Description

Historical Attractions
Two historical attractions both have active friends groups. One is the "turn of the century" Melpine one-room schoolhouse, which is located in the park and offers visitors a glimpse of Iowa's past.

The other historical attraction is the Pine Creek Grist Mill, which was built in 1848. The mill was built by Benjamin Nye, one of Muscatine County's first settlers. He also built the county's first store and post office in 1838. The mill is one of the finest examples of mid-19th century mills left in the country and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The mill is being restored to its original condition. Great strides have been made at the mill and it is now grinding corn for the first time in more than 75 years.

Recreation:

Trails
One of the major features of Wildcat Den State Park is the trail system. Trails wind through a variety of terrain and lead to such fascinating sites as "Steamboat Rock", "Devil's Punch Bowl" and "Fat Man's Squeeze". The majestic cliffs are composed of 300 million year-old sandstone and provide spectacular views for hikers.

Facilities:

Picnicking/Shelters
Wildcat Den offers a variety of picnic areas ideal for family gatherings or a pleasant outdoor cookout. There are two open shelters that can be reserved.

Camping
Wildcat Den is a great place for a family to "get away from it all" for a weekend or a family vacation. Campsites can be reserved in the nonmodern campground which has water and vault toilets. There are no showers and there is no electrical service to the campsites.

Nearby Attractions:

The park friends groups in conjuction with the park staff sponsor a few special events in the fall. Heritage Days in September gives visitors a chance to take part in historic activities, enjoy music and food. A 5-K run also takes place in the park in September. The Ghosts of Pine Creek, an educational reenactment of the mill's early history, takes place in October.

Nearby Towns
Muscatine, Iowa is located 10 miles west of Wildcat Den. Davenport, the third largest city in Iowa, is located 15 miles east of the park.