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Holiday Shores Lake, Illinois, USA

Also known as:  Holiday Lake

Holiday Shores Lake is a sprawling 430-acre, man-made lake in Madison County, Illinois. Formed by the damming of Joulters Creek in 1965, this unique lake offers 17 miles of pristine shoreline and endless outdoor recreation. Holiday Shores Lake, or Holiday Lake, as it is sometimes called, is a private lake just north of Edwardsville. Limited to property owners, membership in the Holiday Shores Lake Association has its…
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    • All About Holiday Shores Lake, IL

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Illinois - Southwest Illinois -

    Holiday Shores Lake is a sprawling 430-acre, man-made lake in Madison County, Illinois. Formed by the damming of Joulters Creek in 1965, this unique lake offers 17 miles of pristine shoreline and endless outdoor recreation.

    Holiday Shores Lake, or Holiday Lake, as it is sometimes called, is a private lake just north of Edwardsville. Limited to property owners, membership in the Holiday Shores Lake Association has its rewards: with membership comes access to three private sandy beaches, a baseball field, tennis courts, a lakeside pavilion, a playground, and a boat ramp. The boat ramp is operated by an independent marina, but can be used by Holiday Shores Lake members. Although a private lake, there are some vacation rentals and real estate for sale. Guests of members can also use facilities on the lake.

    Fishing in Holiday Shores Lake is equally enjoyable from shore or boat. Anglers will find a variety of sport fish to include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, catfish, and crappie. Exploring the lake by motorized boat, sailboat or canoe is also a fantastic way to take in the lake and enjoy the calm water and cool afternoon breeze. Note: Although most fish taken from Illinois lakes and streams are safe to eat, refer to the Illinois Fish Advisory (link below) before eating fish caught from any Illinois waterway.

    Visitors and residents of Holiday Shores Lake looking for additional outdoor recreation will find that surrounding Madison County, in the southwest region of Illinois, has many parks and recreational opportunities. Horseshoe Lake State Park is home to the second-largest natural lake in Illinois after Lake Michigan. This 2,960-acre park offers bird watching, nature trails, camping, fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities. The Olin Nature Preserve in the town of Godfrey offers 300 acres of tall-grass prairie and woodlands for bird watching and wildlife viewing.

    Less than an hour’s drive from Holiday Shores Lake is the bustling city of St. Louis, Missouri. The St. Louis area offers plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy nature. The city of St. Louis has more than 100 parks, including Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country. The city also stakes claim to one of the nation’s top-rated zoos, and its cultural institutions rank among the finest. There is also no shortage of great restaurants, nightclubs or unique shops. Music fans will find everything from blues to rock to hip hop. The downtown area boasts great museums, art galleries, and cultural festivals. Shopping in St. Louis includes everything from small independent shops to large malls.

    If the big city isn’t to your liking, the historic town of Edwardsville lies just south of Holiday Shores Lake. The third oldest town in Illinois, Edwardsville has a well known downtown historic district and a number of historical landmarks. Edwardsville also has parks, hiking trails, and a 46-acre nature center. Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville is also located on the edge of town.

    Spending a few days on sparkling Holiday Shores Lake will be sure to relax your mind and body. With its moderate climate, beautiful scenery and abundance of water related activities, Holiday Shores Lake is the perfect place to visit and explore or relocate to and call home.

    Things to Do at Holiday Shores Lake

    These are some activities in the Holiday Shores Lake, IL area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Tennis
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Park
    • Museum
    • Playground
    • Shopping

    What Kind of Fish Are in Holiday Shores Lake?

    Holiday Shores Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Striped Bass
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    Find Places to Stay at Holiday Shores Lake

    If you’re considering a Holiday Shores Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Holiday Shores Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Holiday Shores Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Holiday Shores Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Holishor Association, Inc.

    Surface Area: 430 acres

    Shoreline Length: 17 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 482 feet

    Maximum Depth: 28 feet

    Water Volume: 6,610 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1965

    Drainage Area: 126,000 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Eutrophic

    Holiday Shores Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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