Lodge at Walnut Woods State Park.

Lodge at Walnut Woods State Park.

Iowans who are looking for a place to hold big family gatherings for Christmas, or large get-togethers throughout the year, are being reminded about facilities in Iowa’s state parks.

Todd Coffelt, State Parks Bureau Chief for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says there are lodges in six state parks around the state that are available every day of the year.

“These facilities are open year-round…and the neat thing about them is, regardless of what the Iowa weather is doing, folks will be able to enjoy a fireplace, wood will be provided for that, and they’ll have a full kitchen and rest room that will be able to support groups of up to 200 people,” Coffelt said. Rental rates for the lodges range between $35 to $200 per days.

Lodge at Lake Darling.

Lodge at Lake Darling.

Coffelt says they feature modern kitchens and rest rooms, but were originally built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

“The stone work that provides the base is relative to that area, but they also have the wooden timbers and they really provide an outstanding spectacle of architecture from that time period,” Coffelt said.

The year-round lodges are located in state parks in Van Buren, Washington, Monona, Polk, Jones, and Fremont Counties.

· Lacey-Keosauqua (Van Buren County)

· Lake Darling (Washington County)

· Lewis and Clark (Monona County)

· Walnut Woods (Polk County)

· Wapsipinicon (Jones County)

· Waubonsie (Fremont County)

For more details about each lodge and park, visit: iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com