.11.18 at 15:45:53 PST

Hi all, I have a specific interest in History, particurarly history related specific to the State of Illinois. I grew up in Northwestern IL now live down state. Through my studies I have learned of, followed up on and documented many obscure historical facts about IL. I first learned of the Vishnu Springs on a Macomb radio program while driving though town last year. Since that time I have not had much luck finding additional sources of information. I request anyone who might have information specific to Vishnu Springs to contact me via e-mail at mascheu@yahoo.com I would enjoy discovering any significant historical events related to the area which may help in drawing interest to the area for something other than vandalism.

said mascheu 2003.12.15 at 12:19:51 PST

Hi: When i was out in macomb in oct. i ran into connie and dennis. dennis lived at vishnu a little after i left in 75 or so. He's got a nice article on vishnu at hi site.http://web.winco.net/~denyoung/ There's also a nice photo of the place when it was in its prime.

said sman74 2003.12.26 at 08:39:28 PST

Very nice pics on Dennis's website! Thank you for sharing those Dennis and informing us about the website Sman74

said andreawiu19 2003.12.29 at 07:30:08 PST

I recently learned about Vishnu Springs and its history. I am a photographer and would like to take some pictures there. I have taken many photos of Mudlavia Springs in Indiana, a site with a similar history. Do I need permission to enter the property? Who would I ask? I can be reached at w9sz@prairienet.org. Zack

said zack1123 2004.05.10 at 09:20:10 PDT

I visited the place once back in 1997 or 1998 while attending WIU. My thoughts on the place are that I hate to see it dozed down because of vandalism, but yet I don't want it restored either. Somehow keep it as is. Part of the intrest in the place (at least for me) is the fact that it's a big old hotel clear out in the boonies-litterally. Kind of like making four lanes all through national parks so people can get to the good views in a hurry. Part of the fun of the place is tromping through the woods and finding a little place of solitude. Driving right up to it does not seem to hold any enjoyment for me. When I visited it and based on many of the recent photos I have seen on the net it looks like it is in disrepair but not ready yet for the wrecking ball. Somehow it should be preserved as is or with some work to keep it rustic and keep the fun of finding it there for future generations. Anybody can feel free to email me: tankwagon@louisacomm.net and please put Vishnu Springs or Macomb in the subject line.

said tankwagon 2005.05.06 at 17:48:41 PDT

Hi I don't know if anyone is reading this but if you would like to chat about Vishnu Springs I've create a forum at http://www.vishnusprings.com/ thank you

said kiraboobear 2005.06.09 at 12:21:13 PDT

Hey, do you know who owns the land and how to contact them? thanks, mike

said timespider 2007.01.10 at 12:27:10 PST

Western Illinois University owns the land now. On our visit back in 11/06, we ran into a couple locals, one of whom was retired from WIU. He had a key to the gate, and they let us hitch a ride in the back of their truck. He told us he was the one others have mentioned, when they talked about a guy clearing brush down there. He said he had some other plans for restoring the area and stabilizing the Capitol, but WIU specifically told him to leave it alone, not to touch anything. They want it forgotten, rotted and gone. The sense we got was that WIU inherited the land but didn't really want it, and now they're stuck. They don't have the money to restore the hotel and make it safe for visitors (liability-wise), but they can't just tear it down either as that'd cause some bad publicity - a university destroying a historical site like that. So, they put up a couple gats, locked 'em tight, and turned their backs. Naturally, this does nothing to stop the vandalism, which is a real shame. The site is deteriorating almost weekly. There is a very prominent "No Trespassing" sign on the locked gate near the road. We snuck in the back way, though we weren't about to admit that to the locals at first, not knowing who they were (we ran into them on the walk out; we were outside the fence in the cornfield). They were real nice, and told us they didn't know of anyone who'd ever gotten in trouble for trespassing there... but they also cautioned us that it wasn't their property so they couldn't give us permission to be there. The school COULD choose to prosecute at any time, so take that for what it's worth. In short, our visit really captured my imagination. I took dozens of photos, and I'm in the process of putting together a "Vishnu Springs" section on my website that will combine a captioned photo gallery, a narrative accound of our visit, and all the history I've been able to scrounge on the place. I'll post the link when I'm done...

said Stearmandriver 2007.01.12 at 22:55:42 PST

Hey folks, This is a site I've put together which hopefully contains some interesting or useful information about Vishnu. There's a reposting of Troy Taylor's histor of Vishnu, a photo gallery, and a fairly detailed narrative of our visit. If you're planning a visit or just wondering what the place is like, it might be worth a look. http://www.thesuligoys.com/vishnusprings/vishnusprings.htm

said Stearmandriver 2007.02.02 at 23:47:38 PST

Such a beautiful place to visit. My friends and I stayed in the basement floor of the hotel by the fireplace that we lit. We didn't hear anything or see anything but we are going back out there tonight and hopefully we see something. Staying in the hotel isn't as scary as you may think. All i can suggest is that you keep the fire going and don't go alone unless you want to literally scare yourself to death.

said ak4736 2007.03.31 at 08:45:20 PDT

While staying there sounds like fun, and lighting a fire in the century-old hearth pretty romantic, PLEASE be careful about that. The entire building is a firetrap, and those chimneys obviously haven't been cleaned in decades. A chimney fire is an excellent possibility, and would destroy the entire building very quickly. Not trying to tell anyone what to do, just making sure we all understand some prudent precautions.

said Stearmandriver 2007.04.08 at 21:47:18 PDT