The Stablehouse

Alto Pass

Alto Pass is a small historic village located in the Shawnee National Forest, 15 miles south of Carbondale, Illinois, and midway between St. Louis, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee.

Click here for a map and directions to The Stablehouse.

The Stablehouse is located along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, just a mile past the Peach Barn Vineyards and a little ways past the Bald Knob Cross of Peace turnoff. 

Click here to find out more about the local wineries and events. 

Local Attractions

For additional details about attractions and activities in Southern Illinois call the Southern Illinois Tourism Bureau at 618-833-9928.  They are open during business hours.

Southern Illinois has a multitude of attractions for all ages including:

Shawnee National Forest www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/shawnee

Giant City State Park and Lodge www.giantcitylodge.com/park

Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge and Cache River Wetland Center www.fws.gov/midwest/CypressCreek/cachectr

Bald Knob Cross of Peace 618-893-2344 www.baldknobcross.com

Shawnee Hills Wine Trail www.shawneewinetrail.com

Shawnee Hills Barn Trail www.shawneeheartland.com/barnstorming

Sparta World Shooting Complex www.dnr.state.il.us/Worldshooting

Fort Massac State Park dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/parks

Natural Bridge and Little Grand Canyon www.angelfire.com/indie

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale www.siuc.edu

Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau www.southernmostillinois.com

Southern Illinois Tourism Development Office www.adventureillinois.com

Discover Southern Illinois - Regional Calendar www.discoverSIL.com

Union County Information Web Site www.shawneeheartland.com

Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau www.carbondaletourism.org

Illinois Bureau of Tourism www.enjoyillinois.com

Activities

Local activities include (some information may have changed):

Trail Riding (Giant City State Park Stables www.giantcitylodge.com/park)

Bird Watching www.trails.com/birdwatching

Boating, Kayaking and Canoeing www.thisisfun.com/tif_central/regions/southern_ill/canoe

Wine Tasting www.shawneewinetrail.com

Music, Food and Wine Festivals

Hunting and Fishing www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r5/unionco www.adventureillinois.com/hunting www.adventureillinois.com/fishing

Hiking and Biking illinois.sierraclub.org/shawnee/sites/s-tunnel_hill_bike_trail

Rock Climbing www.verticalheartland.com

Orchards (Flamm www.flammorchards.com) (Boyd www.boydorchards.com) (Hedman www.peachbarn.com) (Rendleman www.rendlemanorchards.com)

Riverboat Casino www.harrahs.com/casinos/harrahs-metropolis

Golfing www.sigt.org/courses

Antiques and Auctions

Dining - Casual (check hours)

Alto Pass

Duty's Country Store
Downtown Alto Pass 618-893-2490 M-F 7-5, Sa 7-4
Deli sandwiches

Northwest Passage Root Beer Saloon (Temporarily Closed)
618-893-1453
4 Main St. Alto Pass
An interesting lunch menu in an unforgettable setting. Unique coffees, herbs & spices, teas, draft root beer and cream soda, shakes, malts, sundaes and sandwiches in an unusual and extensive taxidermy display.
Open Monday to Friday 11:30 am - 4 pm.
www.northwestpassage2001.net

The Peach Barn Café
618-893-4923
560 W. Chestnut
Wine and snackables, Wed-Sun (call to check) 12-5 pm for lunch, and dinner (with reservations only), gift shop and winery.
www.peachbarn.com

Anna

Burger King
618-833-2978
East Vienna Street

Goddard's Barn & Grill
East Vienna Street

Dairy Queen Brazier
618-833-2171
138 East Vienna Street

Davis Pastry Shop
618-833-2161
145 South Main Street

Dixie Barbeque
618-833-6437
205 West Broad Street
Open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday, a great barbecue.

El Jalapeno
618-833-9288
101 Leigh Ave.
Lunch and dinner seven days a week, a good Mexican restaurant with an extensive menu.

Hardee's
618-833-3980
144 East Vienna Street

Kentucky Fried Chicken / Taco Bell
618-833-7921
1195 East Vienna Street

Mac & Jenny's Pizza
618-833-3674
322 South Main Street

McDonald's
618-833-7922
508 East Vienna Street

Pizza Hut
618-833-2415
East Vienna Street

Pizza Villa
618-833-4041
108 Lafayette Street

Sonic
618-833-215
East Vienna Street

Subway  618-833-5049
3565 East Vienna Street

Taco John's
618-833-7817
507 East Vienna Street

The Depot
618-833-7124
124 East Davie Street
Historic photos of local history on walls
Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday.

Cobden

Downtown Abbey (Temporarily Closed)
618-893-4415
215 North Appleknocker

Iron Whisk - Next to US Bank, Outdoor dining - limited hours but very popular.

Taqueria Pequena
618-893-1353
on Appleknocker
The best tacos and authentic Mexican food around!

Dongola

Mule Barn Cafe
618-827-3677
102 South Garden

Front Street Cafe
618-827-4652
Highway 51 South

Jonesboro

J R's Place 618-833-3657 500 Public Square

Raices Latinas – Mexican Food
618-833-5089
402 Public Square

Mom's Place
618-833-4828
Public Square

Giant City Lodge, Makanda, IL
Located in Giant City State Park, open seven days a week (except late Dec. to Feb.) for breakfast, lunch and dinner including all-you-can-eat fried chicken and catfish nights.
Historic architecture of local stone and logs - built in the 1930’s by the CCC. 

Additional dining choices are found in Carbondale, Marion, Murphysboro and Cape Girardeau.

Dining - Fine

Anna

Brick House Grill, Main Street

Cape Girardeau

Celebrations
Cape Girardeau,MO
573-334-8330, Open: Tuesday-Saturday. In historic downtown area the menus are inspired by fresh seasonal products from small farms and fisheries in all parts of the country. Outdoor courtyard dining in nice weather. Award winning wine list.

Gabriels
Cape Girardeau,MO
573-803-2449 Fine Italian and Continental dining.

Mollie's Café
Cape Girardeau, MO
573-339-1661, Open: Tuesday-Saturday. Mollies is fine dining in a small but quaint atmosphere in the historic river district. Nightly specials and Mollie’s famous dishes bring repeat customers.

Herrin

Mary's
Herrin, IL
618-942-2742, Open: Tuesday-Saturday. Mary's is located in one of Herrin's historic Victorian homes and serves an elegant gourmet menu with bar and wine service. Good wine selection and everything is made fresh daily. Very interesting and varied menu

Marion

Sao Asian Bistro
618-993-2828
Lunch and dinner – excellent contemporary asian cuisine.

Many other restaurants in Marion

DeSoto

Tom’s Place
17107 N. Hwy. 51
618-867-3033
Tuesday-Saturday from 5 pm Proprietor and Chef Lasse Sorensen brings his experience in Europe and California to prepare contemporary cuisine in Southern Illinois.