Richard Bong State Recreation Area

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Richard Bong State Recreation Area is a 4,515 acres (18 km²) unit of the state park system of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is located west of Brighton, Wisconsin. This managed prairie contains 8.3 miles (13 km) of mountain bike trails. Other recreational activities include high power rocketry, dogsledding, falconry, ATV sports, land sailing, horseback riding, hunting, camping with amenities, including ultralight aviation. There is a wildlife preserve. Whooping cranes and great egrets are known to nest there.

The facility is built on land originally meant to become an Air Force base, Bong Air Force Base. Its namesake is World War II veteran aviator Maj. Richard Ira Bong. Part of what was intended to be the 12,500-foot main airstrip is still visible from aerial photos of the site.

[edit] External links

• Website from the Wisconsin DNR

• Richard Bong State Recreation Area is at coordinates 42°38′02″N 88°08′37″W / 42.633883, -88.143523 (Richard Bong State Recreation Area)Coordinates: 42°38′02″N 88°08′37″W / 42.633883, -88.143523 (Richard Bong State Recreation Area)