Cross Ranch State Park
| Cross Ranch State Park | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Missouri River from Cross Ranch State Park | |
  Location in North Dakota | |
| Location | Oliver, North Dakota, United States |
| Coordinates | 47°12′26″N 101°00′17″W / 47.20722°N 101.00472°W[1] |
| Area | 589 acres (238 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,759 ft (536 m)[1] |
| Established | 1989[2] |
| Governing body | North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department |
| Website | Cross Ranch State Park |
Cross Ranch State Park is a public recreation area covering 589 acres (238 ha) on the west bank of the Missouri River in Oliver County, North Dakota.[3] The state park is located 9 miles (14 km) south of Washburn and 22 miles (35 km) east of Center. It lies adjacent to the 6,000-acre (2,400 ha) Cross Ranch Nature Preserve, which features a roaming herd of more than 200 adult bison.[4]
History
In the late 1800s, A.G. Gaines, a scout and land agent for the Burlington Northern Railroad, owned an 11,000-acre ranch where the park and preserve now stand.[5] Although the subsequent owners, Bob and Gladys Levis, wished for the land to become a state park, and its purchase was approved by the state legislature in 1979, Bismarck businessman Robert McCarney funded a statewide referral that killed the proposal.[6] In 1982, The Nature Conservancy purchased the ranch from the Levis, donating land for the state park in 1989, and holding onto 6000 acres for use as a nature preserve.[4]
Activities and amenities
The state park and nature preserve provide over 16 miles (26 km) of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing.[7] In addition, the state park offers boating, canoeing, cabins, yurts, and campsites.[3]
References
- ^ a b "Cross Ranch". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Timeline". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ a b "Cross Ranch State Park". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
- ^ a b Gehring, Brian (May 24, 2012). "Cross Ranch area offers history and eco-diversity". Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, N.D. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ "History of Cross Ranch State Park". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ "Historical Overview". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ "Cross Ranch State Park Trails". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
External links
- Cross Ranch State Park North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department
- Cross Ranch Preserve The Nature Conservancy