Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center

What Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center does

Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center is a privately-held historic hospitality property located at 13653 Lodge Blvd, Grafton, Illinois, within over 8,000 acres of Pere Marquette State Park along the Great River Road. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1933 and 1939 and opened for business in 1940 at a cost of $352,912, the lodge features original limestone construction, massive Douglas fir timbers, 50ft vaulted ceilings, and a 700-ton stone fireplace. The property operates year-round with approximately 30 employees and offers three accommodation categories: original 1940 Lodge rooms, 1988 Left Wing Lodge rooms, and detached cabin rooms, complemented by recreation facilities including an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, and fitness room.

The business operates a multi-vertical hospitality stack centered on lodging, a full-service American restaurant (known for fried chicken), the on-site Mary Michelle Winery, and event venues (Grand Ballroom at 2,900 sq ft and Great Room at 5,300 sq ft). Revenue streams include nightly room rentals, dining transactions, wine and beverage sales, wedding and corporate event hosting, gift shop retail, equipment rentals (bikes, refrigerators, roll-away beds), and curated package deals (Spring Fling, Eagle, Hiker's, Romance). Customer segments are leisure travelers, wedding parties, corporate retreats, and outdoor enthusiasts, primarily drawn from the St. Louis metro area. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via phone reservations and a third-party online booking platform (reservations.vmpms.com), with a dedicated group sales contact for events and weddings.

The lodge pursues an event-driven demand strategy, hosting 40+ annual events including the Peach Festival, Bald Eagle Fest, Morel Mushroom Fest, murder mystery dinners, tribute concerts, themed wine dinners, and artisanal classes. It has built an ecosystem of eight documented partnerships with local operators (Jest Murder Mystery Co., Aeries Zipline, Grafton Harbor, Pere Marquette Stables, GRIP Paranormal, Alton Stained Glass Works, Paper Moon, and Treehouse Wildlife Sanctuary) to extend its destination value proposition. The underlying technology is a basic hospitality reservation platform with limited WiFi due to the limestone building construction, and the marketing mix centers on Facebook, Instagram, organic search, email newsletter, and event-based marketing.

Name

Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center

Legal name

Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center

Website

https://pmlodge.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center is a historic 1940 lodge within 8,000-acre Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, Illinois, offering lodging, dining, an on-site winery, wedding venues, and outdoor recreation for leisure travelers, wedding parties, and corporate groups from the St. Louis metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Resort and Conference Hospitality

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Resort Convention Hotels (THAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Park & Conservancy Lodges (THAGAIAI), Hotel & Resort Restaurants (THAFACAH), Hotel & Resort Convention Venues (Convention Hotels) (THAHAAAC)

Keywords

• Historic lodge accommodations
• Wedding and event venues
• Corporate retreat facilities
• Resort dining and winery
• Outdoor recreation hospitality

Headquarters

HQ city

Grafton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Lodging/Accommodations: Room rentals including Lodge rooms (historic wing and 1988 addition) and rustic cabin rooms. Revenue based on double occupancy with pricing varying by day of week and season. Additional charges apply for more than 2 adults.
2. Restaurant Dining: Full-service American dining restaurant open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Known for signature fried chicken. Generates revenue through food and beverage sales.
3. Winery Sales: Mary Michelle Winery offers locally crafted wines, beers on tap, and spirits. Revenue from wine sales by glass and bottle, with tasting room service.
4. Wedding & Event Hosting: Venue rental for weddings, corporate retreats, and events. Venues include Grand Ballroom (2,900 sq ft), Great Room (5,300 sq ft), and outdoor spaces. Revenue from venue rental and catering services.
5. Package Deals: Bundled accommodation packages including lodging with meals and activities. Examples: Spring Fling Package ($159), Eagle Package ($159), Hiker's Package ($15), Romance Package Add-On ($20).
6. Retail Gift Shop: On-site gift shop offering unique gift items, personalized merchandise, wine glasses, apparel, jewelry, home decor, toys, and souvenirs. Open daily year-round.
7. Activity Rentals: Bike rentals ($10/hour or $40/day), refrigerator rentals ($10/night), roll-away beds ($10/night), Pack-n-plays (free).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center operates a historic year-round resort within Pere Marquette State Park, selling Lodge and Cabin room accommodations, full-service American dining, an on-site winery (Mary Michelle Winery), wedding and corporate event venues, curated seasonal packages, an indoor pool/hot tub/sauna, and a gift shop, complemented by outdoor recreation and 40+ annual events such as festivals, themed dinners, and murder mystery shows. Customers are predominantly leisure travelers from the St. Louis metro area, wedding parties, and corporate/event groups seeking a nature-immersive historic venue.

Product overview

Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center is a historic lodge and conference center located within Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, Illinois. The property offers a comprehensive hospitality experience centered around lodging accommodations (Cabin Rooms and Lodge Rooms in historic and 1988 addition wings), dining (on-site Restaurant and Mary Michelle Winery), event venues (Grand Ballroom and Great Room), and outdoor recreation within an 8,000+ acre state park. Additional offerings include curated packages (Spring Fling, Eagle Package, Hiker's Package, Romance Package Add On), wedding services, group events and team building programs, and a gift shop. The Lodge also partners with external operators for zipline tours, river cruises, horseback riding, and waterpark access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cabin Rooms Rustic cabin accommodations built with original wood and stone, offering a more private stay with separate sleeping areas and restrooms. Each cabin houses 3 separate guest rooms located 150ft from the main Lodge.
• Lodge Rooms (Historic 1940) Historic guest rooms built original to the Lodge in 1940, offering an authentic historical lodging experience. Only accessible by stairs.
• Lodge Rooms (1988 Addition - Left Wing) Guest rooms added during the 1988 renovation, conveniently located near the Winery, Restaurant, and indoor pool facilities. Serviced by both stairs and elevator.
• Lodge Restaurant American dining restaurant specializing in home-style cooking and famous fried chicken. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with casual dining and historic ambiance.
• Mary Michelle Winery On-site winery featuring locally made award-winning Mary Michelle and Illinois Cellar wines. Also offers craft beers on tap and spirits. Open Friday through Sunday.
• Wedding Services Full-service wedding venue offering ceremony and reception spaces including the Grand Ballroom (2,900 sq ft, up to 250 guests), Great Room (5,300 sq ft with 50ft ceilings and massive fireplace), and outdoor lawn venue. Located on 8,000 acres of State Park.
• Group Events & Team Building Corporate retreats, team building activities, and group events with meeting spaces, catering, and activities including murder mystery dinners, zipline tours, and guided hikes.
• Grand Ballroom Event Space 2,900 square feet of flexible venue space with river views, accommodating up to 250 guests. Can be sectioned off into 4 separate spaces for smaller gatherings.
• Great Room Event Space Massive 5,300 square foot room featuring 50ft ceilings, massive fireplace, wood and limestone floors, and giant wood pillars. Available for ceremonies and events with limited availability.
• Gift Shop On-site gift shop open every day of the year offering unique gift items including personalized mugs, wine glasses, apparel, jewelry, home decor, toys, and souvenirs.
• Indoor Pool, Hot Tub & Sauna Recreation facilities including indoor pool (open 8am-10pm), hot tub, and dry sauna available to all guests with room key access.
• Outdoor Recreation Outdoor activities including hiking trails (12 miles), bike rentals, equestrian trails (20 miles), fishing, tennis courts, volleyball nets, shuffleboard, and life-size chess board.
• Spring Fling Package Seasonal package at $159 + tax including dinner and breakfast from a select menu plus Lodge room accommodation. Available Sunday through Thursday on select dates in March and April.
• Eagle Package Bald eagle spotting package at $159 + tax for experiencing majestic birds in their natural habitat during peak winter population in January and February. Includes dinner and breakfast.
• Hiker's Package Outdoor adventure package including 4 bottles of water, 4 pre-packaged snacks, and a Lodge drawstring backpack for exploring the 8000 acre state park.
• Romance Package Add-On Romance add-on at $20 + tax featuring chilled Champagne and 2 glasses delivered to the room for a romantic surprise.
• Neil Diamond Dinner Show All-inclusive dinner show event (Michael Carluccio as Neil Diamond) with General Admission $80 and VIP $100, including show, Fried Chicken Buffet, tea & water service, taxes & gratuity.
• Murder Mystery Dinner (Zombie Love) Interactive murder mystery dinner theater experience at $60 per person, including show, fried chicken dinner buffet, dessert, taxes and gratuity.
• Christmas Murder Mystery Dinner Seasonal Christmas-themed murder mystery dinner at $60 per person, including show, fried chicken dinner buffet, dessert, taxes and gratuity.
• Peach Wine Dinner Multi-course wine dinner at $73.80 per person ($67.50 for overnight guests). 4 courses paired with hand-selected wines, includes tax and gratuity.
• Candle Making Class Hands-on candle making class at $50 per person. Includes all supplies. Participants take home 2 hand-poured soy candles.
• Kid's Painting Class Nature-themed children's painting class at $20 per child. Includes 1 parent/guardian free. Ages 5-10.
• Paranormal Investigation Guided paranormal investigation at $100 per couple ($50 per person). Includes overnight stay requirement and $10 dining/winery credit.
• Bike Rental Single-speed cruiser bike rentals at $10 per hour or $40 per day, available at the Front Desk.
• Refrigerator Rental Refrigerator rental at $10 per night on a first come, first served basis.
• Roll-away Bed Rental Roll-away bed rental at $10 per night; Pack-n-plays available at no extra cost.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 events hosted annually including festivals, concerts, themed dinners, and murder mystery experiences
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Jest Murder Mystery Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Jest Murder Mystery Co. provides interactive murder mystery dinner theater experiences at the lodge. These team building events combine dining with interactive entertainment, get guests laughing and bonding while solving fictional crimes. Events are offered periodically throughout the year with themed shows.
• Aeries (Grafton Zipline)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Aeries resort offering zipline tours and adventure activities. The Grafton Zipline features 4 different zip lines, 2 suspension bridges, walking trails, and ATV rides through the woods. Located nearby and promoted as team building activity.
• Grafton HarborminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Grafton Harbor for boat rentals and charters. Offers watercraft rentals for 2-8 hours, sunset chartered trips, and the Hakuna Matata 49-passenger tour boat operating on Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. Promoted as activity option for guests.
• Alton Stained Glass WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local artisan Lynne Ulett of Alton Stained Glass Works. Provides beginner stained glass classes held at the lodge as creative retreat experiences. Classes include glass cutting, grinding, foiling, and soldering instruction.
• GRIP ParanormalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GRIP Paranormal for led paranormal investigations at the lodge and surrounding grounds. Events include history of paranormal claims, equipment investigation, and visits to historic 1800s cemetery. Limited capacity events offered as add-on packages.
• Pere Marquette StablesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Pere Marquette Stables for trail rides through the park. 45-50 minute rides through 2.5 miles of scenic trails. Opportunity to see wildlife including deer, wild turkeys, and red-tailed hawks.
• Treehouse Wildlife SanctuaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Treehouse Wildlife Sanctuary, a local non-profit focused on education, awareness, and wildlife rehabilitation. Visitors can see bald eagles, owls, and other wildlife. Recommended as nearby nature activity.
• Paper Moon (Mascoutah, IL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Kimberly Kilgore's Paper Moon boutique and maker's space in Mascoutah, Illinois. Provides candle making classes using 100% local soy wax from Illinois heartland soybeans. Classes offered at the lodge with bingo and door prizes.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Cedar Lodge: Missouri nature-based destination resort with lodge and cabin accommodations, on-site dining, wedding venues, conference facilities, and extensive outdoor recreation. Highly comparable nature-immersed resort + conference + event model in the same regional market.
• Eaglewood Resort and Spa: Mid-sized Illinois resort with lodge rooms, conference/meeting facilities, golf, pool, spa, and on-site F&B. Comparable regional conference-resort model with similar mid-size event space and group business focus.
• West Baden Springs Hotel: Historic Midwest resort hotel with restored heritage architecture, full-service dining, conference and event venues, and recreational amenities. Comparable historic-resort + conference + event positioning in the Midwest drive-to leisure market.
• Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center: Illinois state park lodge and conference center operated within Starved Rock State Park; offers lodging, dining, event venues, and outdoor recreation. Closest comparable by model (state park lodge + conference center) and geography (Illinois).
• Lodge of Four Seasons: Lake of the Ozarks (Missouri) resort offering lodge rooms, conference/banquet space, multiple restaurants, golf, spa, and marina activities. Comparable Midwest resort-and-conference model serving leisure, weddings, and corporate groups within a ~3-hour drive of a major metro.
• Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa: Galena, Illinois resort offering lodge and villa accommodations, conference and wedding venues, multiple restaurants, and outdoor recreation (golf, trails, horseback). Comparable Midwest drive-to resort combining lodging, events, and outdoor amenities.

Broad incumbents

• Grand Geneva Resort & Spa: Larger Wisconsin resort with extensive lodging, multiple restaurants, conference facilities, golf, spa, and ski hill. Comparable conference-resort positioning, but with broader amenity portfolio and larger scale.
• Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island: Iconic historic American resort offering lodge-style accommodations, fine dining, conference and event venues, and recreational amenities. Comparable heritage-resort + events + dining model with national brand recognition.
• Mohonk Mountain House: Historic Victorian castle resort in New York's Shawangunk Mountains with all-inclusive dining, conference/event facilities, and extensive outdoor recreation in a protected preserve. Comparable historic resort + nature preserve + events model, larger scale and farther geography.
• French Lick Resort: Indiana historic resort complex with restored hotels, multiple restaurants, large conference and casino facilities, golf, and spa. Comparable historic Midwest resort positioning with broader amenities and larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/visitPereMarquetteLodge
• Instagraminstagram.com/explorepml
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pere-marquette-lodge-&-conference-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center