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Iowa State Parks Ready for Summer’s Top Holiday Posted 30 June 2008 Most of Iowa’s state parks escaped the recent flooding with little to no damage and continue to operate under normal conditions. Other parks that experienced flooding are open to camping and other uses. “We are in full preparation for the July 4 holiday weekend,” said Kevin Szcodronski, chief for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau. “We are trying to catch up on routine mowing and other maintenance after all the rains and high water. We are open and our campsites sites for the holiday weekend are filling quickly.” Most of the reservable campsites for the holiday weekend are taken. Campers looking for a first come, first serve site should call the park directly to see what is still available. There are a few parks that remain closed due to high water or flood damage and will not be available for the holiday. For the most timely information, go to www.iowadnr.gov then click on the State Parks link in the navigation column on the left or call the park directly. George Wyth State Park The water has receded for the most part. The park will remain closed through July 31 due to extensive flood damage to most of the facilities. Walnut Woods State Park Will be closed through at least middle July. Staff is working to get the lodge cleaned up and re-opened for a wedding rehearsal dinner on July 4. Summerset State Park The park will be closed for at least another week due to high water covering the roads. Fairport State Recreation Area The park is closed. Other parks that were impacted by the flood have reopened or have limited closings. Ledges State Park The park and campground is open. Canyon Road remains closed. Dolliver State Park The road has re-opened. The park and campground are open. Big Creek State Park The park is open and facilities are fine. Portions of the Neal Smith Trail between Big Creek and Des Moines are closed. Pine Lake State Park Everything is open, including the cabins. Union Grove State Park The beach has re-opened. Rock Creek State Park All campsites are open. Honey Creek State Park The park and campground are open. The high water boat ramp is closed. However, the main boat ramp is still usable. Backbone State Park The park is open. The cabins, beach lodge, Six Pines campground, shelter, and South Lake campground, beach, and boat rentals are open. The auditorium will be closed until July 19. Access to most of the park, including the trout streams, is available only by foot until July 31. The South Lake campground is accepting campers on a first come first serve basis this weekend, and is accepting reservations for the reservable sites for dates beginning on July 1. Palisades-Kepler State Park The park and campground are open. The boat ramp and lower road along the Cedar River remains closed. Wapsipinicon State Park The campground, upper picnic areas and Boy Scout Lodge are open. The lower roads are still closed. The access road to the Rotary Lodge is closed until July 2. Lacey-Keosauqua State Park The park and campground is open. All roads leading to the park are open. The Ely Ford picnic area remains closed. Lake Macbride State Park The beach is open for swimming, water levels are returning to normal and boating is allowed. The Coralville boat ramp and fisheries road leading to it are still flooded. The concession operation has re-opened on a limited basis. The campground is closed for a scheduled renovation, not related to flooding. Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area The park and campground are open. The Red Cross is providing services to Palo residents who were displaced due to flooding in the first come, first serve campsites. The reservable campsites are open and available for campers through the reservation system.

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