PRATT – The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) will celebrate the grand opening of Lehigh Portland State Park on Wednesday, Aug. 12, officially opening the newest Kansas state park.
The grand opening celebration will include remarks from KDWP leadership, local officials and project partners, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The public is invited to tour the new visitor center during an open house from 2 to 3 p.m. at 1578 Montana Rd., Iola. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet park staff and learn more about the park.
Lehigh Portland State Park is built on the site of a former limestone quarry that provided stone for the Lehigh Portland Cement Company, which helped build roads and cities across Kansas in the early 1900s. Today, the former quarry has been transformed into a destination that blends the area’s industrial heritage with outdoor recreation, offering towering limestone cliffs, clear waters, wooded trails and scenic overlooks unlike anywhere else in Kansas. The park features approximately 15 miles of trails for hiking, trail running and mountain biking, along with new camping opportunities and amenities for both day-use and overnight visitors.
“Lehigh Portland State Park offers visitors the opportunity to experience a landscape unlike any found at other Kansas state parks,” said Kansas State Parks Director Conner O’Flannagan. “Whether visitors come for the day or spend the weekend camping, we look forward to welcoming them to Kansas’ newest state park.”
Reservations for the park’s 27 campsites open Aug. 13. Campsites can be reserved at campitks.gov or through the CampIt KS mobile app.
All visitors entering the park are required to have a Kansas State Park vehicle permit. Daily permits are available for purchase at the park office for $5, or $3.25 for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Annual permits, which provide unlimited entry to all Kansas state parks during the calendar year, are available for $25.
“The opening of Lehigh Portland State Park reflects KDWP’s commitment to expanding outdoor recreation opportunities while preserving Kansas’ unique natural and cultural resources,” said KDWP Secretary Christopher Kennedy. “The park’s distinctive setting adds character to an already exceptional outdoor experience. We’re excited to welcome visitors to experience this unique destination for years to come.”
For more information about Kansas State Parks, visit ksoutdoors.gov/state-parks.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Kansas’s natural resources for the benefit of both current and future generations. KDWP manages 29 state parks, 177 lakes and wildlife areas, more than 300 public waterbodies, and 5 nature centers. Other services include management of threatened, endangered, and at-risk species, law enforcement, and wildlife habitat programs. For more information about KDWP, visit ksoutdoors.gov.