Discover the Forgotten Tunnels Hidden Beneath Rockford, Illinois

Did you know that a whole underground tunnel system exists under the streets of Rockford, Illinois?

Rockford's Best Kept Secret

The other day I fell down another abandoned-places-in-Illinois rabbit hole, and I came across this doozy from Decayingmidwest on YouTube...

Ok, I have lived in the Rockford area my ENTIRE life, and I am slightly obsessed with photos and videos of old abandoned places. How did I not know there were underground tunnels through the city?!?

When I went on a hunt for more information about exactly where these tunnels exist in Rockford and for what purpose they served I discovered two things pretty quickly;

1. A lot of long term Rockford residents do know that these "secret" tunnels exist.
2. There are several different stories about what the tunnels were used for.

Where to Find Underground Tunnels in Rockford

Before we get to some of the known locations of underground tunnels throughout Rockford, I need to share this important reminder;

Under no circumstances should you enter these tunnels! By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

The best information I found about the locations of these underground tunnels, actually came from current or former Rockford residents who commented on Decayingmidwest's video or an Our City, Our Story Facebook post from 2013.

Here are some of the comments I found incredibly fascinating;

I used to be the maintenance man at the old Faust Landmark Hotel downtown Rockford. The basement was equipped with an old bowling alley along with many rooms and tunnels. One room was specifically for Al Capone who liked to eat alone. The tunnels that ran under the old Faust Motel went for city blocks. 4th St to Jefferson, and estate to the river all under that whole area is tunnels.

Those underground tunnels are actually old steam tunnels. Downtown Rockford use to be heated by steam and a lot of older machinery ran off of steam also.

I believe Rockford was also an underground railway safe place.

Rockford use to be one of the biggest targets during the cold War. Tons of industry and manufacturing made it a high target. They would actually plant trees and grow grass on top of buildings so if enemy planes would try and drop bombs it would just look like vegetation from above.

There was one by the Courthouse and one under West State to Lincoln Park School.

There are tunnels under Coronado Performing Arts Center too.

I went to Morse Kennedy school on 11st.and had to go under a tunnel to cross the street.

Tunnel under East state in front of Highland school!

So, what do YOU think? Were these tunnels used for steam, transporting illegal liquor, travelling through the Underground Railroad, or to avoid being seen during the Cold War?

If you have any info on the locations and purposes of Rockford's abandoned tunnels, I sure would love to hear your stories! Send us an app message...

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