Part of the diversity of Ringgold County is illustrated in the Amish communities that have grown up in the past several years.  Many community businesses are operated by the Amish population, who have their own school system.   While many businesses are farm based, Redding has several businesses that are owned by Amish people as well, including two grocery stores and a furniture store.  Seeing horse-drawn carriages and horse-powered equipment in the field is an every-day occurrence.  Products made here from baskets to quilts, jams to furniture and many other items are available because of the Amish community in Ringgold County.

Sun Valley Lake

An important aspect of Ringgold County is the Sun Valley Lake development near Ellston.  This private lake resort community has more than 460 homes at the 500-acre man-made lake.  The lake includes residential areas of single family dwellings and mobile homes and offers boating, fishing, golfing and other recreational opportunities for property owners. Over the years, Sun Valley Lake has gained more recognition for some of the cleanest water in the state, one of a kind fishing – with bass, walleye, catfish and crappie.  

 

     Greater Prairie-chickens were once Iowa’s most abundant game bird.  They were a very important food source for both Native Americans and early settlers.  Prairie chicken numbers began to decline in the late 1800’s because of market hunting and habitat loss.  The Iowa legislature restricted hunting in 1878 and closed the season in 1915.  However, because of the continued conversion of tall grass prairie to row crops the prairie chicken was extirpated from Iowa in the 1950’s.  The last known nesting sites were located in Appanoose, Wayne, and Ringgold counties. The last verified nesting occurred in 1952 in Appanoose County.
     In the early 1980’s the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), made an unsuccessful attempt to reintroduce prairie chickens to the Loess Hills by releasing one hundred birds near Onawa in Monona County.  A second attempt was made in 1987 with the release site being changed to the Ringgold Wildlife Area located near the Missouri border in south central Iowa.  This area was one of the last to have prairie chickens in Iowa and was thought to have some of the best potential habitat for a successful reintroduction. From 1987-1989 247 birds were released. Another 295 birds were trapped and released in Ringgold and Adair Counties from 1992-1994. While the Prairie Chickens are holding their own in Ringgold County genetic variability is a very real problem. In 2011 the IDNR (in cooperation with the Blank Park Zoo) went to Imperial Nebraska and brought back 47 Greater Prairie-chickens.  In 2012 we hope to bring back 100 birds. It may always be necessary to supplement the chicken population and that would mean trans-locating birds to Iowa every 10 to 20 years or so.
     Greater prairie-chicken, arguably more than any other species represents an indicator species for grassland landscapes.  Their unique life history puts these charismatic birds in the public spotlight. Their total dependence on large tracts of habitat help us educate the public about well managed grasslands and the many other less noticeable species that use this ecosystem.  The prairie chicken presence in southern Iowa, however tenuous, has helped generate resources, in funds and private landowner cooperation, to create one of the premier grassland areas in the state of Iowa.  This landscape has attracted major research projects, prairie enthusiasts, birders, and other interested folks that travel many miles to view the birds booming in early April.

FIFE’S GROVE PARK is located one mile north of Mount Ayr. The 52-acre park is nestled in an “oak savanna” where many of the trees are well over 150 years in age. A wetland restoration site is located in the park and many bird species can be seen here.

In 1964, Fife’s Grove became the first park to come under the management of the Ringgold County Conservation Board. There is a modern playground, two open air shelters, one enclosed shelter, a ten unit campground with electrical hookups, a recently renovated pond for fishing with a gazebo, rural water, and clean toilet facilities are available. Next to a small prairie renovation site is a one room log cabin open to the public that has history tied to the early settlement of this county.

POE HOLLOW PARK is situated 1 ¾ miles east of Mount Ayr on Highway 2. This scenic 72 acre park is located within an oak hickory timber with several small forest meadows. Poe Hollow Park is a favored site for mushroom hunters and berry pickers.

Facilities provided in this attractive park include; two open air shelters, one enclosed shelter, a ten unit campground with electrical hook-ups, a large modern playground, horseshoe pits, a small pond with gazebo, trails connecting the park to the Ringgold Trailway, rural water and clean toilet facilities.

KOKESH PARK is a 15 acre timbered park that is located one mile south of Diagonal. This area was gifted to the Conservation Board by the late Fred and Pearl Kokesh, longtime Diagonal residents.

Much of the park has been recently renovated with an open air shelter, rural water and a 6 unit campground. The existing pond has been completely renovated and now includes a small water garden, aquatic structure, and levy that has improved the water quality and fishery of this park.

O’NEAL REST AREA is adjacent to Highway 169 and J20, west of Tingley. This area is maintained by the Conservation Board as a roadside rest area. Travelers can take a break here and find shade under some very large cottonwood trees. A picnic table is provided for your convenience.

RINGGOLD TRAILWAY is a 25-acre trail system that has 2 miles of asphalted walking surface. The trail is located on Hwy 169 in Mount Ayr and runs east, connecting to Poe Hollow Park. The Conservation Board recently partnered with the Ringgold County Public Health to provide signage along the trail that displays the distance for trail users.

MAPLELEAF PATHWAY is located immediately east of the Diagonal community. The name originates from the Chicago Northwestern Railroad system that formed an outline of a maple leaf on the rail map. This 1½ mile trail has a small marsh and creek running along the west side. The Conservation Board recently partnered with the Ringgold County Public Health to provide signage along the trail that displays the distance for trail users.

BOONE WOODS is 311 acres of rough timber terrain. There are numerous multi-use trails that can be utilized for hiking, hunting or horseback riding. No motorized vehicles are allowed anywhere on this area at any time. This site is located southwest of Redding and is nestled in by the west fork of the Grand River.

DON & CONNIE HUFF WILDLIFE AREA is the most recent addition to the Conservation Board. It is a 298 acre grassland site designed for wildlife habitat with prairie restoration efforts and is open to public hunting during all regulated hunting seasons. On occasion, the rare Greater Prairie Chicken can be seen at this site.