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Elinor Bedell State Park |
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Facilities and Activities
Picnicking/Shelters/Lodge
A shelter with kitchenette, bathrooms and a fireplace overlooks Lake Okoboji is
available for rent. Contact the park manager at Gull Point (712)337-3211 for
more information
Camping
The campground consists of 8 site RV campsites with full hookups, modern rest
room and a trailer dump station. Each campsite has a picnic table and fireplace.
A small area has been set aside for youth groups to tent camp. A playground is
located near the campground. Starting February 13, 2006 advance campsite
reservations can be booked through the park reservation system. Half of the
campsites are still available for self-registration on a first-come, first-serve
basis.
Trails
Several miles of trail will take you through wetlands, woodlands and along the
lakeshore. A wildlife viewing blind is situated just off the trail for use by
bird and wildlife watchers.
Lake Activities (swimming, boating, fishing)
East Okoboji and the many other lakes are some of the prime fishing spots in
Iowa. Anglers will find challenging sport pursuing a variety of game fish,
including walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, white bass, perch, bluegills,
crappies, catfish and bullheads.
Nearby Towns
Nearby cities include Spirit Lake, Okoboji and Arnolds Park.
Elinor Bedell State Park is Iowa's newest (1998) state park. It is located on
the shores of East Lake Okoboji and represents one of the last remaining open
spaces in a region that is among Iowa's most popular tourist destination - the
Iowa Great Lakes. The eighty acre park was a generous gift of Berkley and Elinor
Bedell. A life long resident of the Great Lakes area, Berkley Bedell represented
Northwest Iowa for 12 years in the United States Congress. Berkley and Elinor's
dream of permanently protecting this beautiful piece of open space for future
generations led to donation of the land to the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources.
Elinor Bedell State Park will promote appreciation and enjoyment of prairies,
wetlands and oak savanna landscapes once commonly found along the shores of
Iowa's Great lakes. An extensive trail system will link these restored
landscapes providing the public with interpretation, education and recreational
opportunities.
By re-creating these natural landscapes, wildlife habitat will be improved and
will provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Viewing blinds, overlooks
and a raised boardwalk through wetland areas will bring the park user closer to
wildlife and the surrounding landscape.
Contact Information
Gull Point State Park
1500 Harpen Street
Milford, IA 51351
ph. 712/337-3211
E-mail address: Elinor_Bedell@dnr.state.ia.us |
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