Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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 Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area
Location in Illinois
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| Location | Fayette County, Illinois, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Ramsey, Illinois |
| Area | 1,980 acres (800 ha) |
| Governing body | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area is a fun state park in Fayette County, Illinois, United States. It covers about 1,980 acres (800 hectares) of land. The park is close to the town of Ramsey, Illinois and right next to U.S. Highway 51. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) takes care of this special place.
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Discover Ramsey Lake State Park
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) helps people enjoy many outdoor activities at Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area. You can go boating, fishing, and even hunting here. The main part of the park is Ramsey Lake. This lake is man-made, meaning people built it. It's about 3/4 of a mile (1.2 km) long and covers 40 acres (16 hectares). Work on the lake started in 1947. The lake gets its name from Ramsey Creek, which flows into the Kaskaskia River.
Fun Activities at Ramsey Lake
Before it became a state park, this area was known as the Old Fox Chase Grounds. The valley where Ramsey Lake now sits was called Fox Hunt Hollow. This name came from the yearly fox hunts held by the Central Illinois Foxhunter's Association.
Today, hunting at the park focuses on different animals. You can hunt whitetail deer using only a bow. Hunters also look for upland birds like mourning doves, pheasants, quail, and wild turkey. Smaller animals like coyotes, raccoons, and squirrels are also hunted.
Ramsey Lake is a great spot for fishing! It's filled with fish like largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, and sunfish. When you're on the lake, remember there's a power limit: only electric motors are allowed. The park also has six smaller fishing ponds. Plus, there are 24 small ponds and wet areas where frogs and other amphibians live. These spots are not for fishing.
If you love to explore, the park has many trails. The Equestrian Trail is about 15 miles (24 km) long and is perfect for horseback riding. The Old Fox Chase Grounds Trail is 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long and great for walking or hiking.
Ramsey Railroad Prairie: A Special Natural Area
A unique part of the park is the Ramsey Railroad Prairie. This area is managed by the IDNR, even though it's not directly connected to the main park. The railroad prairie is a long, narrow strip of land. It's about 11.26 acres (4.56 hectares) in size. It stretches for 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) and is about 75 feet (23 meters) wide. This prairie runs north and south, right next to Township Road 750E. Experts at IDNR describe it as a dry-mesic and mesic prairie. This means it has a good balance of moisture in the soil.
History of the Railroad Prairie
This prairie grows on land that was given to the Illinois Central Railroad way back in 1850. The railroad planned to build its main line here, connecting Centralia, Illinois to Peru, Illinois. However, a big economic boom happened in Chicago during the 1850s. This made the Illinois Central's Chicago line much more important. Because of this, the Centralia-Peru line became less important and was eventually abandoned. The Ramsey Railroad Prairie was officially named an Illinois Natural Area in October 1997.
