McDonough County Tourism Reaches Record $51 Million in Visitor Spending in 2025

New tourism impact report highlights record $51 million in visitor spending, supporting 569 jobs and generating $89.6 million in total economic activity.

MACOMB, IL, UNITED STATES, November 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Visitors are spending more time, and more money, in McDonough County, and a new tourism impact report shows that the county’s visitor economy is stronger than ever.

According to data provided in the 2025 Tourism Economic Impact report, direct visitor spending in McDonough County reached a record $51 million in 2025, surpassing the previous high of $49.4 million set in 2023. Spending increased 6.4% over 2024, marking the county’s strongest year-over-year growth since the post-pandemic rebound of 2022.

The latest numbers also show just how far McDonough County’s tourism industry has come since the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitor spending fell to $37.6 million in 2020 before steadily climbing in the years that followed. By 2025, spending had grown 7.8% above 2019 levels, demonstrating a full recovery and continued growth beyond the county’s pre-pandemic tourism economy.

“People are discovering that you don’t have to travel far to have an unforgettable experience,” said Jock Hedblade, Executive Director of the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “McDonough County has always had great stories, great people and great places to visit. We’re seeing more visitors recognize what makes this area special and choose to spend a weekend exploring it.”

TOURISM MEANS MORE FOR MCDONOUGH COUNTY

The impact of tourism extends well beyond hotel rooms and restaurants.

In 2025, tourism activity in McDonough County supported an estimated 569 jobs and generated $89.6 million in total economic output, including the indirect and induced economic activity created as visitor spending circulates throughout the local economy. Tourism also generated an estimated $8.2 million in combined state and local tax revenue, including $3.4 million in local tax revenue.

In other words, when visitors come to McDonough County for a weekend, attend a festival, grab dinner downtown, stay at a local hotel or explore a local attraction, that spending continues to ripple through the community.

CREATING MORE REASONS TO VISIT

While the economic impact report measures the results rather than the specific reasons behind them, Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia points to several developments that have helped create new reasons for visitors to make McDonough County part of their travel plans.

One of the most distinctive additions is Macombopoly, the larger-than-life interactive Monopoly experience located on Macomb’s Historic Downtown Courthouse Square.

Inspired by Macomb native Elizabeth “Lizzie” Magie, whose Landlord’s Game helped lay the foundation for the Monopoly game we know today, Macombopoly transforms the downtown square into a massive, interactive game board. Visitors use a free app to navigate the square, answer trivia, discover local history and interact with larger-than-life game pieces and sculptures—including giant dice, a Lincoln stovepipe hat and a life-size sculpture of Magie. The permanent attraction is free and available year-round.

Macombopoly is already making an impression. More than 2,700 people have actively participated in the interactive experience, while countless others have stopped by to snap photos and explore the larger-than-life game pieces. Visitors from 46 states have taken part in the fun, putting Macomb on the map as a unique destination where guests can play, explore and experience a piece of the community’s history.

“Macombopoly gives people something they can’t experience anywhere else,” said Jock Hedblade. “It’s fun, it’s unexpected, and it gives visitors a reason to explore the downtown square while learning the story of one of Macomb’s most fascinating historical figures.”

At the same time, McDonough County is embracing the growing appeal of small-town weekend getaways. For visitors looking to step away from the pace of larger cities, communities throughout the county offer a combination of local restaurants, outdoor recreation, historic attractions, shopping and unique experiences, all within an easy weekend escape.

And increasingly, there are more reasons to make the trip.

From established community celebrations to new festivals and special events, McDonough County’s event calendar continues to give visitors reasons to return throughout the year. Events bring people from neighboring communities and counties into Macomb and surrounding communities, where they can experience the event itself while also discovering local restaurants, shops, attractions and other things to do.

A RECORD YEAR AND MORE TO COME

The 2025 report marks the strongest year in the seven-year period analyzed, giving McDonough County a strong foundation heading into the future. The report notes that the 2025 rebound represents the sharpest single-year gain since 2022 and points to renewed visitor interest and local promotion as positive signs for the county’s tourism economy.

For visitors, the message is simple: there’s never been a better time to discover Unforgettable Forgottonia.

Whether it’s playing Macombopoly on the historic downtown square, attending a local festival, exploring McDonough County’s history and outdoor attractions, or simply getting away for a weekend, visitors will find plenty of reasons to make the trip, and plenty of reasons to come back.
Plan your next getaway at VisitForgottonia.com.

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ABOUT MACOMBOPOLY
Macombopoly is a larger-than-life, app-powered Monopoly experience played on the downtown square of Macomb, Illinois. Set on the historic Courthouse Square, the 170,000-square-foot experience pays tribute to Lizzie Magie, the Macomb-born inventor who created The Landlord’s Game in 1903, the direct predecessor to the Monopoly board game. The game is powered by eATLAS and free to play. More at visitforgottonia.com.

ABOUT VISIT UNFORGETTABLE FORGOTTONIA
Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia is the destination marketing organization for McDonough County and the surrounding region of west-central Illinois, promoting the area’s history, attractions, and experiences to visitors from across the state and beyond. More at visitforgottonia.com.

Jock Hedblade
Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia
info@visitforgottonia.com

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