Lenox hosts Bright Lights & Shining Hospitality
In early November the citizens of Lenox begin scrambling around to install their Christmas lights before the onset of extremely cold weather causes fingers to freeze.
Year 2008 will mark the 22nd season of “Bright Lights and Shining Hospitality” which is one way the city of Lenox proclaims an invitation to everyone to come and experience an immersion in the Christmas story. The 2007 theme was “Home for the Holidays,” and a different theme is chosen for each year.
Lights abound throughout the whole community with displays that may be sacred or may be secular, but are beautiful to behold regardless of the theme. Two very special sites are Highland Park and the Visitor’s Center at the restored depot. Visitors at the park can stroll up and down the sidewalks and view the displays, or many people simply drive bey slowly around the square and enjoy the broader vista. At the Visitor’s Center, which I open nightly from 6:00 – 9:00 from the Friday after Thanksgiving until New Year’s Eve, hosts are there to provide hot chocolate, coffee, popcorn, candy, and answers to questions as people carefully savor the trees that have been decorated by various organizations in the community.
Come visit us. You’ll note that there are a lot of creative people in Lenox. You’ll also note that there a are a lot of people who support this Christmas event. Besides the approximate ninety hosts who serve at the Visitor’s Center, the fifty who install decorations at the park, the Citizens who decorate their own homes, there are also the business owners who endeavor to make Main Street special with its decorations. Even before you reach Lenox, you’ll begin noticing that the farms along the roadsides have trees lighted with red bulbs. These people, also, want to share in the celebration of Christmas. The joy you’ll receive from both the bright lights and shining hospitality is documented by the numerous visitors who write comments in our registration book.
Lenox Stock and Saddle Club Sponsors Rodeo
Lenox, Iowa will really come to life July 23-26, 2008, as rodeo week occurs. July 23 is the date for the rodeo parade sponsored by the Lenox Stock and Saddle Club, Lenox Area Chamber of Commerce and the Lenox Sorority Sisters. A large number of area businesses participate to build an awesome parade centered around a different theme each year. Stock and Saddle Clubs from neighboring towns are proud to parade through Lenox in front of hundreds of viewers seated along the parade route. Prizes are awarded in the various categories of entries.
An Old Fashioned Fun Night sponsored by the Lenox Area Chamber follows the parade, thereby giving the entire family an evening of fun activities and wonderful food items from which to choose.
On July 24 Rite ‘N Gear Stock Contractors will present the first night of the three-night rodeo. Stock and Saddle Club members present a breath-taking grand entry parade followed by kiddie activities of mutton bustin” and junior steer riding. When that chute gate swings open at 8:00 p.m. and the first bucking horse and rider appear, the audience members know they are in for a night of top-notch rodeo. Many of the performing animals are award winners through the United Rodeo Association (URA). The rodeo attracts approximately 450 contestants each year and 5,500 spectators. A cook shack serving a large variety of sandwiches and other food items is on site along with many other vendors with food items and western clothing. A restroom facility is adjacent on the west side of the arena. Parking is free; however, there is a gate fee to attend the show. Handicapped seating is available. This rodeo was named URA Rodeo of the Year in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, (narrowly missed the cowboys’ 2005 voting), 2006 and 2007. Receiving these awards is not a gift; it is a testimony to the efforts expended by the members of the Lenox Stock and Saddle Club. Come check us out in July and enjoy some superb rodeo.
The rodeo queen contest is held during the day on Wednesday, and the winner is named and crowned during a ceremony on Thursday night preceding the 8:00 p.m. chute opening.
The Stock and Saddle Club will also sponsor a Calf and Lamb Show on June 28, 2008, at the rodeo arena. Participants from all surrounding counties are present to show their animals.
Recreation in Lenox Abounds in Lenox
Bowling
Lenox Lanes is the only bowling alley in the county. It currently has women’s league bowling on Monday, men’s league on Wednesday, mixed league on Thursday, and open bowling on Friday (5:00 .m.), Saturday (2:00 p.m.), and Sunday (2:00 p.m.). The alley was built in 1958, contains eight lanes, and has received annual improvements, which includes automatic scoring machines.
On the second weekend of April a Bowl-A-Rama is conducted, which includes entrants from five-state area. The winner’s prize is $750. Contact Lenox Lanes (641-333-4110) or Brent Wise (641-333-4236).
Several bowlers enter state and national tournaments, southwest Iowa tournaments, and the Ozark Tournament including the Proprietors Bowling Association Team Tournament.
Three Lakes Golf course
A 36-par nine-hole golf course with watered fareways is a big attraction for many golfers. Or, if the ball is not traveling where you would like get out the fishing pole and spend some time relaxing on the bank of one of the three lakes.
Swimming
The City park has been renovated within the last few years and now is home to an exceptional swimming pool as evidenced by the school buses that are lined up in the summer as neighboring children are brought in for lessons. Also in the park is new playground equipment, which is a hit with the younger children. Shelter houses, accompanied by many picnic tables, are an invitation for family or community picnics.
Taylor County Parks Maintained by County Conservation Board
1) French Nature Reserve, east of Bedford, is an 80-acre timber tract used primarily as the nature and wildlife preserve. No hunting or motorized vehicles are allowed. There are three miles of trails available for hikes or equestrian use. The area is rich in plant species.
2) Sand’s Timber Recreation Area, near Blockton, is a 235-acre site with a 76-acre lake. Modern campsites are for rent, and primitive camping is available. Only electric boat motors are allowed. Hunting is allowed except in the camping and picnic areas. A two-mile hiking trail is on the west side of the park.
3) Siam Tract, in the southwest corner of the county, is a 117-acre public hunting area.
4) Wilson Lake, south of Lenox, is a 50-acre site with a 20-acre lake. Both modern and primitive camping are available. Only electric boat motors are allowed. No hunting is allowed in the park.
5) Windmill Lake, near New Market, is a 60-acre site with a 20-acre lake. Both modern and primitive camping are allowed. Only electric boat motors are allowed.
Recreational Hunting
The 2007-2008 Hunting and Trapping booklet published by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources lists hunting regulations and suggests prevalence of game in various parts of the state. Information from the booklet is provided here to highlight Taylor County.
Bobcat Season Opens
November 3, 2007, at 8:00 A.M. the first bobcat hunting season opened in Iowa. This season was restricted to the two southern counties of Iowa, which includes Taylor County. The season will remain open until 150 bobcats have been taken.
It is too early to know the outcome of this venture, but the DNR notes that the 1977 the bobcat was listed as an endangered species. Increased sightings, road kill, and captures caused the bobcat to be removed from that list. The population is growing every year, and 58 bobcats have been radio-tagged to study their behaviors.
Deer
In 2006 bow hunters harvested slightly over 22,000 deer in Iowa. The antlerless quota for resident hunters in Taylor County is 2300. Nonresident antlerless-only license quota is 70. In Taylor County it is uncommon for any vehicle driver to not have had contact with at least one deer, and some people have encountered more than one—on the same day. Deer abound, and their ventures onto the highway are not all at dusk and dawn as many drivers would expect.
Turkeys
The quota for turkeys in zone 4, which runs along southern Iowa, is 4,500 indicating the most prevalent turkey population within the state.
Pheasants
Pheasant hunters may have been disappointed in 2007 because of the amount of crops still standing which allowed pheasants more habitat coverage. Weather conditions stalled and prolonged the harvest season.
Other Game
Other hunting seasons listed in the guide include quail, partridge, ruffed grouse, cottontail rabbits, jack rabbits, fox and gray squirrels, groundhogs, crows, and pigeons as well as migratory waterfowl.
Feral Hogs
“Hunters are encouraged to watch for feral hogs while out hunting other speies and to kill them on sight.” Feral Hogs are not native to Iowa. They are aggressive, prone to attack and destroy the natural habitat.
There is not wildlife refuge in Taylor County.
