Linn County Conservation opens Pheasant Ridge Lodge for July 19 tour

Linn County Conservation will host an open house for the nearly finished Pheasant Ridge Lodge at Morgan Creek Park on Sunday, July 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. The 4,800-square-foot ADA-accessible building offers banquet-style seating for 240 guests and sits at 7212 E Ave. NW in Cedar Rapids.

The $4 million project received $1.4 million from Water and Land Legacy Bonds approved by voters in 2016, according to the county announcement. Online reservations open at 10 a.m. on July 21, with the first available dates starting September 1.

"Creating this new event venue at Morgan Creek Park further expands the high-quality amenities available throughout our flagship parks in Linn County," said Dennis Goemaat, Linn County Conservation Executive Director, in the release. "The addition of Pheasant Ridge Lodge enhances Morgan Creek Park’s appeal as a premier gathering place for the community against the backdrop of nature."

Morgan Creek Park master plans from 2015 called for an enclosed events space. The park later added a playground, trails, and prairie and wetland areas in 2022. The lodge gives local groups and families a year-round indoor option for gatherings without leaving Linn County.