You can book this facility up to 12 months in advance
Check-in Time: The check-in time is 10:00 am. If you need to access the lodge prior to 10 am you may make arrangements with Park staff and they will try to accommodate the request.
Consumption of Alcohol: Drinking of these beverages is not permitted on roads or in parking lots.
If you want to use the fireplace, the renter must bring their own firewood and notify park staff at the time of check in. The renter must follow all guidelines with transporting firewood within the state of Iowa's Firewood label requirement, which can be found on this PDF, Firewood Label Rules.
The outside open shelter/patio in not guaranteed or considered part of any off season rentals that occur between October 15th through April 14th each year. The maximum number of persons allowed for reservations during the off season is 70-75 people.
Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been confirmed in a number of counties throughout Iowa. As a result, the entire state of Iowa is now under state and federal firewood transport quarantines. It is in direct violation of the federal quarantine to transport firewood from a quarantined area into a non-quarantined area. Park visitors are cautioned not to transport firewood across county lines in Iowa or across state lines since the movement of firewood throughout Iowa or to other states poses the greatest threat to quickly spread EAB even further. Do your part to help prevent the spread of EAB and other woodland pests. Please consider buying firewood locally near the park you are visiting and burn it all during your stay. For more information about EAB and the federal firewood transport quarantine, visit: Iowa DNR website.
Renters are expected to abide by all facility use rules and cleaning procedures for the facility. Failure to review these items could result in cancellation of your reservation and forfeiture of reservation transaction fees.
If your party size exceeds the seating capacity, you must contact the park office Prior to Reserving, to determine whether the facility and amenities can accommodate your event. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of the reservation and forfeiture of reservation transaction fees.
Key Information: Renters will be given a four digit code upon arrival by the park staff. The door is equipped with a key pad on the door handle which opens the locked door. No key is available to the renter or needed for access.
Damage Deposit Required: A $500 damage deposit is required in addition to the rental fee. The deposit must be paid separate from the rental fee. The damage deposit is due upon arrival. Checks should be made payable to Iowa DNR.
Mail the check to:
Walnut Woods State Park
3155 Walnut Woods Drive
West Des Moines, IA 50265
Important Information:
If you wish to decorate the day before, you will need to reserve the facility for that day and pay the appropriate rental fee. Please be sure to read the rules regarding decorations on the DNR website.
The renter is responsible for the group and all activities in the park associated with the event. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is not responsible for items that are lost, stolen, or become damaged. Renters are financially responsible for any damage to state park property or extra cleaning that may be required.
Please plan to have your function over by 10:00 p.m. or earlier if necessary in order to clean and leave before the park closes.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation fee of $6 for online cancellations or $7 for call center cancellations applies for all cancellations. Cancellations which occur 15-29 days prior to arrival will result in a forfeiture of one night's/day's rental fee and tax plus the cancellation fee. Cancellations less than 15 days prior to the arrival date will result in a forfeiture of two night's/day's rental fee and tax plus the cancellation fee. If the cancel fee plus the forfeiture amount exceeds the total amount of fees originally paid, DNR will not collect any additional money.
Note: The arrival date cannot be changed to a later date without losing the entire reservation when the departure date remains the same. However, the arrival date can be changed to an earlier date If the arrival and departure dates of the entire reservation change, that is allowed.
Change Policy: A fee of $5 for each reservation changed online and $6.50 for each reservation changed through the call center. The last day to change a reservation is 15 days prior to arrival if paying by credit/debit card and 21 days prior to arrival if paying by check.
Reservation Fee Policy: A nonrefundable reservation fee is charged for each reservation. The reservation fee is $4.50 for online or $6 for call center reservations.
Rates subject to change; if reservation changes are made, new rates will apply.
Reservation Website: iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com
Reservation Call Center: 1-877-427-2757
Footnotes: (applicable only where specifically marked above)
** Arrival dates earlier than the online-reservation-window may also be available at the campground.
Some sites may be available only from the campground on a first-come-first-served basis.