Prairie Dog State Park

Prairie Dog State Park
A prairie dog
Map showing the location of Prairie Dog State Park
Map showing the location of Prairie Dog State Park
Location of Prairie Dog State Park in Kansas
LocationNorton, Kansas, United States
Coordinates39°48′25″N 99°57′05″W / 39.80694°N 99.95139°W / 39.80694; -99.95139
Area1,150 acres (4.7 km2)
Elevation2,352 ft (717 m)[1]
EstablishedUnspecified
Visitors191,972 (in 2022)[2]
Governing bodyKansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

Prairie Dog State Park is a state park located 4 miles west of Norton, Kansas, United States on Highway 261. Located in western Kansas, the Prairie Dog State Park is named after the creek that feeds into the Keith Sebelius reservoir, and had no prairie dog populations living there when it was established in 1967. Prairie dogs were introduced in the 1980s and the state park now holds a thriving colony of about 300.

Prairie Dog State Park is a 1,100-acre (450 ha) park that is located on the north shore of Keith Sebelius Lake in Norton County. The dam was completed for Keith Sebelius Reservoir in 1965 and quickly filled up the following year. One of the last remaining adobe house is located at the Prairie Dog State Park. The renovated house was built sometime in the 1890s. Also located in Prairire Dog State Park is the 1886 Hillmon one room school house.

Prairie Dog State Park has many recreation opportunities for campers to enjoy including a 1.4 mile nature trail, viewable prairie dog town, sand volleyball pit, disc golf course, regulation size basketball court, archery range, horse shoe pits, playground, swimbeach, fishing dock, 1886 one room school house, adobe home, and a 30'x70' Lake View shelter.

  1. ^ "Prairie Dog State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. October 13, 1978. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  2. ^ Self, Matthew (August 18, 2023). "Top 5 most popular Kansas state parks revealed". KSNT.