Eisenhower State Park (Kansas)

Eisenhower State Park
Map showing the location of Eisenhower State Park
Map showing the location of Eisenhower State Park
Location of Eisenhower State Park in Kansas
LocationOsage County, Kansas, Kansas, United States
Coordinates38°31′13″N 95°44′56″W / 38.52028°N 95.74889°W / 38.52028; -95.74889
Area1,785 acres (7.22 km2)
Elevation1,083 ft (330 m)[1]
Named forPresident Dwight D. Eisenhower
Visitors97,375 (in 2022)[2]
Governing bodyKansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

Eisenhower State Park is a state park in Osage County, Kansas, United States, located 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Emporia and 35 miles (56 km) south of Topeka.

The park was formerly known as Melvern State Park, due to its location on the north shore of the 6,900-acre (28 km2) Melvern Lake, was renamed in 1990 to honor former president Dwight D. Eisenhower. The park includes 1,345 acres (5.44 km2) of prairie, 440 acres (1.8 km2) of woodland, and various areas for recreational activities.

The 10,008-acre (40.50 km2) Melvern Wildlife Area adjacent to the park is home to a variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkey, bobwhite quail, squirrels, various furbearers, and waterfowl making it a great place to observe or partake in hunting (by permission only). Hunting is allowed throughout the park except on the 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) waterfowl refuge, which is open to wildlife viewing from January 15 to October 1.

  1. ^ "Eisenhower State Park Rangers Office". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. December 15, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  2. ^ Self, Matthew (August 18, 2023). "Top 5 most popular Kansas state parks revealed". KSNT.