Our Ranch was strip-mined in the 1930's and 40's. The coal veins ran very deep and once all the coal was stripped out of the ground, the 60-80' deep holes in the ground were left to fill up with water! These pits created some of the deepest lakes in the entire state of Illinois! It took a few years for the pits to fill all the way up with water, but when they did, in 1954, the property was reclaimed and developed into Sugar Knolls campground. Sugar Knolls was bought out by the Little Texas Corporation in the 1970's and renamed the Giant Goose Ranch. The name is very fitting as there are still a lot of ducks and geese that call these lakes home. In 2013, Herman Brothers Lake and Land Management purchased the Ranch from Little Texas Corp. and have begun renovating the Ranch and turning it into the Midwest's Premier Fishing, Camping, and Family Recreation Property! The rich heritage and unbelievable natural resources combined with the experiences of the new owners is the perfect recipe for success!