Wapsipinicon State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wapsipinicon State Park |
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 Wapsipinicon State Park
Location in Iowa
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| Location | Jones, Iowa, United States |
| Area | 394 acres (159 ha) |
| Elevation | 876 ft (267 m) |
| Established | 1923 |
| Governing body | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Wapsipinicon State Park |
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Wapsipinicon State Park Historic District
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| Architectural style | Rustic |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000669 |
| Added to NRHP | September 22, 2014 |
Wapsipinicon State Park is a cool place located south of Anamosa, Iowa, in the United States. This park covers about 394 acres of land. It sits along the rocky bluffs of the Wapsipinicon River, which is where it gets its name! It's one of the oldest state parks in Iowa. In 2014, it was even added to the National Register of Historic Places as a special historic area.
Contents
Discovering Wapsipinicon State Park
How the Park Began
The park started thanks to a group of local people. In 1921, they raised about $23,000 to buy 180 acres of land. Their goal was to protect the area and stop the trees from being cut down. The park officially opened in 1923. This makes Wapsipinicon one of the very first state parks in Iowa!
Ancient History and Old Bridges
Wapsipinicon State Park has some really old sites. These places show that people lived here long, long ago, even before Christopher Columbus arrived in America. There are also two historic bridges in the park that cross the river. One of these, the Hale Bridge, was moved to the park in 2006.
Building the Park's Facilities
Many of the buildings and structures in the park were built in the 1920s and 1930s. They were made in a style called "Rustic architecture." This style uses natural materials to blend in with the environment.
Unlike many other Iowa state parks from that time, Wapsipinicon's buildings were not made by the Civilian Conservation Corps. That was a government program during the Great Depression that gave jobs to people. Instead, the shelters, stone arch bridges, and roads at Wapsipinicon were built by workers from a nearby correctional facility. They used limestone from local quarries. It took about five years to finish all the construction. These workers also helped keep the park in good shape for many years afterward.
Fun Activities at the Park
Wapsipinicon State Park offers lots of fun things to do!
- Camping: You can set up a tent and spend the night under the stars.
- Fishing and Boating: The Wapsipinicon River is a great spot for fishing or taking a boat out on the water.
- Trails: There are trails for hiking, cross-country skiing in winter, and even snowmobiling.
- Caves: You can explore a couple of cool caves, including an ice cave!
- Biking: The park is the starting point for the Northeast State Park Bike Route. This route connects Wapsipinicon to Pikes Peak State Park and Backbone State Park using county highways.
- Hunting: In certain seasons, hunting is allowed in a special 140-acre area next to the park. This land was added in 1990.
- Golf: There's even a nine-hole golf course in the park, managed by the Wapsipinicon Country Club.
