Kuehn Conservation Area

Kuehn Conservation Area near Earlham, Iowa, grew from Gerald Kuehn’s 1982 donation of 300 acres, including his family property and childhood home, into a nearly 600-acre protected park managed by the Dallas County Conservation Board. Known for restored prairie, bird-watching, primitive camping, and hiking trails, it serves both recreation and conservation. The park also includes the Bear Creek Nature Center, an appointment-only indoor classroom with wildlife displays used for environmental and ecological education by visitors including schoolchildren from across Iowa. Each year it hosts A Prairie Awakening, a free, alcohol-free gathering featuring youth programs, a traditional powwow, and Native American flute music.

Iowa · United States