Rural Route 1, Box 264
Algona, IA 50511
Phone 515-295-3669

Ambrose A. Call State Park is a 138-acre "oasis" of rugged hills heavily wooded with virgin timber in an area of gently rolling farmland. The park is located near the east fork of the Des Moines River. Ambrose Call and his brother, Asa, were early settlers in the area who carved their claim, the first in Kossuth County, on a walnut tree at the present site of the park. The brothers spent their first night in Kossuth County on July 9, 1854. The next day, while Asa went for his wife and supplies, Ambrose and a traveling companion, William Smith, began work on a cabin in what is now the state park. Seventy-one years later, in 1925,Mrs. Gardner Cowles made a gift of land to the state in memory of her father, Ambrose A. Call. The park was dedicated in 1929. The authentic log cabin constructed of elm logs, some exceeding 18 inches in diameter, is typical of cabins built by the original settlers in the area. Four men were needed to put the logs in place. The cabin in the park is located in the approximate location of the first log cabin in Kossuth County. It was moved from the August Zahlten homestead to the park.

PICNICKING

Ambrose A. Call State Park is a great place for a family picnic. The shaded and grassy picinic areas provide pleasant settings for a family cookout.

Ambrose A. Call State Park offers 16 camping sites. Of these, 13 include electric hock-ups. A modern rest room is located in the campground. Camping permits are obtained by self-registration.

A log cabin-style lodge built in 1928 provides an excellent setting for such group activities as wedding receptions, family reunions, and community get-togethers. It is available for reservation though the park ranger.

The rugged and heavily wooded park offers two miles of trails that wind though the forest, down a ravine, and along a picturesque winding creek. Many species of shrubs, flowers and trees can be found at A.A. Call.

The park is located in Kossuth County, approximately 1 1/2 miles southwest of Algona.

Black Hawk

Black Hawk Lakes lies off the southeast tip of the town of Lake View in Sac County, Iowa. Black Hawk Lake was formed many thousands of years ago by glacial action. In fact, it is the southern-most-glacier formed lake in Iowa. The lake's 957 acres which adjoin the state park, and the many services provided within the town of Lake View, all combine to provide a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities to the public.

Fishing and Boating

Angling is a popular pursuit at Black Hawk Lake. Channel catfish, crappies, walleyes, bluegills, sunfish and several types of bass abound and provide a challenge to anglers of all ages. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources provides seven boat-launching ramps on the lake. Three of these are located within Black Hawk State Park. In addition, a variety of private establishments offer boats and motors for rent, bait and tackle.

Picnicking

Black Hawk State Park provides quality picnicking opportunities for the public. There are many places to enjoy an informal cookout, all within sight of the beautiful lake. Five open picnic shelters are available and may be reserved for $15.00 through the park ranger.

Camping

The Black Hawk State Park campground is a large one. It will accommodate 176 camping units, including 68 campsites equipped with electrical hookups. The campground features modern shower and rest room facilities. Nearby, a frisbee-golf course is available for some fun-filled exercise. A volleyball court and a large playground facility also offer lots of fun opportunities for campers, young and old. Swimming opportunities are available at several locations on Black Hawk Lake, including supervised swimming at the Lakeview City Park. Unsupervised swimming opportunities are present in the vicinity of the campground and also in the Denison Beach area of the state park.

Winter Sports

The fun at Black Hawk Lake doesn't end when the cold winds of winter blow. Sports such as skating, cross-country skiing, ice fishing and snowmobiling are popular. Iceboats, with their white sails billowing in the winter wind, have been clocked at speeds of more than 100m.p.h. on the ice of Black Hawk Lake. The "Stubb" Severson Nature Trail offers visitors a chance to learn about many of the shrubs and trees found in the park. Along the trail, walkers often see a variety of wildlife, including deer, waterfowl and many species of songbirds.

History

There is a great deal of Iowa history at Black Hawk Lake. In 1828, President John Quincy Adams formally declared that all lands east of the Mississippi were to be sold to settlers gradually moving their way westward. This resulted in the forcing of Indian tribes to the west. Chief Black Hawk and 2,000 of his followers refused to move their way westward. Future President Abraham Lincoln fought in the Black Hawk War in command of a detachment of Illinois militiamen. In August 1832 Chief Black Hawk was defeated at the Bad Ax River in Wisconsin. In 1838, the chief died and was buried in a sitting position facing the southeast near Iowaville on the Des Moines River. Later his remains were stolen; the skull was recovered and then lost in a fire. Chief Black Hawk's legacy lives on in such places as Black Hawk Lake and as the namesake for Black Hawk County, Iowa. Black Hawk State Park was established in 1935. The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed many of its buildings.

Neighboring Towns

Wall Lake is one mile south on county Road M68 and two miles west on D54.
Odebolt is 10 miles west on Highway 175.
Sac City is eight miles north on m68 and two miles east on Highway 20.

Equal Recreational Opportunities

All persons are entitled to full and equal enjoyment of the recreational opportunities, privileges and advantages available in Iowa's great outdoors.

Emerson Lake and Light House

Located on the southwest shore of West Okoboji Lake, Emerson Bay Rec. Area comprises 120 acres and has a 117-site campground with showers and modern restrooms. Sixty of the sites have electrical hookups. During the summer, the conveniently located boat ramp and parking area are heavily used because of their location along the west shore of the 3,800-acre lake, which is sheltered from most summer sun.

Fort Defiance State Park

Fort Defiance State Park's 191 acres of rugged woodland provide a beautiful contrast to the gently rolling surrounding farmlands. The park's trails, picnic areas and scenic overlooks provide a great place to relax. Its lush cover of vegetation includes hawthorn, plum, locust and many species of the state tree--the oak. In the spring, the slopes are speckled with trillium, bloodroot, hepatica and violets. A small prairie with native grasses and flowers, including the endangered prairie bush clover, thrives on a secluded knoll. During the winter months, the park is a popular place for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

History

Fort Defiance State Park is named for the fort that once stood in the nearby community of Estherville. In the mid-19th century there was considerable concern among the settlers about the possibility of attacks by "hostiles." In March of 1857, 40 men, women and children were massacred near Spirit Lake and Okoboji. In 1862, a wounded 15-year-old boy stumbled into town with the story of an Indian massacre in Jackson, Minnesota. This brought terror into the community and Captain W.H. Ingham and Company A of the Northern Border Brigade were dispatched to Estherville to construct Fort Defiance. The townspeople eventually moved into the enclosed, but the feared Indian attack never came. Over time, the fort was taken apart and the timbers used to build cabins. Fort Defiance State Park was dedicated in 1930.

Picnic Shelter and Lodge

An open picnic shelter may be reserved for $15 through the park ranger. An enclosed lodge constructed in the style of an old army outpost is an excellent place for gatherings such as reunions and wedding receptions. It is available for rent by reservation through the park ranger.

Camping

Fort Defiance State Park has 32 campsites. The camping area is not modern. No flushing toilets or showers are present. However, electrical hookups are available at eight sites. All camping permits are obtained through self-registration a t the campground.

Neighboring Towns

Esterville is one mile northeast on Highway 9.
The Iowa Great Lakes Region is 12 miles west.

Equal Recreational Opportunities

All persons are entitled to full and equal enjoyment of the recreational opportunities, privileges and advantages available in Iowa's great outdoors. The enclosed shelter is accessible to persons with varying abilities.

Gull Point State Park

The 'lakes area' of northwest Iowa offers a tremendous array of outdoor recreation opportunities, year round. The unique setting of beautiful and clear Lakes East and West Okoboji, Big Spirit Lake and other water bodies truly provides wonderful opportunities for outdoor recreation. The focal points for state parks and recreation areas in this region is beautiful Gull Point State Park, established in 1933. Gull Point provides a pleasing, shaded setting on West Okoboji Lake and offers a well-rounded variety of outdoor recreation facilities.

The Gull Point campground is one of the most popular in the lakes area. The paved campground is well shaded and features paved roads, modern rest room and shower facilities, as well as a sanitary dump station. There are a total of 112 campsites, 60 with electrical hookups. Camping permits are obtained through self-registration at the campground.

Gull Point is a great place for a family picnic. Several open shelters are available and maybe reserved for $15 through the park ranger.

The Gull Point lodge, built during the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corp, is the largest such facility in the state. It features kitchen facilities and will seat 140 people. The lodge is a wonderful setting for group activities such as wedding receptions and family reunions. The lodge is available on a reservation basis through the park ranger.

The western portion of Gull Point State Park is a hiker's delight, with a fine self-guided interpretative trail. On the 1-3 mile trail, visitors can identify a variety of natural features by using the trail brochure. Walkers have a choice of either a one-mile of three-mile jaunt. This area of the park is an excellent place to observe a wide variety of wildlife from songbirds to white-tailed deer. In the winter, the area is open for cross-country skiing.

Gull Point's beach provides a fine place for young and old to sunbathe and splash in the crystal clear water. West 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 bullhead. Boating is also very popular on the lake using everything from canoes to sailboats and ski rigs.

The lakes area offers a tremendous number of settings for outdoor recreation. Although space does not permit a detailed description of all the sites in this brochure, the description on the other side of this brochure and the table at the left provide a good capsule view of what is available.