A Message From Director Leopold

For years, Honey Creek Resort State Park has been a concept on paper.

In just a few short months, it will be a reality on the landscape.

After many years of planning and hard work, the resort park will open this August. Iowa's new "Destination State Park" will combine outdoor recreational activities along with family vacation amenities. The 850-acre park, on Lake Rathbun in Southern Iowa, will open with a 105-room lodge, a convention center accommodating up to 300 people, restaurant, lounge, indoor water park, 18-hole golf course, RV park, boat dock, boat ramp, fishing facilities and multi-purpose trails.

It will be a gateway to many of those who want to be more involved, but not necessarily had an opportunity to do so. At a time when the state has recognized that recruitment and retention of workers is a future challenge, Honey Creek is an incredibly bold step to improving Iowa's quality of life. It will offer the right blend of experiences, appealing to a wide array of our citizens, from established outdoor enthusiasts to those who are looking for their first taste of these pursuits. Honey Creek Resort Park signals that we are optimistic about our state's future and are willing to make significant investments toward long-term quality of life improvements.

As DNR director, it is gratifying to me that the resort will combine two of Iowa's best assets-our stunning natural resources and the expertise and experience of our DNR staff who will be on hand to provide a wide variety of natural resources interpretation and environmental education programs.

I hope you will take the opportunity to celebrate the opening of Honey Creek Resort State Park with me this fall, and have the opportunity to visit in the very near future.

Richard Leopold, Director of the Iowa DNR