Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park

11/26/2022

Out of Office today (and likely tomorrow as well) due to all park staff having come down with the flu. Stay safe. Cover your cough. Wash your hands often.

11/24/2022

Happy Thanksgiving from our staff and our families to yours!

10/23/2022

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From all of us at Van Meter, we thank you all who came out tonight for our 2nd annual "Spooking Up The Park " event. Thank you all who participated in the Trick or Treating. Congratulations to all of our Costume Contest and Campsite Decorating Contest winners, and thank you all who went on the Haunted Hike, we hope you weren't to scared, and had a great time!

P.S.
The Haunted Forest was 100% fictional.

Hope to see you all next year!

Signed,
The Van Meter State Park Crew.

10/15/2022

Updated Schedule of Events for next weekends Spooking Up The Park.

10/02/2022

FYI: The Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center and Park Office have officially changed over to Winter Hours:

09/24/2022

Coming soon a new primitive skill for you to learn. Stay tuned:

09/12/2022

09/10/2022

Saturday Morning Hikes, Saturday Mornings at 10am until October 29. If you have any questions please call the Park Office. In the event of poor weather or staffing issues Hikes may be cancelled. Please check ahead!

09/09/2022

Another season of evening Interpretative programs has come to an end, but the end of that season leads to the beginning of another seasonal favorite, Saturday Morning Hikes start this weekend and will end the last weekend of October. Join the Park Naturalist on guided hikes of our beautiful hiking trails. Hikes begin at 10 am please meet at the Large Shelter house parking lot by 9:45am to make sure you don't miss the hike.

09/04/2022

You asked we listened. We now have Van Meter hiking medallions, magnets, decals, and patches for sale in our gift shop located in the cultural center.

09/03/2022

Happy Labor Day Weekend. The weather is going to be beautiful this weekend. Our Campground is full but there is still plenty of room to come out for the day for a picnic in one of our open shelters or snag a picnic table under one of our shade trees. We also have Sit-on top kayaks and Canoe available to rent on our Lake Wooldridge, and as always plenty of trails to explore. If you do hit one of our trails I suggest you snag your self a Paw Paw or two to snack on as you walk they and ripe and ready.

08/27/2022

As the temperatures cool down around here in the coming weeks and months there are many things to look forward too, one of our favorites around here is the ripening of our Paw Paw Fruits.
Paw paw are the only member of the tropical tree family to grow in Missouri. The taste is something you can only describe for yourself once you have tried them, some describe it as a cross between a mango and a banana. These culinary delights can be found along the Loess Hills Trail, and the Boardwalk trails.

Stay tuned for more Paw Paw themed programs including hikes and maybe some culinary delights made with these juicy fruits.

08/11/2022

We'd Love to see you there!

08/06/2022

Looking to beat the heat today? One way to cool off is to rent watercraft such as kayaks or canoes. Van Meter State Park rents watercraft during our office hours which are Thursday through Monday 10am- 4pm. Stop by the park office to pay and pick up the keys, paddles and life jackets.
Each watercraft rents for $10.57 for 2 hours or $21.15 for the day. All equipment must be returned by 8 pm.
A driver's license is held as a deposit until all equipment has been returned.

08/05/2022

Don't miss out on this awesome opportunity to learn a new skill!

Have you ever wanted to try kayaking but didn't know where to begin? Do you want to get out on the water but don't have your own kayak? You're in luck! Missouri State Parks offers Learn2 Paddle classes at locations across the state. The following dates and times have spots available.

Aug. 13: Learn2 Paddle, Crowder State Park, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Aug. 15: Learn2 Paddle, K**b Noster State Park, 1 p.m. - CANCELED
Aug. 20: Learn2 Paddle, Wakonda State Park, 1 p.m.

For more information and to register, visit https://mostateparks.com/learn2paddle.

07/28/2022

Our office phone line is currently down, if you need to reach the park call 660-815-7019 for assistance.

07/23/2022

Looking to beat the heat today? One way to cool off is to rent watercraft such as kayaks or canoes. Van Meter State Park rents watercraft during our office hours which are Thursday through Monday 10am- 4pm. Stop by the park office to pay and pick up the keys, paddles and life jackets.
Each watercraft rents for $10.57 for 2 hours or $21.15 for the day. All equipment must be returned by 8 pm.
A driver's license is held as a deposit until all equipment has been returned.

07/12/2022

Bring school and youth groups to Missouri state parks! Bus grants are available to public schools and youth-focused nonprofit organizations. Apply for up to $750 in bus grants to pay for field trips. Learn more at https://mostateparks.com/page/55065/outdoor-recreation-grants.
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

07/03/2022

07/03/2022

Getting ready for another Saturday night Program

06/25/2022

Sign up for Learn2Paddle Taught at Crowder by our superintendent Daniel on July 16th, registration closes July 6th.

And like the post says if you don't need instruction come on out to the park and rent a Kayak or Canoe today till four or tomorrow 10am-4pm

Crowder State Park will be hosting Learn2 Paddle sessions on Saturday July 16th at 10 am and 1 pm. Sign up by July 6 at:
https://icampmo1.usedirect.com/MSPWeb/Activities/Search.aspx
Sessions will be led by Daniel Pierce, Park Superintendent at Annie & Abel Van Meter State Park.

If you don't need a lesson you can rent watercraft at the Crowder State Park office today until 6 pm or tomorrow from 1 pm until 6 pm. Watercraft rent for $10.57 per watercraft for 2 hours or $21.15 per watercraft for the day (all equipment must be returned by 8 pm). We have the paddle, life jackets and keys at the park office. The watercraft are stored by the lake. A driver's license is held as a deposit until the equipment has been returned.

06/12/2022

06/11/2022

Getting ready for another "Night at the Campground " program. Come and see "Whoooo" we're going to talk about tonight. Program starts about 8pm.

06/11/2022

This weekend, June 11-12th, is MDC free fishing days. Stop by the visitor center/ Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center to rent our brand new kayaks ($10 for 2/hours or $20 for the day) and enjoy a day on our lake. Explore the lake beyond the Loess Hills Trail. We've done the hard work of getting the kayaks to the lake for you. If you do go out feel free to tag us in your pictures. It is a beautiful weekend to get out here and enjoy any of our amenities.

06/05/2022

Photos from Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park's post

06/05/2022

All set up and ready to go for tonight's program.
"Things that go bump in the night "

05/30/2022

On this , take a moment to remember and honor those who served and lost their lives. Today and every day we salute veterans!

05/23/2022

Have you ever wanted to kayak or canoe our lake Wooldridge here at Van Meter, but either you don't have your own boat or you dont want to haul it down the trail to the lake? Well good news starting this Friday you will be able to rent kayaks and canoes for use on our lake by visiting to office to get set up. Prices are $10 for two hours or $20 for the day.

05/17/2022

Photos from Missouri State Parks's post

05/01/2022

Thank you all for attending the Back in Time, Forgotten Skills Workshops this season. If any of you have pictures of the workshops you attended please feel free to share them on our page. If anyone has photos of the "Cordage" workshop could you share those, it appears we forgot to take pictures of that one. Thank you all, and hopefully we'll see you next year!

04/17/2022

Registration is OPEN.
This will be the final of the three part Back in Time Workshops.
Author Bo Brown will be sharing his knowledge with us. You don't want to miss this!

03/15/2022

“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” - Henry David Thoreau

It won't be long before we start seeing signs of spring. Find a park near you and start your week off right with a hike.

https://mostateparks.com/find-a-park

📸 - Roxanna Cummings, 2021 DNR Photo Contest Entrant - 📍 St. Joe State Park

03/03/2022

Registration link is Active

Sign up now!!!
https://icampmo1.usedirect.com/MSPWeb/Activities/Search.aspx

02/22/2022

Bring school and youth groups to Missouri state parks and historic sites with a bus grant. Available to public school districts, private schools, charter schools and youth-focused nonprofit organizations with 501(c) 3 status. Apply for up to $750 in bus grants to pay for field trips. Visit http://mostateparks.com/page/55065/outdoor-recreation-grants for more information.
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

02/22/2022

2nd "Spooking Up the Park" event scheduled for October 2022

We had a blast the first time! Let's do it again!
Trick or Treating, Haunted Trail, Costume Contest and More!

02/15/2022

Stargazing on the Mounds Events to return to Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park!
August 2022
December 2022

02/11/2022

The Tribes of Missouri Part 1: When the Osage & Missouria Reigned

A great article about the Osage and Missouria when they lived in Missouri

Two groups with distinct cultures emerged from our region’s first residents to dominate this land. Worshipful and warlike on an untouched landscape, the Osage and the Missouria did more than live here. For centuries, they ruled.

02/07/2022

Coming back for a second season!
Nights at the Campground: A series of Interpretive Programs
Weekends during camping "On-Season"
Friday Night Fireside Chats
Saturday Night Programs

01/29/2022

Campground Host

Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park is seeking campground hosts for the 2022 season. Responsibilities include greeting visitors, checking in campers, answering questions and helping maintain the beauty of the park's campgrounds. Hosts enjoy a complementary full hook up site in our campground. Opportunities are available the months of July, August, September, and October of 2022. To apply, visit https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicEnterprise/EnterpriseGvi?enterpriseGuid=169ee1ee-a6b9-4f2d-97c1-aec85bdf63f4&gviGuid=804ab5db-6c7a-418a-b33b-567afbf4e96e&searchUrl=https%253a%252f%252fapp.betterimpact.com%252fPublicEnterprise%252fEnterpriseSearch%253fEnterpriseGuid%253d169ee1ee-a6b9-4f2d-97c1-aec85bdf63f4%2526SearchType%253dOrganization%2526SearchId%253d28266, and complete a volunteer application. Please indicate on the application that you are interested in becoming a camp ground hosts.

If you have any other questions about this opportunity, please contact the park office at 660-886-7537

We are seeking campground host(s) to serve as "live-in" ambassador at Missouri state park campgrounds. Hosts perform a variety of tasks and duties while living in their own RV parked on an assigned campsite that is provided in exchange for their service. Hosts generally serve 40 hours a week and mus...