Jay Nixon State Park

Jay Nixon Backcountry is an undeveloped state park primarily located in Reynolds County, Missouri, with a 100-acre segment in Iron County. The property lies adjacent to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park and borders Ketcherside Conservation Area. The property is not open to the public.^[2] The park is named for governor Jay Nixon under whom several new Missouri state parks were added.

Jay Nixon Backcountry
Park sign on Missouri Route N
Location in Missouri Show map of Missouri Jay Nixon State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Reynolds County, Missouri, United States
Coordinates	37°35′28″N 90°46′39″W
Area	1,231 acres (498 ha)[1]
Established	2017
Administered by	Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Named for	Governor Jay Nixon
Website	Official website

History

Relief map of the park and the immediate area

Creation of the park was announced by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in January 2017. At the time of the park's announcement there were no facilities in the park, and it could only be accessed via the Ozark Trail. After initially announcing the park open, though largely inaccessible, the park's website was updated to say that as of February 2017^[update], it is closed with no access.^[2][3]

The name of the new park has been controversial, and on January 12, 2017, Missouri state senator Gary Romine and state representative Paul Fitzwater filed bills in their respective chambers to rename the park Proffitt Mountain State Park.^[4][5]