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18 replies

Some information for Joliet Rocket passengers

ZettZettOGR Forum Member

If anyone is coming to Joliet for the Joliet Rocket this weekend I thought I would give you some information on the area. If anyone has any questions just ask and I can help you out. I meant to post this weeks ago but never got around to it.

Hotels) If you are grabbing a hotel for the weekend, steer clear of the hotels in the McDonough/Larkin area. There is a Red Roof Inn, Motel 6, Budget Inn Express.. I would avoid these hotels. If you are booked at the Clarion you will be ok. I would recommend the hotels in west Joliet off of Interstate 80 and Houbolt Rd. Also I saw some said they booked a room at Harrah's. That should be fine as well.

Parking Downtown) You can park at the meters on Saturday and Sunday for free. They will flash expired but you dont need to pay them on weekends. The sun sets at 8:30pm so most passengers should be gone by then. Just in case you are out after dark I would not recommend walking alone back to your car if you are parked South and East of the tracks to the southeast of the old Union Station. We dont have a LOT of problems over there, but I would not park there so Ill say the same thing to you. I would recommend parking to the northwest of the old Union Station.

Safety Concerns) If you are doing some watching alone, I would steer clear of the Washington Street area. If you want to watch near the Joliet Station I would set up on the north side of the tracks near Joliet Central High School. I am just stating this because I would not take my family to the area south of the tracks. Overall Joliet is a safe city and trains run to Chicago and back daily with next to no problems. The area to the south of the tracks just happens to be an area where there is a lot of activity especially this time of year. Just be aware of your surroundings.

What to see in the area) The old Joliet Prison is worth driving by. Built by civil war POWs, blues brothers and prison break was filmed there. You cannot go in but its pretty cool to see. And its free.

-Joliet Historical Museum - They have some interesting things in there so if your really into local history stuff its worth a visit. If your not I would pass.

-Harrah's and Hollywood Casino - $$$

-Old Joliet Union Station - Used now for private weddings and they are building a brewery inside. If its open its worth walking inside to see. Great place to watch trains, Im sure you have seen this station in pictures before.

-Rialto - Amazing theater downtown Joliet. I am not sure if there are any shows this weekend but this is one of the most beautiful theaters in the world. Blows away anything Chicago has.

FOOD) "Heros West" on I-80 and Houbolt. Tons of beer on tap, great burgers.

-"Merichka's" on Theodore in Crest Hill. Most famous resturant around here, known for poorboys.

-"Juliets" downtown Joliet. Decent Italian, very nice inside.

-"Joes Hot Dogs" Plainfield Rd. and Black Rd. in Joliet. Carry out only hot dogs, fries and onion rings. Famous in the area and a weekly stop.

 

Just posting off the top of my head here. Any questions just ask away.

Last edited by Zett
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ZettZettOGR Forum Member
Tommy posted:

Whenever I see derogatory remarks about a business it bothers me. The names with the derogatory comments end up in a google search engine forever. Why should certain named motels/hotels be avoided? It is not appropriate to post such comments without an explanation.

Just giving a heads up that unless your looking for bed bugs, drugs, prostitutes, or to be the victim of a robbery that area should be avoided.

Nick ChillianisNick ChillianisOGR Forum Member
Zett posted:
Tommy posted:

Whenever I see derogatory remarks about a business it bothers me. The names with the derogatory comments end up in a google search engine forever. Why should certain named motels/hotels be avoided? It is not appropriate to post such comments without an explanation.

Just giving a heads up that unless your looking for bed bugs, drugs, prostitutes, or to be the victim of a robbery that area should be avoided.

Admittedly, it's been a very long time since I visited Joliet Union Station (1989) but a local railfan cautioned me about lingering about in the area due to the high level of violent crime. He jokingly told me that the walls of Joliet Prison were there to protect the inmates from the town's residents.

SF steam fanOGR Forum Member

I agree there's nothing wrong with posting about where not to go. Larkin Avenue didn't used to be so bad but it's gotten worse in the last few years. We used to stay at the Quality Inn there but won't anymore. Even the Comfort Inn there on Commerce has gone downhill since my last stay there. From now on it's either the ones up by the mall or I'll stay in Morris.

SG Standard GaugeOGR Forum Member
steam fan posted:

I agree there's nothing wrong with posting about where not to go. Larkin Avenue didn't used to be so bad but it's gotten worse in the last few years. We used to stay at the Quality Inn there but won't anymore. Even the Comfort Inn there on Commerce has gone downhill since my last stay there. From now on it's either the ones up by the mall or I'll stay in Morris.

Comfort Inn was fine this past weekend.   What worries me is driving anywhere,  due to people texting,  calling,  drinking,  etc.  That kind of stuff is the real problem,  vs the "bad part of town", IMHO.

T TommyOGR Forum Member

I encourage anyone to post in-person experiences regarding specific establishments they have actually stayed in. On the other hand, off-hand hearsay uncorroborated statements about bedbugs, can cost a chain (Comfort Inn, where I have stayed dozens of times without complaint) a large amount of money. That isn't very fair. In legal terms that is called libel. That bedbug comment will come up forever when one does a google search on Comfort Inn, from this forum. Again, I encourage anyone to post individual first-hand experiences. I just want to be fair.

Last edited by Tommy
HW Hot WaterOGR Forum Member
Tommy posted:

I encourage anyone to post in-person experiences regarding specific establishments they have actually stayed in. On the other hand, off-hand hearsay uncorroborated statements about bedbugs, can cost a chain (Comfort Inn, where I have stayed dozens of times without complaint) a large amount of money. That isn't very fair. In legal terms that is called libel. That bedbug comment will come up forever when one does a google search on Comfort Inn, from this forum. Again, I encourage anyone to post individual first-hand experiences. I just want to be fair.

So Tommy,,,,,,do you own lots of stock in Comfort Inn?

T TommyOGR Forum Member

Take a valium, hotwater. My comments come under the heading of the reasonable and prudent citizen. I like you, and appreciate very much the time and effort you put into replying to posts. You are an asset to the posting board. I simply believe that hearsay criticism can hurt people unnecessarily. In my old age, I have tended to be a kinder person. I have adopted the philosophy if you don't have anything nice to say, hold your tongue. And no, I have no ownership of a motel.☺

 

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