Wapello State Park
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Iowa — Named for Chief Wapello of the Fox (Meskwaki) tribe — a diplomat who sought peace during the Black Hawk War. The park wraps around a scenic 40-acre lake in the rolling timber of southeast Iowa, excellent for largemouth bass fishing.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Iowa |
About Wapello
Wapello State Park in Davis County is named for Chief Wapello — a revered leader of the Meskwaki (Fox) people who maintained peace with American settlers. The park covers 394 acres of mixed forest and prairie around a 30-acre lake in southern Iowa’s rolling hills. The park offers a quiet retreat in one of Iowa’s least-visited regions, with excellent fishing and camping.
Things to Do
Fishing for bass, bluegill, and catfish in the 30-acre lake, camping (40 sites with electric), hiking on 3 miles of trails through oak-hickory forest, swimming at the beach (seasonal), and cross-country skiing. A peaceful escape from the crowds.
Getting There
Located on Highway 273 near Eldon, Davis County. The park surrounds a small lake in southeastern Iowa’s rolling timber hills. Named for Chief Wapello of the Fox (Meskwaki) tribe — one of the few Native American leaders who maintained peaceful relations with settlers. The American Gothic House in nearby Eldon inspired Grant Wood’s famous painting (1930). The park’s CCC-era stone structures are on the National Register.
Plan Your Visit
Wapello offers 40 campsites, swimming beach, fishing, and hiking through oak-hickory forest. The CCC-built stone lodge hosts nature programs. The American Gothic House Center in nearby Eldon is a must-visit — pose with the Grant Wood painting backdrop. Ottumwa (20 miles) is the birthplace of Radar O’Reilly from M*A*S*H. The park’s quiet, wooded setting feels far from civilization despite being just off Highway 273.
Insider Tips
Meskwaki heritage: Wapello is named for Chief Wapello — a Fox (Meskwaki) leader who sought peaceful coexistence with settlers during the Black Hawk era. Pro tip: The Meskwaki Settlement near Tama is unique — the Meskwaki bought back their own land in 1857 rather than accepting a reservation. Iowa history: Iowa means “beautiful land” in the Ioway language.
Best Time to Visit
Fall: Forest foliage. Summer: Camping and lake swimming. Spring: Wildflowers. Winter: Cross-country skiing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Meskwaki buy their land back?
After being removed to Kansas in 1845, the Meskwaki (Fox) people returned to Iowa and used their own money to purchase 80 acres of land near Tama in 1857 — making them one of the few tribes who own their land outright rather than occupying a federally designated reservation. The settlement has grown to 8,000+ acres. The Meskwaki govern their own land, operate a casino, and maintain their language and culture — a remarkable story of self-determination.
