NOTICE
Ellison Road from US 24 to Yohne Road is closed due to construction. You may access the park via Lower Huntington Road to Branstrator Road to Yohne Road or take Smith Road to Yohne Road.
Also the southbound exit ramp from I69 to Jefferson Blvd is closed due to construction. If traveling this direction to the park, the recommended route is stay on I69 South to Exit 299, turn east onto Airport Expressway and then to Lower Huntington Road, turn south to Branstrator Road and turn south to Yohne Road.
NOTICE
Allen County Park staff have, unfortunately, been finding dead deer at our parks due to EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease). Hemorrhagic Disease (HD) primarily affects white-tailed deer and is causing a significant mortality event in northern Indiana. Sheep, cows, and goats are also susceptible. It is important to note that humans and dogs are not affected by this disease. According to Joe Caudell, head of the IDNR deer program, hunters that kill a deer and eat the meat are still not affected. Click Here for a brief article on this disease. If you come across an infected deer please let the Nature Center staff or gate attendants know of the location and we will report the sighting to the IDNR.
We are happy to announce that Fox Island County Park re-opened on June 17, 2024 at 9:00 AM.
WELCOME BACK TO FOX ISLAND COUNTY PARK
We’re glad to have you back, its been a long time!
While we are open to the public again there are still many areas that will remain closed to the public for a while longer. Scan the QR code below and it will take you to a map that has all the closed trails marked in red. Please for your safety do NOT go past the barricades and enter these areas. Staff will be working in these areas for months to come and we do not want anyone to be harmed in any way.
As a reminder, Park Hours are 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. This means that at 7:00 pm the gates will be LOCKED so please plan ahead and be outside the gate when it gets locked!
As in the past we love to have you visit, but we do have some simple rules that need to be followed:
- No watercraft of any kind are allowed on the lake. Single person floaties are allowed. Oars and paddles are not allowed.
- Please utilize the trash cans OR be an even better steward of the park and PACK IT IN AND PACK IT OUT (take your self-generated trash with you and throw it away at home)
- Please do not move picnic tables or benches onto the beach area or into the water
- NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE ALLOWED IN THE PARK. All coolers are subject to search and seizure.
- No fireworks of any kind are allowed in the park.
- All HUMANS must be leashed and under the control of the dog that brought them, with the exception of the Doggie Beach area located west of the Human Beach.
Click here to go to the Fox Island Storm Damage page
Information relating to ALL Allen County Parks
- DOGS PLEASE KEEP YOUR HUMANS ON A LEASH. WE LOVE YOUR HUMAN BUT ALL HUMANS MUST BE ON A LEASH AND UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE DOG THAT BROUGHT THEM.
- FIREWORKS OF ANY KIND ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN ANY ALLEN COUNTY PARK!
- ALCOHOL, OF ANY KIND, IS NOT PERMITTED IN ANY ALLEN COUNTY PARK! COOLERS ARE SUBJECT TO SEARCH AND SEIZURE.
PLEASE NOTE: We do NOT accept credit cards. Payments must be cash or check!
NOTICE: CLICK HERE FOR ROAD CONDITIONS
Location:
7324 Yohne Rd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46809
Phone: 260 449-3180 (It works now thanks to Allen County IT and Silvio)
Click here to connect to the Fox Island Alliance website
Click Here for new updated Fox Island Trail Map
Click here for Streetside view of Fox Island and its trails This will bring up a Streetside Google Map. Any area that has a blue line can be viewed by dragging the Pegman to that spot on the trail or road. If you take one of our guided hikes into the closed areas of the parks make sure you come back and look at this Streetside view. It will show the magnitude of what was lost in the derecho of 2022. For help with this Google Map Help Streetside View
ABOUT FOX ISLAND COUNTY PARK
Fox Island is a 605 acre park located in southwest Allen County. Within this park, 270 acres are dedicated as State Nature Preserve, which protects areas having unique plants, animals or geographic features. Hundreds of species of animals and plants live at Fox Island because of the relatively natural condition of most of the area, with its habitats of marsh, seasonal ponds, wooded sand dunes, wetland forest, old fields and restored prairie. The park contains the largest contiguous forest in the county and a glacial sand dune.
Seven miles of marked trails through the preserve enable visitors to enjoy the beauty and splendor of the park. Over six miles are available during the winter for cross country skiing as long as we have four or more inches of snow on the ground. Hundreds of species of animals and plants live at Fox Island because of the relatively natural condition of most of the area, with its habitats of marsh, seasonal ponds, wooded sand dunes, wetland forest, old fields and restored prairie.
Other amenities include:
- Nature Center – Large and small classrooms, conference room all available for rental; gift shop, education offices, and a variety of exhibits including the “Tree House”
- Allen County Parks Administrative Offices – located in Nature Center
- 3 open picnic shelters (50 person capacity)
- Campfire pits (by PERMIT ONLY)
- Picnicing
- Grills
- Bowman Lake – Swimming beach – No lifeguard on duty, swim at your own risk
- Fishing (additional $2 per person) – you must possess a valid Indiana fishing license
- Restrooms
- Vera Dulin Wildlife Observation Building
- Playground (near lake and beach)
- Doggie Beach – yes, your pooch can go swimming in this area. This is the only area where your dog is allowed off its leash. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ANIMAL!
(Welcome to Fox Island: Questions and Answers)