Rock Creek Campground and Marina
Features
- Electrical & primitive camping sites
- Cabin rentals
- Camp store
- Dock rental
- Boat rentals (flat bottom, canoe, kayak, paddle boats, paddle boards)
- Boat ramp
- Fishing
- Bait sales
- Hiking
- Shower house(Closed October-April)
- Playgrounds
- Water stations throughout the park
- Dump station
- Winter activities include ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross country ski rental, & snow shoe rental
- Community Hall
- Patio
Camping
- Reserved Electric sites - $30/night
- First come/first served Electric sites - $20/night
- Reserved Primitive sites - $20/night
- First come/first served Primitive sites - $15/night
Cabins
- Pintail Cabin (modern facility): Fully handicap accessible: $150/night/weekends/holidays
- Sleeps 6, couch, bunk beds, queen size bed, full kitchen, full bathroom with roll-in shower,heat/ac
- Wood Duck ( modern facilities): $75/night/weekends/holidays
- Sleeps 6, futon, table and chairs, loft, microwave, small fridge, 1/2 bath, heat/AC
- Camping Cabins : $35/night
- Sleeps 4, microwave, small fridge, heat/AC
- Cabins 1-5 $50night/weekend/holidays
- Sleeps 4, Microwave ,small fridge, Heat/AC
All cabins require that you bring all of your own necessities including bedding.
Dock Rentals
- Pontoon slips - $550/season
- Houseboat slips w/o electricity - $625/season
- Houseboat slips w/ electricity - $750/season
Rentals
- Canoe - $10/hr or $40/day
- Kayak - $10/hr or $40/day
- Paddle boat - $10/hour
- Paddle Boards- $10/hour
- Aqua Bike- $10/hour
Park is open year-round unless weather/flooding does not permit.
Call 563-259-1876 for store hours.
Shower house is closed October - April.
[button url=/conservation/blue_heron_eco_cruise/]Join us aboard the Blue Heron Eco Cruise![/button]
Maps and Resources:
Upper Mississippi Navigation Chart
Eco Tourism Center
Rock Creek Brochure
Marina and Campgroud Park Map
Rules and Regulations
Sherman Park
[button url=/files/conservation/sherman_park_map_and_brochure_96994.pdf]Park Map & Brochure[/button]
Features
- Camping: 8 Electrical $20 per night / 8 Primitive $15 per night
- Modern Restrooms
- Shower House
- Picnic Shelter
- Boat Ramp
- Wapsipinicon River Fishing
- Playground
- Horseshoe pits
- Nature Trail
- Hiking
- Public Hunting
- Astronomical Observatory
The campground is open Annually April 1st through October 31st.
The rest of the park is open year-round.
Smithtown Church
The Church's Story
The Smithtown Church building is the only surviving landmark of the Sharon Township village of Burgess. Sharon Township, located in the northwest corner of Clinton County, was one of the last areas to become populated in the county. This was primarily due to the lack of abundant water resources located in the area. Settlers banded together and established the first village of the township, Burgess.
Burgess centered around the four corners located two miles west and two mile north of present day Lost Nation. The town was served by a post office from 1854 to 1888. The land surrounding the four corners was platted and records speak of a general store, blacksmith shop, Good Templars Lodge and schoolhouse. The east-west road running through the village and passing in front of the existing Smithtown Church building is a section of the old Camanche to Anamosa territorial road. Soon after the establishment of the village it was give the nickname of Smithtown and became better known by this colloquialism, given in recognition of one of its prominent first citizens, David Smith. Smith was a blacksmith, preacher and also served as the town's second postmaster.
In 1865, a Sharon Methodist Church Incorporation was made. George Read, trustee and area landowner, donated the land for the church and cemetery. The cemetery was put to use in short time, but the church structure was not completed until 1874. For these nine years, Burgess residents gave of their time, money and labor in order to construct a place of worship.
In 1875, the Sharon Methodist Church Incorporation agreed to allow the St. John's Congregation of the German Reformed Church of Sharon Township use of the church building for their services for the sum equivalent to one-fourth of the cost of the structure. In consideration of this sum, the German Reformed Congregation could use the Sharon M.E. Church one-fourth of the time.The Reformed congregation was an affiliate of the St. Paul's Reformed Church at Wheatland and was served by ministers from that church. The Methodists were affiliated with the Monmouth Circuit of the Upper Iowa Conference of the Methodist Church and were served by ministers from Monmouth.
In 1871, plans were first made for the Sabula, Ackley and Dakota Railroad to pass through the township. It was decided that the tracks would miss Burgess by two miles to the south. When the tracks were built, it was the beginning of the end for the little village, particularly in terms of a business center. Eventually, the general store in Burgess moved nearer to the railroad, prompting the development of Lost Nation. Life in Burgess continued for some time though. The Good Templar Sharon Valley Lodge, a benevolent and charitable organization promoting the cause of temperance, held regular meetings and remained active until 1900.With special recognition and appreciation going to Mrs. Milton Edleman and Mrs. Florence Machande, both of rural Lost Nation.
[button url=/files/conservation/smithtown_church_brochure_63964.pdf]Brochure[/button]
Walnut Grove Park
Features
- 25 Electrical Camp Sites @ $20 per night.
- 12 Primitive CampSites @ $15 per night
- Modern Restrooms
- Shower House
- Picnic Shelter
- Boat Ramp
- Fishing Pond
- Wapsipinicon River Fishing
- Playground
- Sand Volleyball Court
- Horseshoe Pits
- Basketball Court
- 9-hole Disc Golf Course
Open April 1st through October 31st.
Board Office: 563-847-7202
[button url=/files/conservation/walnut_grove_maps_and_resources_90301.pdf]Walnut Grove Map & Brochure[/button]
