Local News

Maquoketa Caves State Park Re-opens to Visitors

Maquoketa Caves State Park is back open.

The park reopened to visitors on Thursday, though the campground where the shooting happened remains closed. 

Three family members from Cedar Falls were shot to death while camping last week. 

Cedar Falls Mayor Bob Green says he anticipates there will be a private funeral for Tyler and Sarah Schmidt and their six-year-old daughter, Lula. The mayor says the public event at Overman Park in Cedar Falls on Tuesday night will give the community a chance to share and, while not a festive gathering, it will be a celebration of remarkable people. 

Nearly a quarter of a million dollars has been donated to a Go-Fund-Me account for Arlo Schmidt, the nine-year-old boy who survived the attack on his family. 

Authorities still aren’t sure what the motive was for the attack. The gunman, who had been camping at the park with his family, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

A memorial is now located near the entrance to the park.

 

story contribution courtesy of Radio Iowa; photo courtesy of Maquoketa River Watershed Management Authority

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