By Rich Wicks | Lake Panorama Times

People sometimes travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to see wonders of engineering and/or natural beauty. One of the reasons people are willing to travel to see these sites may be “elsewhereism,” which is the human tendency to undervalue things near us and to overvalue things that require us to make an effort to visit. However, some natural wonders, such as Springbrook State Park, are just up the road from Lake Panorama.

Located just a few miles north of Guthrie Center and Panora, at 2437 160^th Road, Springbrook is the only state park in Guthrie County and one of only 63 statewide. The park offers something for anyone who enjoys nature, sports, history, beauty or just a place in which to unwind. The park also shows many examples of human engineering in the creation of the park’s lake, many buildings, and many roads and trails.

Information for this article was gleaned from historical documents as well as interviews with five local people who have long-term involvement with Springbrook State Park. Park Manager Reaghan Oakleaf, Naturalist/Educator Anne Riordan, Conservation Officer Jeremy King, retired Park Ranger Rod Nelsen, and longtime volunteer Linda Kastner each shared their perspectives.

This year marks the 100-year anniversary of Springbrook State Park. Below is a look at the history of the park and what it offers for visitors. 

 

History: A timeline of Springbrook State Park

Approximately 12,000 B.C., the Middle Raccoon River carved a valley through the area as it carried away glacial meltwater. The melting glacier also left behind many large and small boulders that had been brought from hundreds of miles to the north. Because of the glaciers, Springbrook State Park sits at the crossroads of various terrain changes. 

Cultural artifacts have been found in Springbrook State Park and nearby Whiterock Conservancy indicating Native Americans lived in the area for thousands of years. Some of the evidence includes burial mounds, which are considered sacred and are protected by Iowa law, similar to those found in various locations throughout the Midwest. 

• 

  Hands-on learning has been part of the many activities through the years at Springbrook State Park.

  1840s: Groups of Mormons were among the first Europeans to leave wagon trails through the area as they headed further west to settle.

• 1850s: As Europeans first settled in Guthrie County, the area was mostly prairie.
• Late 1800s: Coal mining was done in many areas of what is now the park. 
• 1918: Iowa’s state park system was created. There was also growing interest in creating a state park in Guthrie County. 
• July 9, 1926: $2,000 was used to purchase 132 acres from the King Estate to establish “Kings State Park.” Most of the land had been heavily grazed and, therefore, had few trees.
• 1928: Additional land was acquired to bring the park’s total to 300 acres.
• Nov. 1, 1932: The park was renamed “Springbrook State Park.”
• 1933: The first park custodian, James Thomas, was hired at a salary of $25 per month.
• 1930s to 1940s: For nearly a decade, much of the construction of the park was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
• 

  Anne Riordan and Reaghan Oakleaf welcome everyone to the party.

  1969: Construction of the Conservation Education Center began. It opened in 1970.

• 1994: Springbrook expanded to 796 acres and was reclassified as a state recreation area to allow deer hunting. 
• 1995: The park expanded to 866 acres. 
• 2026: The park now boasts roughly 1,000 acres. Various events will be held throughout the year to celebrate Springbrook turning 100.

Nature

Springbrook State Park is a treasure chest of wildlife with an amazing array of plants and animals. A bird count once tallied 186 species observed in the park including year-round inhabitants as well as migratory birds. Bald eagles, once rare and endangered, are now a common sight in the park.

Although there were very few deer in the county a century ago, the deer population has increased greatly over the decades. 

“In the early 1950s, there were no deer here,” Riordan said. But that changed rapidly, and the situation came to a head in the mid-1990s.

A local newspaper article in July 1994 bore the headline, “Springbrook has got trouble,” and it focused on the rapidly increasing deer population in the area, which caused significant loss of crops for area farmers. One local farmer whose land was adjacent to the park, Earl Hasty, was quoted saying he had counted as many as 160 deer on his farm at one time. It was also noted that driving through the park was hazardous because of the likelihood of deer running across roadways. Because of the deer overpopulation, the park was reclassified as a recreation area, which allowed for increased harvesting of deer in the area.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources continues to adjust deer hunting tag numbers as needed to manage the number of deer.

“1994 was when we first started having controlled deer hunts. And then later it went back to being a state park,” King said. 

Some animal species have been introduced into the park and surrounding areas. In the 1930s and 1940s, wild turkeys were introduced. In the 1980s, otters were brought in. Although the otters are seldom seen, they have survived.

“I had to stop my car and wait for three otters to cross in front of me several years ago, so I know they’re here,” Riordan said.

“That’s a great conservation success story,” King added. “We had a resident elk here for a while. It’s not uncommon to see an elk in Iowa anymore.”

Riordan mentioned two uncommon plants that are seen in Springbrook. 

“There’s skunk cabbage. It’s a plant that blooms in March in the snow. It creates its own heat, and it puts off a scent like a dead critter because it’s attracting its pollinator, which are flies,” she said. “And there’s ghost pipe. It looks like a fungus, but it’s a plant that does not have chlorophyll.”

King noted that ginseng can also be found in the park, but it is not legal to pick.

One common rule of thumb in parks and preserves is “take only photos, leave only footprints.” That is an excellent guideline, but Springbrook actually allows visitors to collect and take mushrooms, asparagus, nuts, fruits and berries. All such items should be collected carefully to avoid any toxic or unsafe items being consumed. Other items (antlers, rocks, plant or animal specimens) are not to be removed from the park.

 

What to do in the park

Camping is a popular activity at Springbrook, and the park offers more than 100 campsites. Some offer electricity while others are non-electric. The park also boasts a number of shelters that can be reserved or used on a first-come basis. 

The Sherburne House is a large facility that can be reserved for a fee. It sleeps up to 14 and is ideal for family getaways. Reservations for camping and/or shelters can be done on the park’s website within the Iowa state park system. Oakleaf pointed out that a number of upgrades to the Sherburne House have recently been completed.

Also available at the campground are a sand volleyball court, basketball court, horseshoe pit, a large swimming beach on the lake and miles of trails. Snowmobiles, cycling, cross country skiing and even e-bikes are allowed. Pets are allowed but must be on a leash.

The 17-acre lake allows kayaking and boating, but only electric motors are permitted. In comparison, Lake Panorama is 1,160 acres. According to King, the Springbrook State Park lake may not be a hotspot for trophy fish, but it does have plenty of panfish for recreational fishing.

“If you’re an equal opportunity hooksetter, you’re going to have a good time,” he said. “A small lake like this can easily be over-harvested. I always tell people to just keep what you’re going to eat.” 

Ice fishing is also popular when conditions are right. Hunting is allowed outside of the park in the adjacent wildlife areas. 

For campfires, firewood can be purchased at stands near the park. Wood for fires can also be picked up off the ground. 

“If it’s dead and down, that’s OK,” Nelsen said. “You just can’t run a chainsaw.”

 

How the park was built

In telling the creation of Springbrook State Park, one major factor was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was created by the federal government in 1933 as part of President Roosevelt’s “New Deal.” The CCC operated until 1942. The CCC provided paid work for young men ages 18 to 25. This helped bring the country out of the Great Depression. A total of roughly 2.5 million young American men were hired by the CCC and paid $30 per month. The workers also received food, housing and clothing while employed. 

CCC workers in the 1930s did most of the construction at Springbrook State Park, including building roads, bridges and structures, many of which still stand today.

The creation of Springbrook Lake was a joint project of the CCC and the Works Progress Administration (WPA), another organization created as part of the “New Deal.” CCC workers cleared the woods for the lake and spillway, while the WPA built the actual dam on Kings Creek.

Another unique feature of Springbrook State Park was the Conservation Education Center (CEC), which operated as a learning center for thousands of visitors for more than 50 years.

The CEC at Springbrook Park opened in 1970, providing education to teachers, students and other groups interested in learning about natural resources. The idea was a spinoff from the Iowa Teachers Conservation Camp, which operated as a camp experience at Springbrook for many years. In its heyday, the CEC welcomed about 20,000 visitors per year. Budget cuts eventually led to the closing of the CEC. The buildings now stand empty and are scheduled for demolition.

 

Volunteer extraordinaire

In telling the tale of Springbrook State Park, Riordan and Oakleaf noted another frequent visitor seen in the park: volunteer Linda Kastner.

“Linda is an absolutely indispensable part of Springbrook,” Riordan said. 

Oakleaf agreed.

“Linda just sees what needs to be done, and she does it,” Oakleaf said.

Since retiring 15 years ago, Kastner has made Springbrook her pastime. Living just a few miles north of the park, she took it upon herself to beautify the area for everyone. It is common to see Kastner operating a chainsaw, rake, broom or leaf blower to cut and clear branches, assure that drains remain clear, and remove debris from trails and stairs.

“In the summer, I’m down here about three days a week, but it’s not the whole day. It’s more like a couple hours in the morning or afternoon. I don’t think the staff even knows half of the stuff I do here,” Kastner said. “I bring my leaf blower up to the CCC shelter and keep that cleaned out all year-round, and I clean out the fireplace. It’s surprising how many people use it in the winter.”

Kastner realizes much of the work she does in Springbrook is never noticed by visitors, but the absence of her dedication would quickly be noticed. She encourages everyone to do a bit of upkeep while enjoying the park.

“It’s just not a walk or a hike without picking up sticks. I don’t know how people can walk right by or step over them without doing something,” she said. “Bring a bag along on your walk, to pick up trash, or move sticks off the trail or road.”

 

Yearlong birthday party

To celebrate Springbrook’s 100 years, a variety of events are planned throughout 2026. The currently planned schedule of 2026 events is below (subject to change). Updates will be announced as available:

 

Events

• Saturday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m.: Make and Take Pinecone Bird Feeders
• Sunday, April 12, 1 p.m.: Native Pollinator Seed Planting
• Sunday, June 7, (time TBD): 100 Years of Fishing at Springbrook Park (Free Fishing Weekend)
• Saturday, June 13, (time TBD): Hike, Kayak, Campground Host Craft program
• Wednesday, Aug. 12, 10 p.m.: Perseid Meteor Watch (Campers only)
• Friday, Aug. 28, (time TBD): Full Moon Night Hike, campfire, and marshmallow roast
• Saturday, Aug. 29, All Day.: 100 Year Celebration with staff and guest presenters. Possible activities include: Hike through time, Rose’s Krafty Korner, Kayaking, Live Raptors with Christina, Outdoor Skills Team Challenge, Park Potluck, Dutch Oven or Fudgy Pies, Rap with Reaghan, CCC Presentation, Music in the Park, Folk Circle
• Sunday, Aug. 30, (time TBD): Spiritual celebration
• Friday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m.: “Who Goes There?” Night Hike
• Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m.: Winter Preparedness/Survival program