Thomas Mitchell Park

Modern and primitive camping, picnic shelters, fishing, playground, hiking. A new rental cabin/house opened in July of 2019 near the pond. A tall, wooded ridge is the most prominent natural feature of this 179-acre park south of Mitchellville. Thomas Mitchell, a native of New Hampshire, built his cabin here along Camp Creek in 1844. His cabin site is no longer visible, but Polk County's first permanent English-speaking settler is still remembered by a park monument and the town of Mitchellville which bears his name. The park offers a 42-unit campground, two picnic shelters, universally designed play area, fishing pond, and the 1-1/2 mile Devotie Trail. The park entrance is located on NE 108th Street just south of NE 46th Street between Altoona and Mitchellville. Summer hours are from 6:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.; winter hours are from sunrise to sunset. Reservations for shelters, rental cabin, and some campsites can be made online at www.mycountyparks.com. Online reservations are available for camping between April 15 and October 15. Thomas Mitchell Park was named after Polk County's earliest Anglo-American settler, Thomas Mitchell. In 1844, Mitchell obtained early access to the Iowa Territory from Captain Allen, commander of Fort Des Moines. In exchange, Mitchell built a bridge over Camp Creek which was often impassible to wagons traveling from Keokuk and Iowa City to Fort Des Moines. He also built the Apple Grove Inn, in what is today's Thomas Mitchell Park. Thomas Mitchell was not only an innkeeper, but also a farmer, legislator, sheriff, and operator of a stop on the Underground Railroad.