9 Reasons to Visit Metropolis, a “Super” Destination

As travelers are getting comfortable traveling again, many realize that supporting small destinations through tourism dollars makes a big impact.

The tightknit community of Metropolis, located along the Ohio River in Massac County, is one such place. Despite the pandemic, the town – known as the official home of Superman – sustained its shops and restaurants through 2020, and tourism officials remain optimistic things will return to normal within a few years.

“The spirit of Metropolis is still very strong,” says Trish Steckenrider, executive director of the Greater Metropolis Convention & Visitors Bureau. “All of our businesses are primarily mom-and-pop and/or locally owned, and everyone came together to support each other during the pandemic.”

Here are nine reasons to plan a trip to this Massac County treasure this fall.

1. Fort Massac State Park

A little-known fact about this 1,500-acre park is that it’s home to one of the top disc golf courses in the state (so brush up on your Frisbee skills!). It’s also a popular camping destination, especially in the fall, with gorgeous foliage and views of the Ohio River. (During the pandemic, the park’s shower houses, walking paths and restrooms were upgraded, too.) Fort Massac Visitor Center has a full-size replica of the American fort and a large collection of Native American artifacts.

2. Lois Lane Statue

Superman wouldn’t be complete without his companion. Two blocks down from the Superman statue, there’s a second 9-foot-tall statue made in the likeness of actress Noel Niell, who played Lois Lane in several films and a television series in the 1940s and ’50s.

3. Fort Massac Encampment

One of the largest, best-known events in southern Illinois is back this year after being canceled for the first time in its four-decade history in 2020. On Oct. 16-17, the Fort Massac Encampment will celebrate the pioneer heritage of the first state park in the state (Fort Massac State Park), incorporating the history of the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars. People come from a 400-mile radius to take in war reenactments, crafts, and merchants, and, of course, fantastic food. “The big draw is its authenticity,” Steckenrider says. Every vendor and participant has to be in period-approved clothing from the 1700s, and the food they’re serving has to be proven that it could have been served back in that time. “You’re not going to go there and find a corn dog,” she says.

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4. Fat Edd’s Roadhouse

Famous for its hamburgers and peel-and-eat shrimp, this is one restaurant that every visitor to Metropolis must experience at least once. Here, you can also try a signature drink you’ll only find in this town: a bright-green concoction called the Kryptonite.

5. George Rogers Clark Discovery Trail

Stretching from the Superman statue downtown and weaving through Fort Massac State Park, the George Rogers Clark Discovery Trail is one of the longest paved bike trails in the state, and it’s also handicap accessible. “If you come in the fall, the foliage is unbeatable,” Steckenrider says. “It’s a great way to experience nature.”

6. Superman Square

No surprise – the entire town center honors the Man of Steel. Don’t miss the Super Museum, which features hundreds of collectibles, toys and movie props. You can even stay on theme at The Jones Building, a historic 1908 building converted into a four-suite hotel in 2018 and designed with subtle nods to Metropolis’ claim to fame.

7. Superman Statue

You simply have to stop for a photo by the 15-foot-tall, 4,000-pound bronze statue of Superman, one of the best roadside attractions in the nation (which got a fresh coat of paint during the pandemic). The reason this superhero stands guard over the city? More than 50 years ago, Metropolis entered into an agreement with what is now Warner Bros. to become the official home of Superman, who makes his home in a fictitious Metropolis in the comic strip.

8. Kincaid Mounds

About 30 minutes southeast of Metropolis, this Indian burial site encompasses 105 acres. Take in the large, flat-topped mounds (erected where the houses and temples of the civil and religious elite in the Native American community there stood) from the viewing platform and take time to learn about the area’s culture dating back to 800-1500 A.D.

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9. Mermet Springs Dive Site

If a diving center in the heart of the Midwest comes as a surprise to you, you’re not alone. “You wouldn’t think of this being in Illinois, since we’re not near an ocean – at all,” Steckenrider says. Yet people come from around the country to learn scuba diving in this facility, which is made from a flooded rock quarry. In fall, visitors can carve pumpkins underground. (Serious divers can also explore a sunken Boeing 727 used in the 1998 movie U.S. Marshals.)