lost valley hatchery

ghent96

She caught a fish, Mom & Dad didn't. Great outdoor fun, relaxing, yet fun for the kids, and educational displays inside. Not as exciting, though, if you don't go during hatching season.

KenH700

We have taken our grandchildren to the hatchery for years. They like the idea of catching fish without wading through weeds. The staff is excellent. The fishing, borrowed equipment and bait is free. Even if the kids aren't into fishing the displays are wonderful. Don't wait take the kids to Lost Valley Hatchery

BigJ54jnha

I have been taking my son here for years. This is where I taught my daughter, son, and nephews to fish. They all also caught their first fish here. The staff are all volunteers and you can tell they really enjoy what they are doing. The poles and bait are free and there is a very nice clean area o fish. The inside is always nice to spend some time learning about fish and the different species throughout Missouri. Must do with your young children.

Weezy660

The fish hatchery is Warsaw is really educational and great fun for the kids. They can fish in the ponds and see the hatchery inside where they have the large vats. The aquarium is great with lots of native fish. They have tours for schools, etc. They also have kids fish days. Great fun!

310donnar310

Good place for fun for kids! They get to fish in the stocked fishing pond and walk thru the large aquarium that has the fish of Truman Lake swimming about. Learn all about wildlife around the area.

Traveler-rs-10

Largest fish hatchery in Missouri. This is a fun place to visit and can be an educational experience also. Convenient location. Would take about 1 hour to tour the displays.

495MichaelK

The hatchery has a small museum, some fishing holes for young children, and some otherwise interesting tidbits, but unless you are seriously interested in fishing and wildlife conservation, it is not a place to linger for long in.

KenzieC788

this is a good place for the outside type. Kids love to go and look at the fish. You can also take the little ones to go fishing. The people are all very nice and will love to help.

Mom76SS

The hatchery is a fun and educational place to take children. The staff are exceptionally friendly and welcoming. Indoors, there is a large aquarium featuring native Missouri fish as well as interactive exhibits and sensory stations. Everything is kid friendly, so you don't have to worry about being asked to quiet down or to not touch something. There is a stocked pond outside where kids can fish and keep up to two fish a piece. Remember to bring a bucket if you plan to keep your fish! The hatchery provides poles, tackle, and bait for fishing. It is also a man-made pond so you don't have to worry about the kids getting their tackle hung up on brush or rocks. The only downfall we encountered was that someone had cleaned a fish and left the remains laying in the grass (doing this is prohibited). A member of our group didn't see it and stepped on it, and the spine went all the way through his Croc and punctured his foot.

496TeresaK

We took an off-road to see what this hatchery was all about and it was so much fun! So glad we went!!! The staff was very welcoming and friendly. They have a (large) children's fishing pond where they give kids their own fishing pole, tackle box and bait (worms and hot dogs) and let them go fish. My three (4, 7 and 9 years old) had a blast! Inside, there is educational material-a-plenty... windows to see where the fish "start life" and a little aquarium. There are even a couple great spots for fun pictures (like an over-sized clam) and a little coloring area. Everything is completely FREE!!! Wish we had more time there!

Cynmos

This is the way to learn more about conservation efforts. It's fun and informative. The displays inside the museum are interactive and interesting. The fishing ponds for kids are a great way to build excitement about conservation. The books and calendars available are excellent resources.

812AngieC812

My son caught a 5lb. catfish and was sooo excited! Yeah for him. Inside they are very knowledgable about fish and game in MO.

LyleW639

Great place to take the kids. The staff is great and the exhibits are interesting and informative. The free fishing for the kids is a great added attraction.

jnchart

This is a fully functioning hatchery and they have a nice visitors center with a big aquarium and information and activities for the kids. They also have a large fishing pond for the kids (adult can help but not fish on their own) The fishing pond is sticked with sunfish and catfish. If needed you can borrow fishing poles and the center will provide bait for free or you can bring your own equipment. If you want to sit and watch the kids fish bring chairs with you, there are only a couple of benches around the pond and they are usually full.

sonyak81

There is a walking trail and small museum. Young kids get to fish for free and they provide the poles.