state park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "Federated state, state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on accou ...
in
Henry County, Iowa
Henry County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 20,482. The county seat is Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Mount Pleasant. The county was named for G ...
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR or IA DNR) is a department/agency of the U.S. state of Iowa formed in 1986, charged with maintaining state parks and forests, protecting the environment of Iowa, and managing energy, fish, wi ...
. While it is named for Iowa's state rock, the
geode
A geode (; ) is a geology, geological secondary formation within sedimentary rock, sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Geodes are hollow, vaguely spherical rocks, in which masses of mineral matter (which may include crystals) are secluded. The crys ...
, few can be found in the park. A display of geodes, with their mysterious crystal formations in their hollow cavities, can be seen at the park office. It is illegal to remove geodes from state parks.
The prime attraction of the park is Lake Geode, a lake built in 1950. Over the years, the lake has become well known for excellent fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, bullhead, red-eared sunfish.
Geode State Park joined the Iowa park system in 1937. The spot along the
Skunk River Skunk River may refer to:
* Skunk River (Iowa), river in Iowa
* Skunk River (Platte River), river in Minnesota
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had long been a local picnicking spot. Originally local groups raised $4,800 to purchase . The
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a voluntary government unemployment, work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 18–25 and eventually expanded to ages 17–28. The CCC was ...
moved onto the grounds to begin clearing trees, creating roads and building structures. In 1947, civilian construction workers returned and building resumed. In 1951, the lake, beach and CCC-reminiscent beach house were dedicated. Also opened at the time was an airstrip, making Geode the only park that invited travelers to arrive by private plane. The strip has been closed since.
On Saturday, July 25, 2009, a
RAGBRAI
RAGBRAI, short for ''Register'' Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is a non-competitive bicycle tour across the U.S. state of Iowa from the western to eastern border. First held in 1973, RAGBRAI is the largest bike-touring event in the wor ...
participant, Donald D. Myers from
Rolla, Missouri
Rolla () is a city in and the county seat of Phelps County, Missouri, United States. Its population in the 2020 United States Census was 19,943. It is approximately midway between St. Louis and Springfield along I-44. Its micropolitan sta ...
, died from injuries sustained in a crash at the bottom of the hill near Geode Lake dam at Geode State Park.
Some places in the area have been reported to have timber rattlesnakes.
Nearby towns are Burlington, to the east; New London, north; Danville, northeast; Middletown, east; and Lowell, at the park's southwest corner.
The park can be reached from Middletown on Iowa 79 or from Lowell on County Road J-20.