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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
History Happenings: Palisades-Kepler State Park’s story intersects with Lincoln Highway
Eastern Iowa park’s location along famous route was touted as selling point in 1920s
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
As we begin to wake up to fall-like temperatures, our denim jackets come off their hangers, and the leaves of the trees that line our Linn County streets begin to turn, we can’t help but find ourselves thinking about just how lucky we are to have a state full of opportunities to spend time among scenic autumn views.
Arguably, among the best places to do so in Linn County is just a short drive outside Cedar Rapids at Palisades-Kepler State Park near Mount Vernon.
As reported by the Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, Palisades State Park was established in 1922. Among the benefits of the location at the time was that it was the only state park along the Lincoln Highway — thereby making locals hopeful that the convenience of the highway would make the park a tourist destination. The newspaper even went so far as to point out to readers that it’s “interesting to know that the point where one leaves the Lincoln highway to turn into the Palisades is exactly one-third of the way from New York to San Francisco.”
‘Seedling Miles’ of the Lincoln Highway
Lobbying for the Lincoln Highway — a highway designed to make it possible to drive easily from coast to coast — began in 1912. In August 1918, Linn County became home to a “Seedling Mile” stretch of the highway. These “Seedling Miles” were an attempt by the Lincoln Highway Association to prove that despite dwindling funding, the highway would be a worthwhile investment for local and federal governments. Before the construction of the Lincoln Highway, dirt roads would often become impossible to pass through in wet conditions. The Iowa section of the Lincoln Highway, also known as U.S. Highway 30, was fully paved across the state in 1931.
State park expands
In 1926, the Evening Gazette reported that Louis Howard Kepler had left in his will 200 additional acres of land to expand the park. The land first was granted to a group of five trustees who were tasked with overseeing the “Louis H. Kepler Memorial Park.” The trustees were to negotiate with the state as to how the land would come under its possession. If they couldn’t make a deal within 10 years or the park fell into disrepair, the land would come back under the control of the Kepler estate.
Kepler was born in 1880 in Mount Vernon. He graduated from his hometown’s Cornell College in 1901 and from Northwestern University law school in Evanston, Ill., in 1904 — though he started law school at the University of Iowa. Notably, Kepler also left a significant amount of land and wealth to his undergraduate alma mater.
A successful lawyer, he was granted the ability to practice at the U.S. Supreme Court in 1909.
In his will, Kepler said the “natural beauties of the palisades have always been very dear to my heart … The possibilities of a beautiful state park there have always appealed to me. I hope that people may find happiness in going there.”
Lots of visitors, little money
The Gazette’s John Reynolds reported that by 1957, the renamed Palisades-Kepler State Park had served 144,000 guests the year before and did so on a budget of only $990. Today, that budget would amount to roughly $11,659. To be clear, that budget was meant to cover everything, including dam maintenance, trail upkeep, drinking fountain repair, managing the structures on the property and more. The park custodian at the time, Jerry Kann, was steadfast about the need for more funding for the park and the dangers of letting it fall into disrepair — everything from vandalism to wood-borne insect problems. Nevertheless, Palisades-Kepler State Park that year still boasted visitors from 36 states and six countries.
Today, the operating budgets for Iowa’s state parks remain a cause for concern. Last year, The Gazette cited a fall 2023 presentation given to Iowa Department of Natural Resources staff that estimated the state parks need $100 million in upgrades. A lot of that money would be oriented toward building repairs and accessibility improvements.
Nevertheless, even for the most indoors-oriented among us — your authors are guilty as charged in this regard — Palisades-Kepler State Park boasts views that are not to be missed, along with several walking paths, access for fishing and many different types of camping opportunities. Entry to state parks in Iowa is free. We know we will be making a trip soon, and we hope you will, too.
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