Lisa Holmes is general manager of Wildlife Prairie State Park, where she’s spent the last 15 years of her career. She’s responsible for managing all aspects of Wildlife Prairie State Park. 

Holmes is also a member of the governing board of the Forest Park Foundation. She lives in the Peoria area.

Tell about your background: where you grew up, schools attended, family, etc.

I’m a native of Peoria and attended Tyng Grade School and Manual High School. I’m the youngest of five children—one sister and three older brothers—all of whom live in the Peoria area. All of us grew up spending our summers in Hackensack, Minn., where my grandparents lived. They had a house on Birch Lake where we learned to swim and fish. We, including my parents, still go up north each September to vacation—not in the same place, but a little bit farther north. We have a great time. I think it’s great what my parents have instilled in us—not just the fun of fishing, but being on a lake and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

What are your responsibilities as general manager of Wildlife Prairie State Park?

My responsibilities are managing in full the aspects of Wildlife Prairie State Park. My main responsibility is to the Park visitor, making sure we do our best for everyone to have a wonderful experience. I’m also a member of the governing board of Forest Park Foundation. The Park employs approximately 39 full-time employees. This number increases by 10 with seasonal employees, who work May through October.

Employee titles serve the purpose they need, but titles don’t mean much here. If it needs to be done, you do it—no matter who you are. This is what’s instilled in all Park employees. If you see litter, pick it up. I don’t care who you are or what your position is. If someone needs help, help them. All of the Park employees work very hard. I have great respect and admiration for all employees and volunteers.

How many volunteers help keep Wildlife Prairie State Park running smoothly?

We have approximately 200 volunteers, who help in all different areas of the Park: animal care, education programs, prairie gardening, trail monitoring, train engineers, special event preparation, and small construction projects. Linda Prescott oversees our volunteer program. Volunteers, with the exception of three paid supervisors, run both of the Wildlife Prairie Shops. All of the shops’ profits are donated to the Park each year.

There isn’t one effort more important than the other. All of our goals are the same: education, conservation, and recreation. The Park is kept running smoothly not only by a few, but by all. All have a great love and respect for the environment. You have to understand that when you acquaint yourself with the Park, you get hooked. There isn’t another experience that’s similar.

Tell how you came to work for Wildlife 15 years ago. How did you decide to make this organization your career?

On September 7, 1988, Alan Burgett, operations/security coordinator, interviewed me. I was hired on the spot and began working directly after the interview. I began picking up litter and loading the train at the Train Depot. My other duties included ticket gate sales, manning the information desk at the Visitor Center, and answering phones. I never chose this as my career. I’ve always worked in customer service just by chance. I was hired mainly because I had a lot of experience working in customer-relations situations and also was experienced at answering the phone.

At age 16 I had worked in the shoe department at Bergner’s when it was located at Madison Park Terrace Shopping Center. Then at 18 I worked at the Continental Regency Hotel as front desk supervisor and at Multi-Ad Services in customer relations before I came to the Park. I still say to this very day that a customer can tell your mood over the phone. Some people don’t realize it’s very important that you make a customer feel welcome over the phone, as well as in person.

How did you work your way up to general manager? What previous jobs did you perform for Wildlife?

Mr. Rutherford, the Park founder, asked me if I wanted the position of general manager. Back then I felt intimidated by those titles because I had no educational background. I just did what I thought was right, with the wonderful guidance of Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford and the staff to help make decisions. We hold staff meetings every Monday to go over the coming week’s work through each department head. The Park is a team effort.

I do have to describe a situation that happened to me at a Forest Park Foundation Board annual breakfast. A gentleman at the table I was sitting with asked me what educational experience I had for this position. I hesitated because I was embarrassed that I had none. A great friend, Jim Hoerr of D.A. Hoerr & Sons, could sense my discomfort. He answered for me by stating, “Well, didn’t you know, Lisa has been to the greatest college in the world. “The other gentleman asked, “Where is that?” Jim said, “That’s the Hard Knock College of Mr. William L. Rutherford.” I couldn’t have had a better education anywhere else. Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford have taught me so much.

Did you always intend to work in and around nature? Have you always been interest in nature and the outdoors?

I could never have predicted I would be in the special place I am today and working with such great people. My love of nature came from my upbringing and has never left me. I love animals, the lakes, the forest, and especially the call of the loon in Minnesota.

Talk about the different events and experiences Wildlife offers. How has this grown over the years?

Wildlife Prairie State Park offers a wonderful variety of experiences. From the main brick area you may view the majestic bison and elk herd in the main pasture—the animals, as they would have been when they were roaming wild in this area. These animals include black bear, bobcat, cougar, red fox, grey fox, otter, sandhill crane, and the Parks’ raptors. The Pioneer area offers a look back in time with the old school house, authentic pioneer log cabin, farm animals, and petting area. We have several playground areas, along with the 50-foot slide. The kids love the slide. The train ride is a 30-minute one on a north and south loop. Visitors may see North Lake, the wolf, and the long horn cattle on their journey. Mostly, the children just love being on the train.

In the main area of the Park is the Visitor Center, which houses the information desk, gift shop—the Country Store is located in the circle parking lot—museum, and my favorite place, the Log Room, with its huge stone fireplace. Behind the Visitor Center is the animal nursery. Every year the Park receives abandoned or injured baby animals. In this area they’re cared for and on display until they may be released into the wild. Across the way is the newly constructed sand pile play area, with its huge bronze frog children love to play on.

The Prairie View Snack Shop is nearby and offers a variety of great sandwiches, salads, snacks, etc. Above the snack shop is the Hespell Deck, named after Dr. Robert Hespell, who passed away in 1988 and left his estate to Wildlife Prairie State Park. With this estate, the Park built the deck to host banquets, meetings, etc. On the western, east, and north section, the walls open up with an automatic hydraulic system similar to hanger doors for an airplane. This was Mr. Rutherford’s idea. He called the Hanger Door Company and explained what he wanted. Their response was, “We’ve never done that before, and we don’t think we can construct it.” Mr. Rutherford invited them to the Park and showed them how they could do it—and they did. With the walls able to open, we can offer prospective customers an enclosed situation, or open the walls and enjoy the summer breezes. This facility is also home to an educational energy saving geothermal system for heating and cooling—the only one in the Illinois State Park system. 

Are weddings, receptions, and other special events popular at Wildlife?

The Park has about six banquet facilities with which anyone can enjoy a wedding, wedding/reception, meetings, and general banquets. Weddings are so popular that sometimes we’re limited to five a weekend. We also have outside facilities available for rent, such as the TeePee shelter on the main brick area; the Train Depot; and Parkside Pavilion across Taylor Road. Almost any situation you may need can be accommodated at the Park. When you’re having a banquet function in the Prairie Hall or Hespell Deck, the spectacular view of the bison and elk in the main pasture is breathtaking.

The Parks’ Education Department has a large variety of educational programs geared for all ages. In May we have approximately 20,000 school children visit the Park for their yearly field trip. Some of the schools schedule an educational program and others are self-guided. The Parks’ naturalists give wonderful programs that include seeing a raptor, skunk, reptiles, and other animal favorites up close. Out of Park programs have also become popular.

Beginning in April we offer several events. Wellness Weekend, Easter Bunny Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt, Pow Wow, The Rock & Reptile Show, our famous Wildlife Scary Park, and Old Fashioned Christmas. A new event is Prairie A La Carte on Labor Day Weekend. This is the second year for this fun event. For Prairie A La Carte, we offer live music, great food from restaurants in the Peoria area, and hayrack rides. Also, on May 31 we honored our war veterans with a ceremony and showing of our newest bronze fixture of a war veteran and his war dog.

When did Wildlife become a state park? How did that come about? How has becoming a state park affected Wildlife in terms of funding, services offered, etc.?

Mr. Rutherford gifted Wildlife Prairie Park to the state in September 2000. The Park is now a part of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. We have a great relationship with the state and are running the facility just like we did before we became state owned. The Park receives funding each year from the state for Park operation. Also, the Park is home to a centralized Conservation Police office. They needed an office in this area, and we built one for them. We foresee nothing but good things with our relationship with the state. Everyone has been very complimentary and in awe of what we’ve accomplished here. We all have the same goals.

How many visitors does Wildlife host every year? Does it attract people from outside of Peoria to come spend the day in central Illinois?

The Park receives approximately 160,000 visitors each year. They come from all over the United States and other countries. Most of our visitorship, though, is within a three- or four-hour drive from the Park. Visitors also enjoy our overnight accommodations. These include the Log Cabin on the Hill, four renovated train cabooses, Prairie Stables, and Cottages (renovated grain bins). We ask people to call in advance because we’re often booked.

What’s the safety record for Wildlife, both in terms of visitors, employees, and animals? To what do you attribute this?

Safety is our number one priority. Employees are trained to use all safety equipment required. The animals are all comfortably secured in their own natural habitats, with no danger to the public or themselves. As far as visitors, we attend to the normal bump or scrape.

Wildlife is home to many bronzes and other works of art. How did these come to be permanently placed at Wildlife?

According to Mr. Rutherford, “On a trip to Stuttgart, Germany, I was very pleased to see the public pleasure from a bronze colt. People were lined up for two blocks waiting their turns for birthday pictures with the small statue. I thought it would be a great idea for Wildlife Prairie, so Dick Lemaster of Chillicothe took pictures and measurements of an eight-day colt born at the Park. The colt is now an old horse still living at the Park, where he’s been for 27 years. The bronze colt, on the main brick area, has been so popular that the other bronze figures seemed like additional fun.

What do you foresee for Wildlife Prairie State Park in the coming years?

In the future I hope to see a lodge at the Park. We have so much to offer, and being just a few miles from Interstate 74, it makes sense. Hopefully, the bridge across Taylor Road will be completed. This would give access to 200 acres of trails never seen before by visitors. We would like to see a round trip train ride to Peoria and also Wildlife Prairie State Park to be headquarters for the Kickapoo Canoe Trail. Most importantly, more land acquisition surrounding the Park.

What would you like our readers to know about Wildlife Prairie State Park?

Wildlife Prairie State Park is a jewel of the nation. We can thank Mr. Rutherford for his wonderful vision and making it come alive. We can thank the dedicated employees and volunteers who work very hard to care for the Park. I’m very proud and lucky to be a part of such a unique environment. We’re people who care about people. TPW