When park owner Gib Todd feeds the dozens of carp and catfish residing in the half mile of waterway at Saltpetre Park, it is not the food that immediately sends the 2- to 3-feet long fish to the surface, but his voice.

I’ve been feeding them for 20 years so they know my voice, he said. I call them my pet fish.

In seconds, the massive freshwater beasts collide and ram into each other in competition to consume the kernels of dog food floating on the water’s surface. But Todd’s pet fish are just a portion of the vast amount of wildlife and nature to which visitors to Saltpetre Park are exposed.

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Located six miles south of Murphysboro on Highway 127, Saltpetre Park is 53 acres of trees, large rocky bluffs, winding waterways and wildlife that offer visitors a taste of Southern Illinois’ beautiful landscape at its best.

The park is only yards off the highway and is a perfect stop for hikers and nature lovers on their way to Bald Knob Cross or other sections of the Shawnee National Forest.

But to reach the heart of the park, one must first descend a winding road to the foot of the large cliff where the cave is positioned. Once there, visitors can take in the sights from above by climbing the rocks or can commandeer paddle boats or canoes to scope out the grounds from the waterway.

Though the park has been open for more than 30 years, Todd said he is constantly adding attractions or making the grounds more accessible.

I’ve worked on it for 30 years, and it just developed. I went as far as I could see, and then I’d see something different, he said. I try to do something different every year. I build another road or another pathway every year.

People who make the trek to Saltpetre Park can utilize the park’s main attraction for picnicking or other recreational activities. The Saltpetre Park Cave is a perfect setting to take in the view the park offers, especially during autumn when the leaves take on numerous brilliant colors.

The open-mouth cave is 215 feet wide at the mouth and is Southern Illinois’ largest bluff shelter. The cave, which took 1 million years of flowing water to create, is located at the base of one of Saltpetre Park’s large rock bluffs.

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Todd said the cave provides a great outdoor atmosphere whatever the season may be.

In the summer, it’s 15 degrees cooler down here. It’s like air conditioning, he said. There’s also no mosquitoes because the cliff swallows come in here by the hundreds and eat them. In the middle of winter, it will be 55 degrees in here.

Todd said he encourages people to make the trip out to Saltpetre Park because it is a great chance to encounter Mother Nature and to take in the beautiful Shawnee National Forest.

It’s something the good Lord gave us, and it’s something we should enjoy, he said. I want people to come out here and treat (the park) as their own place.

There is a $2.50 viewing charge for Saltpetre Park, which includes the price of paddle boats or canoes. For more information about Saltpetre Park call (618) 684-2839.