Friday evening, the bison herd that lives in Lone Elk Park off of Interstate 44 near was busily munching away on fresh, springtime grass. The elk herd was grazing and resting 2 feet away from the park's visitor center. Deer criss-crossed the road, seemingly unaware of the humans surrounding them.
People were back out on the park's picnic tables, and sitting near the water peacefully.
Read related article:
is one of St. Louis' most unique outdoor areas that provides visitors with chances to observe bison, elk and other wildlife from the comfort and convenience of their vehicles. Motorcycles are prohibited from the park, due to the potential disturbance to the wildlife living there. Domestic animals, such as dogs, are not allowed, even if confined in a vehicle.
The park is included in the Meramec River Greenway.
The park acreage was once part of the 2,400-acre Tyson Valley Powder Plant used for the testing and storage of ammunition during World War II, so it also provides a different sense of local history.
The 546-acre park is located at 1 Lone Elk Park Road, St. Louis, MO 63088. Its hours of operation are 8 a.m. to one-half hour past official sunset, except when reservations are issued.
Eureka-Wildwood Patch covered the whole ordeal of , due to the budget constraints in the county's overall finances. .
For a great historical perspective about how Lone Elk Park actually got started and its namesake, read the following two blogs from Eureka resident George Weber:
Editor's Note: Please upload your own photos from visits to Lone Elk Park via the "Edit Photos & Video" function at the bottom of this article.
