1. Jester Park Nature Center

    1. Jester Park Nature Center

    0

    Granger, IA

    Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Jester Park Nature Center

    5.0 (10 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Jester Park Nature Center Photos

    You might also consider

    More like Jester Park Nature Center

    Recommended Reviews - Jester Park Nature Center

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Mini zoo
    Christina W.

    Beautiful! This building is just what the park needed. My kids call it the nature library. Walking in feels like you just stepped into a quiet and serene place. Beautiful fireplace to keep you warm on upper level. Large overlooking window past the fireplace. There are binoculars and telescopes for patrons to check out the scenery. Downstairs is the children's learning center. By far the BEST nature learning center I've seen. Way better than the science center. Almost like a mini zoo! Every corner you turn is an opportunity to read facts about animals and nature. Under cave crawling and fun. Puppet show area too. Lots of hands on things to see and do.

    Mark S.

    Looking for somewhere to go to get back in nature? This is a new Conservation Complex within Jester Parks many amenities. This review is for the observation visiters center that has brand new public restrooms, interior natural history instalations, and observation deck towards the grounds beyond that have great outdoor joys. There is a inviting kids playscape that is conjoined with smaller observation areas that highlight live Buffalo and Elk as well as other local wildlife; birds, butterflies, and wildflowers...A perfect afternoon out to get back in nature. There is also a great outdoor activities lodge with activity "camp" store to grab a snack or a camp stove for an impromptu picnic. Super nice State Park complex within this Beautiful Park only minutes from the Des Moines Metro...Come get some Green Space Escape.

    Miranda S.

    Great to drive around or walk around to get a look at nature and get some fresh air. Always clean or garbage & well kept up. Definitely recommend driving thru for a view on the weekends or early in the AM.

    Jeff B.

    Not at all what I was thinking this would be. I was thinking a park with some bits of fun. I was wrong, this place has all kinds of animal exhibits and plenty to walk around and see...all year around. I wasn't able to go into the Conservation Complex due to it being closed at the time, but the building was impressive. Make sure to check out the artwork around the site also! Recommended!

    Just called out "take a photo of me"

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark S.
    248
    225
    1153

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Max D.
    66
    10
    8

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Jester Park Nature Center

    Review Highlights - Jester Park Nature Center

    We visited on a moderate winter afternoon and enjoyed spending time with their elk, who roam the property's northwest end.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Parks 1,125 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Northview Park

    Northview Park

    5.0
    (2 reviews)
    9.8 mi

    A tucked away playground that isn't so secret…read more.. Found this playground through a friend who lives in the neighborhood. It's tucked away in suburbia and a collection of baseball diamonds. You wouldn't know it was here unless you live close by. Wonderful place to play! Must be new to the baseball diamonds. During COVID19 review: A playground that isn't so secret...Many visitors were here while we came out during the middle of a work day. There were a lot of kids running around including my own and a friend's. Kids were not social distant. Two kids wore masks while their mom had one on as well. The rest of the kids were not masked. The playground is super fun! Slides, slides, and more slides. Rubber playground surfacing and updated equipment make it phenomenal. The mini zip line seat is the highlight! Rolling slide and horizontal rolling slide. Plenty of swings as well. The playground is an all inclusive one: accessible pieces of equipment that were created and designed that allows all children to play of different abilities, skills, and conditions. We love these playgrounds! Highly recommend visiting! Will be coming back if there are smaller crowds.

    I live right by this park and raised 50 dollars to help fund it, unfortunately my brother stole and…read morespent it, but its the thought that counts. Its a great park for all ages, adults too. Its got a zipline and a seesaw and a huge play set. I recommend visiting. Its a miracle park for handicapped people. And there is a bathroom nearby but its usually locked unless the miracle field is being used. I love going here at least weekly if not more. If you stand from the park side of the (well kept) trail, and go right down the trail. After a five minute walk there is another fun park with a little library. You have to cross the street once though (if you have little runners). I recommend the miracle park no question it is an amazing resource for disabled children and is wheelchair accessible. If you want to know about more good parks in the area, walker johnston park, terra park, and if you are willing to go for a 35 minute ride from the north view park area (urbandale), big creek park. I will leave reviews on these three parks for more information. - local helper, Via w.

    Photos
    Wide angle view from the opposite end of the entrance
    Wide angle view from the opposite end of the entrance
    Playground
    Playground
    Playground entrance

    See all

    Playground entrance
    Waukee Triumph Park

    Waukee Triumph Park

    5.0
    (4 reviews)
    11.8 mi

    This park was a stop on a road trip for a leg stretch break. It's awesome, there is everything you…read morecan think of for a park. They have plenty for little kids and big kids. There's also a trail. An hour passed before we blinked! We will be back and highly recommend putting this on your list if you chase parks like our family!

    Can I be a kid again??? Even as the parent, this park is 10x better than I imagined it to be. It is…read moreimportant to note that Triumph Park is not only a playground but also a recplex of sorts with multiple ball fields, small lake with a fishing dock, and walking trails. But I am am here to talk about the playground portion because I was blow away! Everyone else must be as pleased and excited as I am because on a Friday evening the place was packed. Pulling up I was fearful I made the wrong choice seeing all of the cars and kiddos running around but there is so much to do on the playground and it is a large enough space that it still was enjoyable for my step daughter. I also want to note that my stepdaughter is upper elementary school age and parks are hit and miss given her size/age. Triumph Park playground is a HIT and reminds me of those expensive indoor obstacle parks you pay to go to - Did I mention this is a public park so it is FREE!? There is also ample parking since it is adjacent to the ball diamonds. One of my favorite parts is that the base (floor) of the playground is solid with a rubber mat or faux grass materials with padding underneath for a little cushion to protect your littles. Also no mess! - Who ever allowed sandbox/woodchip playgrounds anyways, yuck! I am not sure I can describe this next feature well but most of the structure is sort of built into the ground. The main portion is dug into a "hole" so the landscape itself is fun for the kids to run up and down, it is also lined with faux grass and cushion. (I told you I wouldn't describe that well, you will just have to go see it for yourself!). There is plenty of play spaces for little kids but the tall, tall slides for the big kids and towers to get to them are INSANE. I have never seen anything like it in a public, outdoor park. They also have really fun spins (literally) on a merry-go-round and teeter-totter, the kids really seemed loved these. I not sure how else to describe it other than I was extremely impressed. We will be visiting many times this summer and telling all of our friends!

    Photos
    Waukee Triumph Park

    See all

    McFarland Park

    McFarland Park

    5.0
    (5 reviews)
    24.3 mi

    Photo taken 4/24/26…read more This is such a lovely place! We have been here several times, and we love it each time we visit. We've been here twice on field trips with my child's class, and several other times outside of that. There is an information center and plenty of outdoor activities. It's very well maintained, and the staff here are all wonderful. It's definitely a fun place for fishing or just simply walking around and enjoying nature. For those that enjoy birdwatching, this is also a great location to do so. The information center has quite a few activities for anyone interested in learning about any type of nature. You can ask for kits to inspect tadpoles or water creatures as well as binoculars for birdwatching. There's also a natural play structure for kids to explore. It's so peaceful and serene; this also makes it perfect for a picnic! There is a path that goes around the water, and there are also a few gazebos and benches for you to stop at to take a break or just enjoy the day.

    This is a really neat park north east of Ames. It's the home of the Story County Conservation…read moreCenter and a lot of classes and programming. There are some deceptively long hiking trails here that will let you traverse the various biomes of the state of Iowa. There are wooded, riparian and native prarire areas along trails immediately adjacent to the park and it also serves as a great launching point and connector for the Skunk River Greenbelt system of trails that continue to the north. There are primitive campsites and mutli-use hiking and biking trails. There is actually a lot to do outside in Story County, it's just not obvious & McFarland Park is a great place to get acquainted.

    Photos
    This beautiful view is looking out over the lake from the conservation center deck.
    This beautiful view is looking out over the lake from the conservation center deck.
    Warm January Sky
    Warm January Sky
    Woods Walk

    See all

    Woods Walk

    Jester Park Nature Center - parks - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...