Greef Store & County Park




The Historic Bentonsport Village, located in Southeast Iowa, 
Is a combination of private business and county conservation
This site gives information on the Van Buren County Conservation's part in this historic village.  
Campsite On-Line Reservations
for Bentonsport.  Go to mycountyparks.com to register then to Van Buren County to reserve.

Grand Opening:
Odd Fellas Woodshop opens May 25
The grand opening of the new Odd Fellas Woodshop is May 25 and 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., coinciding with the Bentonsport Flea Market over the Memorial Day weekend. Numerous carved wood and antler items are for sale.
A door prize drawing for a vintage hand-made coat rack with mirror and shelf, as well as free cookies and lemonade will be offered to store guests.
Owners Paul Simpson and Ted Kralicek each have honed their woodworking skills for over 40 years. Paul has been carving since his youth and is well known at craft fairs for his exquisite morel mushroom walking sticks and carved antler jewelry. He will display some of his finest carving achievements, including duck decoys and home décor. He also turns bowls, furniture legs, and other custom pieces.
Ted Kralicek was design director for Woodsmith magazine for 38 years. He has designed and built furniture and accessories for the home and yard, as well as sheds, gazebos and even the interior of the Woodsmith Store when it opened in Des Moines. His portion of the business houses some of his power tools for work in progress.
Future plans include carving classes and demonstrations of woodworking and carving during Bentonsport’s steamboat years.
The store is located in the Odd Fellows Building on Hawk Drive in Bentonsport on the west side of the village. Beginning May 30, the business will be open Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Media Contact: Ted Kralicek, 515-537-0725 (Cell)
​The Van Buren County Conservation owns and maintains several historic buildings in Bentonsport along with the county park, flower gardens and campgrounds.  The historic buildings maintained by the Conservationare:
.  ​Greef General Store- operated by Rhea Huddleston.  Fudge shop and antiques.
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Corn's House- operated by Randy Hardin as Golden Horseshoe Vintage Finds
Bank Building- operated by Pam & Roy Svenby as Bentonsport Artisan Co-Op
Odd Fellows Building-  Ted Kralicek and Paul Simpson with woodworking 
Bentonsport Campground
Bentonsport Playground
Historic Photos
Picture
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Picture
Rose Garden needed work after winter ice jam.  Conservation spreaded new rock on walking path. 
The Rose garden committee has done a wonderful job on keeping the garden weeded and improvements for the gardens and the Conservation appreciates the time and efforts from the many volunteers.