Governor Nelson State Park is a day use park offering a sand beach, boat launch, fish cleaning facility, picnic areas, prairie restorations and Native American effigy mounds. Enjoy over 8 miles of hiking trails with expansive views of Lake Mendota and the State Capitol.
Join Us
Friends of Governor Nelson State Park is a non-profit volunteer organization. We work to to enhance and preserve the park’s natural resources.
What’s Happening
RESTORING THE HOGAN HOUSE
The Hogan House is a historically and architecturally significant building built in 1950 as a bunkhouse and gathering space for campers at the YMCA Camp Wakanda. It was intended to replicate a Native American traditional dwelling and council meeting place. The building is located on the south end of Governor Nelson State Park, off Borchers Beach Road near ancient Native American effigy and conical mounds, with a view of Lake Mendota. While it hasn’t been used in 30 years, it’s structually sound and worthy of restoration so park visitors and community members can gather and enjoy it! For more information, click here.
Please help us raise funds to restore this historic building
Your donation is tax deductible and if you donate by November 1, 2024,
your funds will be matched by grant funding!