Peaches Fan Trail

Are you a Peaches fan, historian, or just curious about what life was like as a Peach in Rockford, IL? Visit the real life places that were significant to the players by following the Peaches Fan Trail!

Fan Trail
Locations

Today, people travel from around the globe to visit Rockford, IL and get a glimpse of the life lived by this famous team. From Beyer Stadium where they played home games, to the hotels and parks they frequented, fans and historians alike can make their way through the trail and leave with a better understanding of a day in the life of a Rockford Peach.

Referred to by the team as the “Peach Orchard,” Beyer Stadium was home to the Rockford Peaches from 1943 to 1954. It was originally built in 1925 to host high school football games and stood until it was demolished in the 1990s. The ticket booth was all that remained until reconstruction began in 2010 with a new backstop, scoreboard, dugouts and diamond. The International Women's Baseball Center plans to continue the restoration project. You can come on down to visit this historic field and may even catch a Rockford Peaches reenactment game played on occasion.

In July of 2022, Rockford honored the Peaches by bringing in artists Jenny Ustich and Atalie Gagnet to paint the Midtown Disctrict mural highlighting the famous team. Not only does the mural beautify the downtown area as part of a series of murals created for the CRE8IV: transformation ART initiative, it serves as a reminder of Rockford's historic richness to local residents and those visiting the region. Make sure to visit this mural and get the perfect selfie on your way through the trail. You may want to check out the dozens of other murals listed on the GoRockford.com website.

A bar prominently featured as a Rockford Peaches hangout in the Prime Video series “A League of Their Own”. The Office is one of the oldest bars in Rockford. It has been a bar since 1907. Now known for vibrant dance music from top DJs every weekend, drag shows, bands and other live performances as well. The Office is a night club, bar and entertainment lounge in the heart of downtown Rockford. Consider venturing here, The Office provides an all-inclusive atmosphere. A great place to celebrate life’s occasions.

Grab a “a beer of your own” at the Prairie Street Brewing Co. PSB serves a delicious Peach Wheat beer in honor of the Rockford Peaches. Dine dockside enjoying the amazing food and beer menu, or inside enjoying the atmosphere of the oldest brewery in the state of Illinois. This historic building was built in 1857 by Jonathan Peacock, who found the location perfect for his brewery and bottling plant due to access to fresh water from an artesian well, and ice from the Rock River. In 1999, the building was purchased and restoration brought the brewery back to life, now serving as a centerpiece in Rockford’s downtown revival.

Built in the 1920s, the Coronado Performing Arts Center is referred to as “Rockford’s Wonder Theatre” due to its beautiful design simulating an outdoor theatre experience. In the 1940s and 1950s it was Rockford's premier movie palace, and a place the Peaches would have gone at night for entertainment. Amazon Prime chose this venue for its Peaches premier event, bringing in actors and producers of the show to celebrate the kickoff of the “A League Of Their Own” miniseries in July of 2022. Today you can visit the theatre and catch an amazing array of entertainment from music guests to comedy acts. If you have a taste for entertainment and history, this is a must-see.

It was common for the Peaches to attend picnics at Sinnissippi Park, often hosted by the Peaches Fans association. The events would be open to the public and take place at the ball diamond where the Peaches would play a short game prior to a playoff game between the top teams in the PAL girls league. Today, Sinnissippi Park is one of Rockford’s standout attractions for its beauty and its band shell which hosts great musical talent all summer long.

Midway Village Museum is a must-see for any Peaches fans and historians alike! The Girls Of Summer exhibit features authentic Peaches memorabilia from uniforms, bats, and gloves to trophies and images, providing a unique journey through the 12-year run of the team in the AAGPBL. For the historians out there, continue on with the Many Faces, One Community exhibit, as well as many others providing an insight into Rockford’s history. And, don’t miss a walk through the historic Victorian era village which transports you back to a whole other era in our country’s history.

The Faust Hotel

Rising above the downtown Rockford skyline, the Faust Hotel is central to the Peaches story. Fans would consistently meet players at events hosted at the Hotel, many times put on by the Peaches Fans association. These, along with other Peaches events, took place at this landmark building built in 1929, and the hotel also hosted guests such as Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy.

Masonic Cathedral

The Masonic Cathedral was a common meeting place for the Peaches Fans association. In addition, money was raised to fund the Peaches with booster events here, including dances, music, movies, and “meet the Peaches.” This historic building on 607 Walnut Street was built in 1869, and stood until 2020 when it was destroyed by a massive fire.

State and Madison Recreation

Another consistent location used by the Peaches Fans association was the Recreation Building on State and Madison in downtown Rockford. The association would meet at this building for annual meetings, often in the basement. On occasion, the Peaches manager and many of the players would stop in from the road and attend these meetings that may contain some entertainment, like showing “moving pictures” of the Peaches from the prior year.

7th Street Train Station

In the 1940s and 1950s many people came to town by train, dropping off at the the 7th Street train station. Whether players were recruited or traded, many would catch the train to make their way to and from Rockford. Players even talked about arriving safely at the station in Rockford in letters to their families back home. Although no longer in use, this station still stands on 7th Street here in Rockford, IL.

YMCA Lodge

The Peaches were very much involved with events taking place in conjunction with the YMCA in the 1940s and 1950s. The YMCA Lodge was and still is a beautiful cabin that sits on the Rock River, perfect for hosting events and meetings. This historic location served as meeting grounds for the fans association who were a central part of the Peaches story.

The Lafayette Hotel

Travel and hotel rooms were commonplace in the AAGPBL. Opening in 1927, the Lafayette Hotel in downtown Rockford was a fitting red carpet hotel used by the league to room players when needed. In fact, this was the usual lodging place for visiting teams after making the bus trip to Rockford for an away game.

Rockford
Today

There are 285,873 people in the Rockford Region (2016), including the surrounding metro area. Located within Winnebago County, there are several unique surrounding villages and cities that form the Rockford Region, each with its own history, restaurants, and attractions!

Stop by these local retailers of premium Peaches gear.

Peaches Fan Trail