By Joelle Jenkins
It stands out like a beacon to giant fried potatoes and monumental hamburgers. It’s the world’s largest ketchup bottle, and it welcomes motorists heading from St. Louis to the suburb of Collinsville, Ill. This community, the fifth fastest growing in the region, has a population of 25,000 and is just 12 minutes east of downtown St. Louis. But even with its close proximity to the city, Collinsville remains a tight-knit community.
Collinsville’s economy is thriving, and it finds itself competing with nearby O’Fallon and Fairview Heights to lure new businesses. Leading the menu of new commercial projects is the future Collinsville Crossing Shopping Center at the intersection of Route 157 and Interstate 55/70. The $70 million, 53-acre development by St. Louis-based Koman Properties is slated to have a 425,000-square-foot, multi-tenant retail center. Another main revenue attraction for the city will be that of the Kerasotes Showplace Theater, a multiplex movie theater set to open in 2006.
Tourism is growing. One major attraction and meeting place for sports fans is Fairmount Park (9301 Collinsville, 314-436-1516, www.fairmountpark.com), a thoroughbred racetrack. Another well-known gathering spot is the Gateway Convention Center (1 Gateway Center, 618-345-8998, www.gatewaycenter.com), which recently received $7.1 million for a 35,000-square-foot building expansion and possible hotel addition. Across the street from the Gateway Center is the ever-popular Splash City Family Water Park, the pride of the Collinsville Area Recreation District (10 Gateway, 618-346-7529, www.collinsvillerec.com).
For good old-fashioned country line dancing, head to Wild Country (17 Gateway, 618-346-6775, www.wildcountrynightclub.com), which hosts a Saturday night broadcast on KMOV (Channel 4). One of the town’s most unusual annual events is the International Horseradish Festival (www.horseradishfestival.com), held in June to celebrate the area’s claim as the “Horseradish Capital of the World.” For the archaeologist at heart or just the historically curious, one must-visit attraction is the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (30 Ramey, 618-346-5160, www.cahokiamounds.com), which is the largest prehistoric Indian city north of Mexico.
Hungry? Visit Porter’s Steakhouse (1000 Eastport Plaza, 618-345-2400, www.porterssteakhouse.com), the city’s most upscale restaurant, offering fine dining Chicago style. If you need a little something sweet to cap off your meal, stop by Kruta’s Bakery (300 Saint Louis, 618-344-1115) to pick up some of the area’s best gooey butter cake, a sweet St. Louis original that has made the trek across the river.
