Location
Lake Manawa State Park is a 1,529-acre nature area located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The park attracts photographers, anglers, boaters and other outdoor enthusiasts from all over western Iowa, nearby Omaha, Nebraska, and beyond.
The park’s centerpiece is Lake Manawa, whose natural simplicity belies its storied past. The lake, whose name is derived from a Native American word meaning “peace and comfort,” was formed during flooding of the Missouri River in 1881. Recognizing the commercial potential of the lake, developers quickly established a “bathing resort” along the south shore, as well as a boardwalk and pier along the north shore, which attracted wealthy residents and affluent travelers. Within a few years of its formation, Lake Manawa had been dubbed “Coney Island of the Midwest” and eventually played host to…
