Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we have some cottages with fire rings and some with fireplaces?
The Department of Public Safety conducted the final inspection of the cottages in order for the Department to receive its occupancy permit. The Department was notified of an Iowa Code rule that mandates that fire rings/pits have to be located at least 25 feet away from a structure. We have many cottages where we can’t meet this requirement due to many factors (cottage next door too close, land falls away, etc…). That is why we have to go with the fireplace option at those cottages. Outdoor fireplaces that have a lid and mesh sides (spark arrestors) are allowed at least 15 feet away from a structure. Grills can be placed 10 feet away from a structure.

Please note: There is currently a federal firewood transport quarantine established by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture to prevent the spread of emerald ash borer (EAB). it is in direct violation of the USDA APHIS quarantine for you to bring firewood from quarantined states into un-infested areas like Iowa. Do not bring firewood from your state into Iowa.

If a fire gets out of control in the outdoor fire pit or fireplace how do the guests put it out?
First someone should go into the cottage and call 911 while another guest takes the fire extinguisher from the cottage to try to put the fire out.

What kind of grass seed was planted at HCRSP?
All of the ditches and open areas have been seeded with Iowa native prairie grasses. This grass seed was harvested off of other state of Iowa DNR properties and was delivered by the IDNR Wildlife Bureau Prairie Seed Harvest Team. They also supplied many of the flower plugs you see at the front of the Lodge planted by the DNR staff. Around the cottages and in a 20-feet buffer around the lodge is planted a “low grow no mow” mix. This grass is different from typical lawn seed as it doesn’t need to be mowed, or very infrequently. This fits into the mission of the Department and the LEED (green/environmental) principles that this facility was constructed under.