Central Illinois Open Water Swim

In 1913, the village of Hudson ended a long-standing tradition where a local herdsman would walk the streets every morning to collect cattle and guide them to distant pastures. This rhythmic, daily migration through the town marked the end of an era, yet the landscape around Hudson continues to hold echoes of such deep-rooted agricultural history. Today, swimmers gathered for the Central Illinois Open Water Swim navigate the quiet basin of Evergreen Lake, a sprawling 925-acre reservoir created by the deliberate damming of Six Mile Creek.

Beneath the surface

While you scan the horizon for the orange tetrahedron turn buoys, you are effectively swimming over a transformed topography. To build the nearby Lake Bloomington in 1930, city planners ordered the clearing of over 50,000 trees from the basin; while the logs were hauled away by rail, the remaining brush was burned, forever altering the lakebed. This history of landscape manipulation is a stark contrast to the calm, manageable waters of Evergreen Lake, which spans roughly four miles in length. The name of the nearby Money Creek adds a layer of local mystery to the area, with folklore suggesting either a hidden pioneer fortune buried along its banks or a cache discovered by Indigenous people long before the reservoir existed.

Race day mechanics

Organized annually by the Central Illinois Masters Swim Team, the event offers 1.2-mile and 2.4-mile distances, both utilizing a triangular course designed for efficiency and safety. The in-water start at the beach allows for a clean entry, minimizing the scramble often found at crowded lakefronts. Regarding equipment, the director maintains strict oversight: if the water feels particularly warm, wetsuits are prohibited to ensure fair play, while cooler conditions allow for their use at the official's discretion. The 70 EUR entry fee reflects the logistical commitment required for this specific venue, including dedicated kayak support and the necessary permits for closing sections of the reservoir to boat traffic. Participants are provided with a cap and must undergo mandatory body marking at the check-in tents before the required pre-race briefing. The shoreline itself is a reminder of the area’s heritage, where the historic Five Oaks of the Gildersleeve House once stood as a landmark for travelers in the mid-19th century.