JJ46 • EXPLORE SUMMER 2014 • THE GLOBE GAZETTE
Camping now available at Tosanak MARY PIEPER
mary.pieper@globegazette.com
The former Winnebago Boy Scout Reservation near Marble Rock is getting a second life as the Tosanak Recreation Area. In October 2012 the Winnebago Council of Boy Scouts of America Executive Board, which had decided to close the 320-acre camp, agreed to sell it to the Floyd County Conservation Board for $750,000. The Floyd County Board of Supervisors then approved an agreement with the Iowa National Heritage Foundation, allowing that organization to purchase the land from the Winnebago Council. In September 2013 the
Tosanak Recreation Area, located at 2543 Glass Road, opened to the public for hiking, picnicking, fishing and similar day usage. Now the area also is available for camping. So far one modern cabin is available for rent for $50 a night, with a twonight minimum stay. It’s a one-bedroom, but there’s room for four people to sleep, said Laura Elfers, former deputy director of the Floyd County Conservation Board. The cabin has a refrigerator, a stove and a microwave. Dishes are already there, so those who stay there don’t need to bring their own. Floyd County Conservation is working to get other
cabins ready for public use, according to Elfers. Tent camping is $15 a night. Fire pits are available. Two lodges also are available to rent for family reunions or any other daytime gathering that only requires one room. Those lodges are available for $60 a day. Elfers said the lodges are generally not available for overnight use, but exceptions may be allowed for Scouting groups. A picnic area is located near the front gate. The Tosanak Recreation Area has access to the Shell Rock River for canoes and kayaks plus “miles and miles” of trails through woodland and prairie,
Elfers said. The Tosanak Recreation Area is “close to a birder’s paradise,” Elfers said. Eagles can be seen near the Shell Rock River. Elfers said there might be a nest nearby. “They have been fun to watch,” she said. Bluebirds and may other kinds of birds also have been spotted. The recent removal of the Rockford dam on the Shell Rock River has improved fishing downstream, including at the Tosanak Recreation Area, according to Elfers. To make reservations for tent camping, the lodges or the cabin, call 641-7563490.
Explore North Iowa County Parks CERRO GORDO COUNTY • INGEBRETSON PARK — 203 Ash St. E., Thornton. Situated on a branch of Beaver Dam Creek just off Interstate 35. There are 23 campsites with electricity, a shower house, dump station and water fill available. Camping fees are $12 per night with electricity and $7 per night for a primitive site. No reservations are accepted. • LINN GROVE PARK — 518 Madison St. W., Rockwell. Provides complete camping facilities on 38 acres along a meander of Beaver Dam Crreek. There are 66 electrical sites, a shower house, dump station and water fill available. Camping fees are $12 per night with electricity and $7 per night for a primitive site. No reservations are accepted. • WILKINSON PIONEER PARK — 21425 Vine Ave., Rock Falls. A beautiful 80-acre park with complete camping facilities; 42 electrical sites, shower house, dump station and water fill available. A covered bridge and remnant of native prairie are located in the park. Camping fees are $12 per night with electricity and $7 per night for a primitive site. No reservations are accepted. • STRAND PARK — 20057
340th St., Plymouth. The 33-acre park on the Shell Rock River features a tennis and basketball court, playground, picnic area, shelter and canoe access. • SPRING CREEK PRESERVE — 15829 300th St., Mason City. The 34-acre park features a spring, limestone bluffs along the creek and fishing access on the Winnebago River. • SHELL ROCK RIVER GREENBELT & PRESERVE — Nora Springs to Rock Falls. A 7½-mile drive, walk, canoe trip or ride along the limestone bluffs on the Shell Rock River goes through 509 acres of woods, meadows and ponds. Primitive camping and picnic areas available at the preserve. • LIME CREEK CONSERVATION AREA AND NATURE CENTER — 3501 Lime Creek Road, Mason City. An extensive trail network provides space for biking, hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing, offering access to a 440-acre diverse, natural area. A nature center offers conservation displays, library and auditorium. FLOYD COUNTY • ACKLEY CREEK PARK — 2775 Indigo Ave. Nestled along Ackley Creek 2 miles southwest of
Marble Rock, this park features 37 modern camping sites with electricity and water, 10 primitive camping sites, showers and restrooms, two picnic shelters, a playground and hiking trails in the woods. The cost is $15 per night for modern camping sites and $10 per night for primitive sites. • COLWELL PARK — 2962 140th St. This primitive campground 2½ miles west of Colwell features a picnic shelter and fishing access to the Little Cedar River. • FOSSIL & PRAIRIE PARK PRESERVE AND CENTER — 1227 215th St. Stroll through acres of native Iowa prairie located 1 mile west of Rockford, discover and collect ancient sea life fossils from the quarry and visit the historic beehive kilns used by the Rockford Brick & Tile Co. The Visitor Center, open 1 to 4 p.m. daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day and 1 to 4 p.m. weekends in May, September and October, contains exhibits that interpret the unique features of the park. No admission fee. • GATES BRIDGE ACCESS — 2920 Kirkwood Road. This park along the Shell Rock River 4 miles south of Marble Rock features
river access, fishing, picnicking and six primitive campsites. • ROTARY WILDLIFE AREA —1661 Rotary Park Road. This quiet picnic destination near Charles City also is a place for fishing on the Cedar River. The park has an open-sided picnic shelter, hiking trials and river access for canoes. • WEST IDLEWILD CAMPGROUND — 1374 Quarry Road. This primitive campground 2 miles northwest of Floyd features an improved canoe ramp, fishing access, a picnic shelter, a playground, hunting and hiking trials. The cost for camping is $5 per night. FRANKLIN COUNTY • BURKLEY PARK — 1½ miles west of Geneva and includes a hiking trail, undeveloped natural area and geocaching. • CREEDEN PRAIRIE — 5 miles north and 2 miles east of Hansell and includes 420 acres. The park features canoeing, fishing, hunting, undeveloped natural area and geocaching. • HANDORF ROADSIDE PARK — 8 miles east of Hampton along Highway 3. The 4-acre park includes picnicking, picnic
County parks continued on Page JJ47