Fossil Park damage estimated at $75,000

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Sightseers flocked to the Fossil and Prairie Center just outside of Rockford this past Saturday.

“It was one of the busiest days I’ve seen,” said Adam Sears, director of Floyd County Conservation.

Sears and his staff have picked up most of the large objects that were ripped off buildings or destroyed all together, after a devastating storm swept through the fossil park on Saturday, June 9.

“They realize we took a hit and we’re recovering fast. It’s full steam ahead,” said Sears, about the crowds that continue to visit one of Floyd County’s must-see nature areas.

The damage from that storm is costly. Sears estimated that the destruction caused by the high winds will total about $75,000.

Sears’ crew was able to retrieve the roof that was torn off the maintenance building – leaving a wide gap of exposed insulation and ceiling exposed to the elements. That mass of twisted metal and wood was pulled out by tractor and chain from the quarry last week. A new roof was starting to be put on the building Wednesday.

“We’re moving forward. That will be nice to get that buttoned back up,” said Sears.

The news isn’t so good for the log cabin that was one of the park’s attractions. The 1880s cabin took a pounding from from the storm as the roof and the top quarter of its walls were completely sheared off.

Sears said he’ll address that issue at the upcoming Conservation Board meeting on July 3, but he said it looks like the cabin will have to be demolished as there was no insurance on the relic.

The park has started removing the more than 30 trees that were uprooted near the old beehive kilns. The park recently planted around $5,000 worth of trees in that area. Sears said they’ll let the cottonwood logs cure and then burn some of them come winter.

The trails that allow visitors access to the center’s amazing sights are open again. They were closed for four days after the storm because of downed trees or electrical lines.

The damage to a portion of the prairie center’s roof that currently still has a tarp on it will be repaired in the future. Sears is getting estimates on how much it will cost to fix that area of roof.

Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for seven counties including Floyd County the Monday after the storm rumbled through Rockford and other parts of the area.