Appreciation

The IllinoisOzarks project could not have been possible without the support and blessing of the Hardin County Mainstreet Board, the Hardin County Board of Commissioners and the Hardin County Hotel Occupation Tax Board. Funding was made possible by the Hardin County Hotel Occupation Tax with matching funds from the State of Illinois Tourism organization for the advertising portion of the project. Thanks for the support and assistance of Southernmost Bureau of Tourism. The incredible videos were provided by Bruce Baldwin of Baldwin Media and Gary Marks of Shawnee Hills Outdoors. The outstanding photos were provided by Rick Street, Fred McWilson, Tricia Sanders, Dixie Dart and various other photographers. Content was provided by Dixie Dart and Todd Carr.  Special thanks to Todd Carr for his vision in developing this project. Special thanks also to Nathan Baldwin, our technical guru, for the development of the site.  His attention to detail and expertise is invaluable. And finally (and most of all), our appreciation for newspaperman L. O. Trigg, known as Col. Trigg.  Who, in the early 1930’s and 40’s, recognized the potential for this part of Illinois.  He conducted annual tours of the “Illinois Ozarks” and was instrumental in building support for the Shawnee National Forest.