Boat Ramps

Marinas at Lake Shelbyville

Three marinas are located on the lake, each offering boat rental, guide service, and other amenities.

• Findlay Marina is located in the middle of Lake Shelbyville, four miles east of Findlay. They are a full-service marina providing boat repairs, parts, boat rentals, and seasonal/annual slips. Their gas dock provides bait, food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, apparel, boating and other miscellaneous merchandise. They are currently the only marina providing 90-REC gas on the lake. For more information feel free to visit their website at www.findlaymarina.com.
• Lithia Springs Marina is located at the south end of the lake within the Lithia Springs Recreation Area. It offers covered and open boat slips, full service including marine pump out, a dock store, fishing guide service, and a restaurant. The store carries boating and fishing supplies.
• Sullivan Marina and Campground is located at the north end of the lake, 3.2 miles south of Sullivan. It features 200 covered and open slips, boating and fishing supplies, boat launching, and fishing guide services. For the camper, there are 200 camp sites with water and electric hookups, showers, trailer dump station, and restaurant. Plenty of recreation opportunities are available both at the marina and nearby. An in-ground swimming pool, playground, and volleyball court are located on the grounds. A beach and hiking trails are located nearby. Motel suites have been added to the complex. These suites, available throughout the year, offer 700 square feet of space with kitchenettes.

Lake Shelbyville Boat Rafting Policy

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police, local law enforcement, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and other agencies on the Lake Shelbyville Water Safety Task Force Team recently evaluated the Lake Shelbyville Boat Rafting Policy. This policy is considered final and will stay in place until certain circumstances require the task force team to re-evaluate it. This policy was put in place in 2008 to help ensure a safer and more family friendly environment.

Lake Shelbyville Boat Rafting Policy

The Lake Shelbyville Boat Rafting Policy is as follows:

• Up to five boats are allowed in a raft without requiring a special use permit. For the purposes of this policy a raft is defined as two or more boats tied together.
• No more than 50 people will be allowed on any raft of boats that consists of five boats or less.
• No more than four persons per boat will be allowed for each additional boat over five. For example eight boats in a raft would be limited to a total of 62 persons in a raft.
• Required distance between each raft of boats is 150 feet.
• Life jackets are to be worn at all times on rafts greater than five boats unless person is below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
• Everyone in the water associated with a raft greater than five boats must have a US Coast Guard approved properly fitted life jacket or Type IV throwable device in their personal possession at all times.
• Kegs containing alcoholic beverages or portable PA systems are not allowed.
• A Special Use Permit, which is free of charge, will be required for a raft of boats that consist of more than five boats and up to 20 boats.

• No drones are permitted on Lake Shelbyville property without a Special Use Permit from the Lake Shelbyville Project Office.

• Permit must be requested at least 7 days and no more than 5 weeks in advance

The permit can be obtained by visiting or calling the Lake Shelbyville Project Office at 217-774-3951 ext. 7048.

The office is located on the east end of the Lake Shelbyville Main Dam off of IL Route 16 east of Shelbyville and a rafting permit can be obtained Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Information needed for the permit is name, address, and phone number of person requesting permit, number of boats in the raft, location on Lake Shelbyville where boats will be rafted (primary and alternate location), date(s) when boats will be rafted, and state registration number and owner or operator of every boat in the raft.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Lake Shelbyville Boat Rafting Policy contact the Lake Shelbyville Visitors Assistance Department by calling 217-774-3951 Ext. 7048 or emailing lakeshelbyville@usace.army.mil.