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Experience Lake of Egypt & Southern Illinois!

Lake Of Egypt

Lake Of Egypt

The lake never disappoints! From floating on the water, fishing, tubing, the live music in the marinas and late night star-gazing, there’s an activity for all ages and people to take part in! Our properties have access to a dock to park your own boat at and the local ramps are just down the road. Don’t have your own boat but interested in participating in lake activities? You can rent a pontoon on the lake or we have a boat captain that can take you all over the lake to do anything you want! Click here to learn more about our boat dock and the experiences the lake provides.
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Explore the Lake!

Experience Lake of Egypt & Southern Illinois!

Lake of Egypt

The lake never disappoints! From floating on the water, fishing, tubing, the live music in the marinas and late night star-gazing, there’s an activity for all ages and people to take part in! Our properties have access to a dock to park your own boat at and the local ramps are just down the road. Don’t have your own boat but interested in participating in lake activities? You can rent a pontoon on the lake or we have a boat captain that can take you all over the lake to do anything you want! Click here to learn more about our boat dock and the experiences the lake provides.

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Explore the Lake!

Please Note...

Your trek down to the lake will be an adventure in itself! To access the dock and all the water accessories, guests will have to journey down a steep hill. We’ve made the trip a little easier with long set of sturdy, wooden stairs with a handrail.

Once you get down there, the view alone is so worth the jaunt down those stairs!

Hiking & Adventure

Located in the Shawnee National Forest, you are in nature’s backyard when you walk out the front door. Ferne Clyffe is located just a few miles down the road and we are a short drive away from intriguing adventures from cave explorations and the Garden of the Gods. Learn more about the area and the available tour guide to plan your adventure today!

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Wine Tasting & Local Breweries

Southern Illinois is famous for the Shawnee Wine Trail and the vineyards surrounding the area. 11 wineries populate the area and visitors can follow the trail from Carbondale to just north of Anna and swing back up towards Murphysboro for a fun day of wine tasting and activities! Click above to learn more about the Trail and each of the wineries along it!

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Incredible Golf Courses

Bring your clubs and play from a selection of courses that are sure to be like nothing you have played before! Enjoy the great outdoors and perfect your game! The natural beauty and terrain of Southern Illinois makes for a fun day on the links while taking in your surroundings. Click here to learn more about our local golf courses that make for a fun trip when visiting!

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Things to do During Those Rainy Days

Every so often, the weather at the lake doesn’t always cooperate and the rain keeps everyone inside. Don’t let that stop you from experiencing adventure and fun during your stay! There are plenty of things to do during your time in and around Lake of Egypt, from indoor waterparks and sports, to museums and other historical elements of Southern Illinois. Take a look and see what you can do just in case you have less than perfect weather during your stay!
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About Red Roof Retreats

Tucked away in the rolling hills of the Shawnee National Forest, Red Roof Retreats offers the perfect space to explore the outdoors, reconnect with nature, or simply unplug from the busy world.

We currently offer five unique rental options in Goreville, Illinois:


Guests at our lakefront and near-lake properties enjoy access to canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, paddleboats, and a large shared dock. Firepits, hammocks, and starry night skies come standard. Many families and retreat groups rent multiple homes so they can stay close — while still having their own private space.

We’re located in the quiet town of Goreville, just south of Marion, IL, and close to some of the best hiking, biking, wineries, and festivals in Southern Illinois.

Whether you’re escaping the city for a relaxing weekend or diving into outdoor adventure, we’ve created stays that are equal parts cozy, fun, and stress-free. You’ll also get a curated guide with our favorite parks, trails, lake activities, and local events, and we’re always just a text away to help make your getaway easy and memorable.

-Kris & Matt Shellabarger, Red Roof Retreats

Lake of Egypt, Red Roof Retreats collage of fun experiences - Goreville, IL

A Sportsmen's Paradise

Popular recreation activities include fishing, mushroom hunting, and variety of hunting activities. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish species, including bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill, making it a great spot for anglers.

Although there may be others but anglers can expect to find a variety of fish including Black Crappie, Bluegill, Carp, Channel Catfish, Hybrid Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Crappie and Yellow Bullhead in Lake of Egypt.

The Shawnee National Forest, USDA Forest Service is the largest public landowner in the state. This fact, combined with its diversity of habitats, offers sports enthusiasts a range of hunting opportunities. Each year thousands of hunters are attracted to the forest to hunt everything from trophy bucks to upland game and waterfowl.

Stop by our GIFT SHOP!

Red Roof Treats

Red Roof Retreats’ gift shop (“Red Roof Treats”) is open for business! Stop by and browse our selections of Lake of Egypt Souvenirs, fun gifts made by local artists and craftsmen, or even those easy to forget necessity items! If you need something, just ring the doorbell or call ahead! (618) 530-5236

Our guests rave about our retreats!

“stayed for 2 nights to celebrate my birthday. the cabin was exceptionally clean, smelled nice, the bed was so soft, and the owners had condiments stocked such as sugar, and coffee. the owners were very nice. we will definitely be back to stay again at one of the other cabins they own.”
Mary Lou WheatonOctober 2023 (Red Roof Log Cabin)
“Kris's place was spotless and looks exactly like the pictures! having access to so many kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats was great, but we were more focused on hanging out on the patio. Grill worked great and the place was very cozy!”
EricSeptember 2023 (Red Roof Log Cabin)
“We rented both the red roof cabin and the tree house. The location is convenient to visit between the properties. The kids had fun with all the lake toys. The cabin had a surprising amount of inside space to sit and visit.”
CaraAugust 2023 (Red Roof Log Cabin)
“5 of my friends and I stayed here for a little weekend get away. We did the wine trail the first day and hung out by the water the second day! It was absolutely beautiful, loved the vibe of the cabin. It was really clean and plenty of space for all of us. The walk to the water is a little steep so be prepared for a workout if you plan on going down there. Thanks Kris for the hospitality hope to stay again in the future.”
CaraSeptember 2022 (Red Roof Log Cabin)
“Wonderful stay with lake and water sport access. Kris’s hospitality and communication were great. We loved that our dogs were welcome without additional fees. Close to hiking at Ferne Clyffe State Park, a little further out from more popular Shawnee hikes. Night sky by the fire was gorgeous on a clear night. Would definitely stay again!”
MeghanAugust 2022 (Red Roof Log Cabin)
“The Tiny Moon Cabin is, well tiny, but was cozy and accommodating to everything we really needed for a great weekend away. The lake front view is spectacular and on top of a big hill that goes down to the water. The water is nice for swimming and Kris and Matt provide a lot of “lake stuff” like paddle boards, kayaks and rafts. The pier is even cool to just sit on and look out into the hills, trees and water. The deck for the cabin and fire pit area a few steps below it also provides great places to sit and relax and take in the views. Their places across the street looked really nice as well. They’ve done a wonderful job with the homes on their property and are ideal lake-house getaways. Also, great for cat lovers like me as their two cats Mittens and Scooter will pop over for friendly scritches and belly rubs!!”
AnnAugust 2022 (Little Moon Tiny Lakefront Cabin)
“Beautiful cozy retreat that was perfect for a weekend getaway! Kris provided everything that you could possibly need for your stay! We would definitely stay again, and highly recommend this place!”
JaninaAugust 2023 (Little Moon Tiny Lakefront Cabin)
“This was the perfect spot for our vacation with the kids. Our son loved "his secret bedroom" - it was the highlight of his trip. We had a small issue while there and Kris immediately fixed it as well as went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied. I can't recommend this place enough!”
AmySeptember 2023 (Jaybird Treehouse Cabin)
“We enjoyed our time here at both cabins. Our party increased as we had more guests arrive our second day so we ended up getting both the treehouse and cabin as the tree house would have been tight for all of us but it was so nice and convenient that they were right next door. The private dock with the recreational equipment was our favorite part of the trip, there are so many deer and wildlife out and about and the neighborhood is very peaceful, everyone was super friendly. We ended up going on a few hikes and checking out some small towns and enjoyed our days just hanging out by the lake. Would come back again”
JosephSeptember 2023 (Jaybird Treehouse Cabin)
“We enjoyed all the comforts of home in this high end treehouse experience. Unique and full of fun touches. Such a lovely space in a great location. Many things to do either walking distance or drivable for day trips. Super charming and comfortable. We loved making our own ice cream too -- great touch!”
NatalieMarch 2023 (Jaybird Treehouse Cabin)
“What a beautiful home with a private dock and thoughtful amenities! The hosts are very responsive and quick to help if you have questions or need something. We stayed for a week and were sad to leave. We enjoyed the canoe and kayaks, the fishing rods, fire pit, and swimming off the dock. Lots of beautiful hiking trails nearby, too. It was the perfect place for a relaxing family vacation.”
ElizabethJune 2023 (Nature's Way Getaway)
“We had an amazing experience for an SIU gather. Far far better than getting a hotel. We took advantage of the kayak and canoe and the fire pit. Fully stocked kitchen allowed us to make great meals for our family gathering. Kris is incredibly communicative and helpful. Even helped me get a last minute graduation cake that wa beyond my expectations. So serene and peaceful. I think the wrap around deck was my favorite. The house is so uniquely set up. Bedrooms are beautifully appointed. Loved seeing the deer many times. Would come back in a heartbeat. Thanks Kris and Matt!!”
JanetMay 2023 (Nature's Way Getaway)
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