Lone Elk County Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lone Elk Park |
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 Lone Elk Park
Location in Missouri
Lone Elk Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | St. Louis County, Missouri, United States |
| Area | 0.85 sq mi (2.2 km2) |
| Established | 1964 |
| Website | Lone Elk Park |
Lone Elk Park is a cool county park in Missouri, USA. It covers about 546 acres (which is like 400 football fields!). You can find it in St. Louis County, not far from the town of Valley Park. The park is right next to some other interesting places like Interstate 44, the World Bird Sanctuary, Castlewood State Park, and the Tyson Research Center.
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Lone Elk Park: A Home for Wildlife
Lone Elk Park is a special place where you can see amazing animals up close. It's known for its herds of elk and bison. The park also has many deer, wild turkeys, and different kinds of waterfowl (birds that live near water).
Park History
This park has an interesting past! During World War II, the land was part of the Tyson Valley Powder Plant. After the war, it became a county park. In 1948, herds of elk and bison were brought to live there.
However, the land was needed again by the government during the Korean War. For safety reasons, the animal herds had to be removed in 1958. But guess what? One brave bull elk managed to survive!
In 1964, St. Louis County bought 405 acres of this land. It was first called Tyson County Park. Then, in 1966, it was renamed Lone Elk Park, after that one surviving elk. The park officially opened to visitors on October 17, 1971. In July 1973, six bison came to the park from the St. Louis Zoo.
Seeing the Animals
One of the best things about Lone Elk Park is that you can drive through it! This means you can often see the elk and bison from your car, sometimes very close up. It's a great way to observe these large animals in a natural setting.
Important Park Rules
To keep everyone safe and protect the animals, there are some important rules. You are not allowed to bring any domestic animals (like dogs or cats) into the park. This rule applies even if your pet is inside your car.
Also, some changes have happened at the park's lake. Research was done in 2016 to check for a sinkhole under the lake. Because of this, the boat dock has been removed. Fishing was also stopped in 2017 to help the fish population grow bigger and healthier.
Images for kids
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Bison
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Elk
