It’s a small part of the site called Cozy Grove and for 70 years, maple syrup has been made there from the spring sap of nearby trees collected in over 100 buckets.

It’s syrup made the traditional way.

Sap boiled down to syrup over a wood fire.

Syrup making began there in the late ’40s. It was a spring hobby for several members of the Smith family. The shack on the site was built in 1949. It was built from timbers cut and sawed on the spot. The walls are covered with traced handprints with the names and dates of visitors and volunteers.

-Submitted photo
This historic photo shows the sugar shack at the Cozy Grove site in Kossuth County.

In 1994, the Smith property came up for sale. In 1995, with help from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, the Kossuth County Conservation Board purchased 144 acres of the property.

Each spring, the site is a popular destination for school field trips.

Julie Fosado, Kossuth County Conservation assistant naturalist, said there will lots of learning opportunities for visitors.

“You can learn the process of making maple syrup through hands-on experience of tapping trees, dumping buckets of sap and cooking it,” she said.

It’s for the whole family.

“This is a great family event and a great opportunity to soak up some fresh spring air while taking a step back in time,” Fosado said.

She also said that there will be a limited amount of free sample jars for visitors.

Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Smith Wildlife Area is located about 2 miles south of Algona on U.S. Highway 169.

It’s about a half mile walk from the parking area to the shack. Rides will be available on Saturday for those unable to make the walk.

The event is free.