Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Illinois Belknap Mermet Springs

Mermet Springs

Planes, trains, and automobiles have all been sunk as attractions at this Illinois diving spot.

Belknap, Illinois

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Mermet Springs   Mermet Springs
Mermet Springs   Mermet Springs
Mermet Springs   Mermet Springs
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Lurking beneath the murky waters of a flooded Illinois quarry are a number of vehicles that have been sunk into the makeshift lake as strange attractions for divers to explore.

The Mermet Springs diving site is really one of a kind thanks to their penchant for sinking weird relics into the water in order to spice up diving. From the land, the waters appear to be nothing more than another forest lake, but Mermet Springs hides a number of wonders. First there are the vehicles which include a motorcycle, an ambulance, a full semi trailer, and a rail car among others. However the most incredible of these is the Boeing 727 that was dropped in the lake after being used to shoot the film, US Marshals.

In addition to all of the transportation hulks hidden in the green waters, there is also a collection of beastly statues known as the "Petting Zoo" which features animals ranging from lions to eels. The star of this portion is Bruce the Shark, a cartoonish, if still a bit unnerving installation just eight feet below the surface. There are also a number of real fish in the waters including rare paddlefish.

There are diving spots the world over that offer a bevy of natural wonders, but Mermet Springs has embraced the fact that the unnatural can be just as wondrous.    

Illinois Week on Atlas Obscura was created in partnership with Enjoy Illinois as part of the launch of the new Illinois Obscura Society. Sign up to find out more about the back room tours, unusual adventures, and incredible parties that Atlas Obscura will be putting on in Chicago and greater Illinois.

Related Tags

Underwater Sculptures Transportation Illinois Obscura Society Water

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Published

February 20, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Mermet Springs
6724 U.S. 45
Belknap, Illinois, 62908
United States
37.291219, -88.861546
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Super Museum

Metropolis, Illinois

miles away

King Neptune Memorial

Anna, Illinois

miles away

World’s Largest Quilting Needle

Paducah, Kentucky

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Illinois

Illinois

United States

Places 370
Stories 19

Nearby Places

The Super Museum

Metropolis, Illinois

miles away

King Neptune Memorial

Anna, Illinois

miles away

World’s Largest Quilting Needle

Paducah, Kentucky

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Illinois

Illinois

United States

Places 370
Stories 19

Related Stories and Lists

The Fantastical Beauty of Sunken Ruins

ruins

By Dylan Thuras

Related Places

  • Sheffield, England

    The Industry Looping Boat

    Floating on the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal is a contorted canal boat that honors the waterway’s heritage.

  • Underwater Museum at Cape Tarhankut. (Panoramio)

    Olenivka, Crimea

    Underwater Museum at Cape Tarkhankut

    Submerged busts of communist and socialist figures from the USSR.

  • Shipwreck of the Silver Spray

    Chicago, Illinois

    Shipwreck of the Silver Spray

    This historic-shipwreck-cum-diving-spot can still be seen poking its boiler out of the Lake Michigan waters that claimed it.

  • This scenic park on the shores of Lake Ontario is open 24/7.

    Toronto, Ontario

    Sundial Folly

    An enigmatic concrete structure in a lakeside Toronto park raises more questions than answers.

    Sponsored by Destination Toronto
  • Verviers, Belgium

    Verviers Station's Comical Hare and Tortoise Bas-relief

    A humorous work of art making fun of the station's very long construction time.

  • Eliza, standing in the waters of Matilda Bay

    Perth, Australia

    Eliza Sculpture

    A beloved statue of a diving woman in Perth’s Swan River is frequently dressed up in costumes for special occasions.

  • he River Westbourne flows above the station in a large iron conduit.

    London, England

    Sloane Square Tube Station

    One of London's lost rivers runs through a pipe over the tracks of this subway station.

  • Kastellholmen wreck in 2013

    Stockholm, Sweden

    Shipwreck of Kastellholmen

    At low tide, you can see the remains of a 17th-century ship just off a Stockholm island.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.