(Undated) -- State park staffers are getting ready for the peak camping season. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says state parks attracted nearly 900-thousand campers and nearly 14-(M) million day-visitors last year.
A number of projects are planned for the 2024 season including:
Clear Lake campground - renovations will start around August 1 to update electrical facilities, campsite design and roadways
Red Haw - campground renovations and shelter construction have begun after major damage caused by a tornado in March 2022
Lake Ahquabi - lodge and shelter renovations
Fort Atkinson - restoration of historic buildings, closing the park to visitors until mid-July
Brushy Creek - campground renovations starting around August 1
Pleasant Creek - campground renovations starting around October 1
Lake Manawa - concession building remodel
Ledges - new shower building and shelter renovation
McIntosh Woods - shelter renovation
Wapsipinicon - flood repairs, renovating river wing dams
Big Creek - fishing pier renovations
Road resurfacing in Palisades-Kepler, Wildcat Den, Pleasant Creek, Elk Rock and Lake Manawa
To learn more about Iowa state parks, go to iowadnr.gov/stateparks or make a reservation at https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/
*Pikes Peak and Lake Ahquabi state parks, two of Iowa’s most popular campgrounds, reopened in July 2023 after undergoing extensive renovations. Both campgrounds feature electrical upgrades, pull-through driveways and a reduction in the number of campsites to create more space for large vehicles.
Pikes Peak and Lake Ahquabi campgrounds are now 100 percent reservable. Additional campgrounds switching to 100 percent reservable in 2024 include Ambrose A. Call, Ledges, Lewis and Clark, Pleasant Creek, Wilson Island and Clear Lake.
Other new or renovated amenities in the state park system:
George Wyth State Park – Cedar Valley Trail 1.3 miles reconstruction
Twin Lakes – new boat ramp
Lake Macbride – new boat ramp, parking lot resurfacing and new fishing dock
Rock Creek State Park – new water lines and sewer repairs
Green Valley State Park – renovated fishing pier, spillway repair and sewer repairs
Beeds Lake – new dump station at the campground
Park visitors can go to www.iowadnr.gov/parkclosures for latest information on any closures.