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Lacey-Keosauqua State Park
Nearby Parks:
Charlie Heath State Forest and Memorial Wildlife Area
Athens State Park
Shimek State Forest
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| State Park Contact Information: |
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Lacey-Keosauqua State Park
P.O. Box 398
Keosauqua, Iowa 52565
Phone: 319-293-3502
Reservations: 877-427-2757
Email: Lacey_Keosauqua@dnr.iowa.gov
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Reservations: 
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| State Park Overview: |
| Lacey-Keosauqua State Park is one of the largest and most picturesque of Iowa state parks and recreation areas. The park's 1,653 acres of hills, bluffs and valleys wind along the Des Moines River in Van Buren County.
During the middle of the 19th century, the great Mormon trek westward across Iowa occurred. Ely Ford, now the site of a beautiful picnic area, was a river crossing point. It is now a component of the Mormon Pioneer Trail.
Originally, the park was named "Big Bend," but when it was dedicated in 1921, a more colorful name was sought. For the next five years, it was called Keosauqua, a Native American term meaning "the stream bearing a floating mass of snow, slush, or ice." In 1926, the name was changed to Lacey-Keosauqua in honor of Major John Fletcher Lacey who fought in the Civil War, was elected to Iowa House of Representatives in 1868, and by 1888, was a member of Congress. Major Lacey campaigned for conservation legislation long before Teddy Roosevelt and was instrumental in the establishment of a state park system in Iowa. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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Childhood paradise
We have been staying in the cabins at Lacey since I was a baby, and all of our large family rent the 6 cabins each summer for the last 30 plus years. We are now bringing our parents, and own kids. We love it, grew up here, and spent many memories on the trails, in the lake, and at the cabins. It is our childhood paradise, home away from home.
Written by lori
24-Jun-2008
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| Camping: |
| Lacey-Keosauqua's beautiful, shaded campground features 113 campsites (45 with electrical hook-ups), modern rest rooms, shower facilities, and a trailer dump station. 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: |
| The park's hiking trails wind among the valleys and cliffs along the Des Moines River. On the trails, it is often possible to see many types of wildlife including deer, raccoons, opossums, gray squirrels, red foxes, and numerous species of bird life. The variety of plants, trees and shrubs; many of them more than 200 years old; make hiking at the park an exciting and educational experience. |
| Picnicking: |
| Lacey-Keosauqua is a wonderful place for a family cook-out. It is one of the prettiest parks where you can get together and enjoy a meal in the outdoors. Three open picnic shelters are available and may be reserved for a fee through the park manager. The picnic shelter near the east entrance of the park is accessible to the mobility impaired. |
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| Lodge: |
| A lodge may also be reserved through the park manager. The lodge is an excellent place for group events such as wedding receptions and family reunions. |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
| Lacey-Keosauqua State Park - Bordering the great ... Moines River lies the quiet beauty of the flowers, shrubs and timber within Lacey Keosauqua State Park . . . one of the largest and most picturesque of Iowa's state parks and ... | | Welcome to Keosauqua, Iowa - Keosauqua, the Indian term for 'Big Bend', is a unique blend of historic architecture, natural ... Des Moines River from the hotel is Lacey-Keosauqua State Park which also borders the river's great ... | | Yellow-throated Warbler, photographed by Michael and Diane Porter - Yellow-throated Warbler, photographed at Lacey Keosauqua State Park, Iowa, April 13, 2002, by Michael and Diane Porter ... April 13, 2002 Lacey Keosauqua State Park, Iowa Photo copyright ... | | Raptor Rapture - ... year. The chase I was standing late one afternoon by the Des Moines River at Lacey Keosauqua State Park, in southeastern Iowa. The only birds to watch were a dozen Killdeer feeding and loitering ... | | Cantril Iowa - Home of Waubonsie Trail Park, Dutchman's Store, Wickfield Sales Pavilion, L - Cantril Iowa -The home of Waubonsie Trail Park, Dutchman's Store, Wickfield Sales Pavilion, Lake ... access, east of Mt. Sterling. Lacey Keosauqua State Park, near Keosauqua. Enjoy camping, fishing ... |
| Area Attractions: |
| A Forest Crafts Festival is held at Lacey Keosauqua State Park the second weekend of October. The festival features woodcraft demonstrations and sales, forest and wildlife management demonstrations and buckskinners. Nearby Keosauqua has a parade, carnival and other related events. |
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