Log Cabins Opening and Under Construction

I spoke with Jim Grissley of Olde Squat Inn this afternoon about some pictures promoting log cabin stays in Southern Illinois.

Grissley's establishment is a virtual village of reconstructed historic log cabins a few miles east and a bit south of Johnston City and northeast of Marion.

The picture is of the inside of the "newest" cabin, the Church Cabin, so-named because much of the lumber used for trim inside came from an old church.

I took the picture last fall and the cabin opened for rentals this spring. That gives him eight rooms in five cabins.

Jim's cabins aren't the only ones in the county. Devil's Kitchen Cabins opened last fall with one cabin on private property between Grassy Road and Devil's Kitchen Lake.

The demand is so great that they started on a second cabin this summer. It should be ready for rent either by late winter or early spring.

Win One, Lose One

Just as we win a victory with air service resuming to St. Louis next month from Williamson County Regional Airport, Mesa Airlines announced this week they will be suspending air service to Chicago.

Airport Manager Doug Kimmel called the decision an "unfortunate situation" in an interview with the Southern Illinoisan.

Mesa came to Williamson County Airport in February as a result of the I-Fly fund that provided more than $100,000 each to the airports in Marion, Quincy and Decatur. Thomas Bacon, vice president of planning for Mesa Air Group said operating costs were too high and the exit is part of a strategy that will affect services throughout the company.

"We're very disappointed we have to leave the market," Bacon said. "The community's been great."

The only silver lining in the deal is that with the Marion-Decatur-Chicago route officially dead the possibility exists for a new Marion-Springfield-Chicago service which should service a greater demand.

St. Louis Air Service Resumes Next Month

Air service from Williamson County Regional Airport in Marion to Lambert Field in St. Louis will resume November 4.

Initially there will be only two departures and two arrivals at the airport with a morning flight leaving at 6:07 a.m. and arriving in St. Louis at 6:45 a.m. and an afternoon flight leaving Marion at 1:43 p.m. and arriving at Lambert at 2:21 p.m.

Flights from St. Louis at 12:55 p.m. with arrival in Marion at 1:33 p.m. and an evening flight leaving Lambert at 7:30 p.m. and arriving in Marion at 8:08 p.m.

Reservations can be made online at a variety of travel site, or directly from the airline at www.flygreatlakes.com. Fliers can also call the Great Lakes' reservation center at (800) 554-5111 or their local travel agent.