Lost Creek is the largest park with 457 acres of landscape.  It has 5.75 miles of trail that takes you past farm fields, through wooded areas and along Lost Creek making this Reserve a great place for hiking, cross country skiing and viewing wildlife. Follow this link to use the interactive OuterSpatial map or click here view the brochure map for Lost Creek Reserve. 

gazebo
gazebo
Lost Creek creek by Robert Japikse
Lost Creek creek by Robert Japikse
LC Office by Thomas Minutolo
LC Office by Thomas Minutolo
Lean to
Lean to
garden
garden
barns
barns
Heritage Hall
Heritage Hall
Heritage Hall meeting
Heritage Hall meeting

Lost Creek Reserve is the site of the Historic Knoop Homestead whose rich history encompasses over 200 years and five generations of Knoops. The Victorian Era farm house and historic barns still decorate the landscape. A nature trail takes you past farm fields, through wooded areas and along Lost Creek making this park a great place for hiking, cross country skiing and viewing wildlife.

History

In 1997, Mark D. and Dorothy Knoop set-up a private trust to benefit the Miami County Park District. The Park District purchased 173 acres, which is contiguous to the 239 acres held in the Trust. This purchase included the Knoop Homestead, the ancestral Knoop cemetery and several barns. In purchasing this property from the family of Mark D. and Dorothy Knoop, the Park District has recognize the influence of the Knoop ancestors on the development of Miami County by naming the new park, Lost Creek Reserve and Knoop Agricultural Heritage Center. The original 239 acres in the Trust was given to the Park District to be continues as “tillable land for agriculture as well as preserving for posterity some beautiful pastoral area that will never be built over with housing as commercial development has happened in so much of Ohio. “This gift is also a legacy to my ancestors who developed this land” – Mark D. Knoop. 

Activities

  • Cross-country skiing
  • Hiking
  • Nature programs
  • Hand-on environmental education
  • Picnicking 
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Fishing 
  • Fall Farm Fest
  • Hug the Earth Festival
  • Natural Play Area
  • Holiday Lights
  • Heritage Hall

Natural Features

  • 457 Acres
  • Lost Creek
  • Walnut Grove
  • Woodlands
  • Oak Savanna

Historical Features

  • Victorian Era home
  • Historic Knoop cemetery
  • 5 Historic barns
  • Knoop Cabin

Facilities

  • Heritage Hall
  • 5.75 miles of trail
  • Working organic farm
  • Natural Play Area
  • Future Agricultural Heritage Center
straw jump
straw jump
Combine lights
Combine lights
kids crafting
kids crafting
Larry Lyons music FFF
Larry Lyons music FFF
Painting at FFF
Painting at FFF
Tractor Lights
Tractor Lights

Miami County Park District offers many education programs throughout the year.  Below is a list of just a few of the programs offered at Lost Creek Reserve, check out the program calendar to see what programs are coming up at the Reserve.

Possible programs at Lost Creek Reserve

  • Holiday Lights
  • Fall Farm Fest
  • Corn Maze - 2023 Map
  • Beginning Beekeeping
  • Eco-Splorers & Eco-Tots "Back in Time Week" Camp
  • Night Hikes
  • Bookmobile
  • Souper Walk
  • Dog Socials
  • Night Tree
  • Trail Run Challenge