Area 220 ha | Phone +1 314-615-4386 | |
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Address 1 Lone Elk Park Rd, Valley Park, MO 63088, USA Hours Open today · 8AM–7PMSunday8AM–7PMMonday8AM–7PMTuesday8AM–7PMWednesday8AM–7PMThursday8AM–7PMFriday8AM–7PMSaturday8AM–7PM Similar World Bird Sanctuary, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Greensfelder County Park, Suson Park, Ulysses S Grant National | ||
Lone Elk Park is a county park in the U.S. state of Missouri consisting of 546 acres (2.21 km2) located in St. Louis County west of the town of Valley Park. The park is located adjacent to Interstate 44, the World Bird Sanctuary, Castlewood State Park, and Tyson Research Center.
Lone Elk Park was originally part of the Tyson Valley Powder Plant during World War II. After the war the area became a county park and herds of elk and bison were established in 1948. The land was reacquired by the federal government during the Korean War, and the wildlife herds were destroyed for safety reasons in 1958, but one lone bull elk survived. In 1964 St. Louis County acquired 405 acres (1.64 km2) for Tyson County Park, which became Lone Elk Park in 1966. The park officially opened on October 17, 1971 and six bison were acquired from the St. Louis Zoo in July 1973.
There are driving routes that provide views of the elk and bison, often at close proximity. The park is also home to many deer, wild turkey and waterfowl. Domestic animals are not permitted whatsoever, even if confined to a vehicle. Since early 2016, the lake was being researched on if it was possible a sinkhole was under the lake. Now if you were to go by it the boat dock was removed with lots of gallons of water. During the year 2017, fishing will be closed to the lake in an effort to rebuild the fish population.