Northwest of Battle Creek, along the Elkhorn River, is the current Yellow Banks Wildlife Management Area, named for the yellow clay hills on the north side of the river. This area has seen many uses, from an American Indian campground to a hermit's dugout. However, its most known use was as a recreational park from 1928 to 1937.

Investors purchased 60 acres of land adjoining the ElkhornRiver, where they built fifty cottages, a large dance pavilion, and a 3,000-seat ampitheater. A restaurant, beauty salon, gas station, and a large generator provide electricity catered to visitors' needs.

On opening day, June 3, 1928, about 15,000 people attended, paying 10 cents per car plus 10 cents per person. Visitors could swim, boat, dance, play baseball, ride the steam-driven merry-go-round, and even take airplane rides with Battle Creek's aviatrix, Ethel Tillotson.

A giant billboard three-fourths of a mile long and seven feet high at Yellow Banks made it into Ripley's Believe it or Not.

Unfortunately, in 1937 Yellow Banks Park closed due to a lack of funds due to The Great Depression. The buildings were moved or torn down; any remains are currently under the shifted Elkhorn River.