Track 5—129th Pull Out, Corner of Bison Range

The heart of the refuge was purchased from Redlands Corporation, when the plans for a nuclear power plant were scrapped due the geology of the area. The USFWS purchased 3,000 acres of mostly farmland and a few remnants of Tallgrass prairie along Walnut Creek. By an act of Congress in 1990, Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge was created with a mandate to educate Americans about the Tallgrass prairie ecosystem and was authorized to purchase up to 8,600 acres.

     In 1998, the refuge was renamed for Iowa Congressman Neal Smith who had served the state from 1959-1995 and in 2013 the USFWS expanded the potential boundaries to 11,000 acres. This would allow the refuge to protect the large portion of the Walnut Creek watershed.

     Congressman Smith was born in Hendrick, Iowa. He served as an Army bomber pilot in the Pacific and received a Purple Heart, nine battle stars, and the air medal with 4 oak clusters.

      While in congress, Neal Smith was respected for working to improve government efficiency and as an advocate for conservation.