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December 2022 by Mary J.
We walked in early on a weekday and were greeted with one of the most memorable owners ever! We had coffee and bloody Mary's and the most enjoyable 2 hour conversation. It was well worth the trip and a story for the telling.
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August 2022 by Taylor B
To say that two 81-year-old retirees would feel out of place in a place like this is a huge understatement. But friends said our visit to Galena wouldn't be complete without taking a peek at what goes on at Council Hill Station. The address is listed as 6521 North Hill Road in Scales Mound. But it isn't located in Scales Mound. The fact is Council Hill Station is located 12 miles northeast of Galena, 2 1/2 miles off the West Stagecoach Trail at North Ford Road, halfway between Galena and Scales Mound, near Galena Cellars Vineyard. Open from noon to 5 Tuesday through Friday and 10 to 10 on Saturday and Sunday, it is Illinois' version of Woodstock revisited. Established in 1854, this is a unique and historic 1850s general store/railway station with a silo, ruin of a woolen mill and barn on the east fork of the Galena River. Today, it is a popular watering hole and music venue featuring food, 90-plus beers and live music year-round. It is famous for its picnic basket concerts beginning at noon on Saturday and Sunday. For $5 at the gate, visitors can bring their coolers, BYOB, picnic baskets and lawn chairs. Think of Ravinia without the pizzazz. Other events are the country breakfast at 9 on Saturday, summer barn dances at 2 on Saturday and Sunday and live music from 1 to 5 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It's not our kind of music but Council Hill Station offers a wonderful landscape for people-watching.
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July 2022 by Jason Adams
Great little place to visit. Lots of history here. The owners went out of their way to make us welcome. Kind of a place that time forgot. Definitely will visit again.
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May 2022 by Chris Canelake
I’ve always always enjoyed coming to Council Hill Station! Great music, beautiful historic setting, fascinating and cozy interiors and beautiful country experience in the outdoors. Hosts Jaime and Gladdy are talented, welcoming, and genuinely good folks! Always, always a fun time!
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January 2022 by Lori Lensch
This place is a blast! Great music and fun. You have to make this part of a road trip!
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January 2022 by Jim McGuffey
A good place to relax with friends and enjoy music with great musicians!
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November 2021 by Chris Canelake
Amazing place to wander around and hear some great music!
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October 2021 by Susan M.
Ok. Weirdest thing ever happened to us at Council hill Station. I was lookin forward to some live music so we roll up at about 630pm on a Sunday, while we were visiting Galena, to no more than 2 cars in the parking lot and about 8 people on the porch of an original general store . With my BFF and hubby in tow, I politely ask if there's music and it turns out we missed it as the band only performed til about 5. Dang it. So I asked if my party of three can go in and see the place since we made the trip and that's when a real nice lady brought us in for a tour and the gentleman in the rocker asked us what we'd like to drink! Now we're talkin'!! We were shown around the store, the old post office, we were told stories about the history of the place and the jail in the basement and toured the rest of the property outside. There is an old grist mill, a wooden silo, a couple barns - one of which is used as the music hall. Not used currently due to covid, but it is an enormous space with mismatched chairs and tables, a bar and every surface of the walls were covered in ink from previous patrons. An outdoor stage sits on the riverbed. Lawn chairs are strewn about. This place looks like it would be a real fun time! We went back in and the owners each picked an instrument to perform a few tunes for us before we left! We had fun chatting with them and singing along. We left after dark, VERY dark in those parts but those bright stars look real nice in the country! Do yourself a favor and stop on by. You'll be glad you did!
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October 2021 by David Young (Chicago Dave)
The friendliest people and great music.... They welcome people to bring a guitar or whatever.
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September 2021 by Mark Heffernan
Absolute MUST when visiting Galena. Historical masterpiece and live music by Jamie!
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August 2021 by Gabe Schillman
incredible experience all around! words cannot describe and pictures will never do it justice.
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August 2021 by Melissa Johnson Walker
The atmosphere and people are so friendly. Very talented musicians. The owners were so gracious and took us on a tour of the property and played us some music even though we came after they closed cause they didn’t want us to miss out. How amazing!!
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February 2021 by Joe C.
Very interesting place full of good times and history. Stop for a snack or stay for the evening entertainment. You will feel like you going back to a simpler time when things were easier.
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February 2021 by Robert Hill
A few of us stopped here this past Saturday. Owner was very helpful in getting us taken care of while we mostly just needed to use the restrooms. VERY wonderful setting for an event.
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September 2020 by WI_Beach_Bums_2K
Jamie Jones has been playing live music in the New Diggings-Galena-Council Hill area since the late 1980’s. We try to stop by for a cold beer and show when our schedule allows....always a great time!
Great place to meet travelers to the tri-State area as many customers stumble upon this hidden gem during visits to Dubuque & Galena.
