Kristin Conard | Publications and Writing
Description: The best of the Sunflower State on and off the trail
It’s hard to pinpoint just what it is that makes the place so special. It could be the views out from the bluffs over the spring-fed quarry lake, which is super clear. It could be the well-maintained trails that run through stretches of tall prairie grasses or through hardwood forest and offer something to everyone, whether you want to spend a full day exploring or just take out a picnic lunch. It could be the passion that those who’ve helped build the park into what it is today and the vision that they hav
A quick history of how we got here. On April 19, 2023, Governor Laura Kelly established Kansas’ 28th state park — the Lehigh Portland State Park in Iola .
It’s on the site of what was once the largest cement plant in the United States – the Iola Portland Cement Company, according to Lehigh Trails . That company was bought by the Lehigh Portland Cement Company in 1917, which operated there until 1970. From there, Iola Industries Inc. purchased the land and buildings. In 2016, the trail system was officially opened, and over 50 years since the original purchase, Iola Industries donated 360 acres of land to state of Kansas to make it into a state park.
Kristin Conard | Publications and Writing