Visit the new
Coon Rapids web site! It is fun, and informative.
Learn more about Whiterock Conservancy.
See
www.whiterockconservancy.org
With regret, trail rides (with our horses) are no longer offered.
The Garst Family is donating all of the land now used by Garst Farm
Resorts to a new, public-purpose, non-profit organization, called
Whiterock Conservancy. Next winter, the Garsts will also be turning
over to Whiterock Conservancy the Resort itself. In preparation for
the donation of the Resort, we are starting the changes needed to get
ourselves out of the “services” business, which the IRS says can only be
an incidental part of a non-profit’s activities. Guided trail rides
have been our largest “service”. We had hoped to sell the riding stable
to a third-party contractor (concessionaire), which would have solved
this problem, but were not successful in finding someone.
NO OTHER CHANGES ARE PLANNED for the 2006 season in
our menu of accommodations, food and activities. So, if you were
planning a guided trail ride, we hope you will choose instead one of the
many other activities we offer … canoeing, hiking, fishing, gator rides,
campfires, hay rack rides, history talks, farm tours, a raptor workshop,
etc. Or try our newest offering … a visit to an authentic blacksmith
shop. In 2007, there may be additional changes, although we
anticipate that all of our accommodations and most of our activity
choices will still be offered.
GUESTS WITH THEIR OWN HORSES are still welcome.
Although stalls in our riding stable will no longer be available, we
will be increasing the number of high-quality pens in our Main
Campground, and at the Home Farm, 805 River and Oakridge Country House, for
use by overnight equestrian visitors. We will no longer be enforcing
vaccination requirements at 805 River and Oakridge … which is all the
more reason we strongly encourage you to vaccinate your horses before
you come. Although as of now our trails are still wide open, we
anticipate that some restrictions will be put into place later this
summer, to better protect our most precious natural areas. These
changes/restrictions will be put on our website as they are developed.
Although change can be hard, the development of the
Whiterock Conservancy project is a very, very exciting one. The
protection of this beautiful land is assured, forever. Research on
multiple land use (combining natural resource, agricultural and public
recreation uses) will benefit all of Iowa. Additional guest
amenities, including an improved campground and camping cabins, and
extensive environmental and agricultural education opportunities are now
in the planning stages.
In short, good things are happening! To learn
more, see
www.whiterockconservancy.org.
Birdwatchers ... lend us a hand!
Our new trail
map is now available on this website. It will be routinely
updated with notations about closed areas (because of hunting), so we
suggest you check it out before you come. The map is in
color ... print out a copy and bring it with you. It will not only
get you around on the trails, but also show you how to get to the star
field, the stable and our accommodations.
Our Prairie and Savannah page
is updated with new information and a new name.
The Fourth Annual Star Party dates have
been set .... Thursday through Sunday, September 21-24, 2006. Free
public viewing on that Friday.
With sadness, we announce the departure of our long- time astronomer
Dave Oesper. We
wish him luck in his new job, and we thank him for all he did for us. Whiterock Resort
and Whiterock Conservancy are now offering a free astronomy program the
first Friday of each month in the Star Field, with the help of area
astronomer Drew Sorenson. Astronomy schedule.
Try our new Hay Rack Ride. Take a
cruise from one end of the valley to the other, with family or friends.
Rack has straw bales for 30, and it can go right
through the heart of the
beautiful Whiterock Valley. Try it ... you will like it!
The Sentinels, made of planter
plates, has recently been re-built!
See our 2004 bow hunt photos!
Have you tried our recipes?
Coon Rapids has been named an Iowa Great Place pilot project!
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