Kish-Ke-Kosh Prairie State Preserve

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State Preserves

Kish-Ke-Kosh Prairie is a 16-acre native tallgrass prairie. It is located half a mile south of Reasnor in southern Jasper County. The prairie was purchased in 1980 from Nicholas and Linda Keplinger by the Iowa Conservation Commission and was dedicated as a biological state preserve in 1981. The preserve was named after the Fox (Meskwaki) Indian chief, Kish-Ke-Kosh, who was a well-known friend to the European settlers in the area. Upland prairie encompasses a major portion of the preserve, blending into moist drainageways and wet swales. 

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Directions

  1. From the intersection of I-80 and Highway 14 (Exit 164) at the southwest edge of Newton, go south on Highway 14 for 7 miles to the second turnoff for County Road F62. 
  2. Turn east (left) and drive 4 miles into the town of Reasnor. Turn south (right) on Main Street (which becomes Ranch Street outside of town) and go 0.25 mile to Robin Avenue. 
  3. Turn east (left) and follow this winding road 1 mile to the preserve, on the south side of the road (sign: Kish-Ke-Kosh State Preserve). 
  4. Park along the roadside.
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Flora

Although this preserve was formerly grazed, the prairie vegetation is recovering. In spring, the prairie hosts hoary and hairy puccoons. Blooming peaks in June and July, as indigo bush and prairie larkspur begin to fade and leadplant, prairie coreopsis, and pale purple coneflower start to appear. Prairie rose, purple prairie clover, sand primrose, and partridge pea emerge among purple rough blazing stars. By the end of September, prairie sunflower, sky-blue and silky asters, sweet everlasting, and Missouri goldenrod provide yellow, blue, and gold blooms. 

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Fauna

Red-tailed hawks can often be seen flying in the updrafts along the edges of the hills. Eastern meadowlarks, dickcissels, and horned larks are commonly heard here with an occasional appearance by upland sandpipers or shrikes. Ten species of butterflies have been seen here, including black swallowtail, orange sulphur, pearl crescent, and wood satyr. 

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Nearby Public Areas

Another public area in the vicinity is the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, where a major tallgrass prairie restoration effort is under way.

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