Crystal Lake State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crystal Lake State Park |
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View of Crystal Lake from the beach area
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| Type | State park |
| Location | 96 Bellwater Ave Barton, Vermont |
| Area | 16.4 acres (6.6 ha) |
| Created | 1942 |
| Operated by | Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation |
| Open | Memorial Day weekend - Labor Day weekend |
| Website | https://vtstateparks.com/crystal.html |
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Crystal Lake State Park
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| MPS | Historic Park Landscapes in National and State Parks MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000949 |
| Added to NRHP | August 30, 2005 |
Crystal Lake State Park is a super cool place to visit in Barton, Vermont. It's a state park where you can spend the whole day having fun! You'll find it at the northwestern end of the beautiful Crystal Lake. This park has a sandy beach perfect for swimming. There's also a special building called a bathhouse. It was built a long time ago by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). You can even rent a small cottage here. The park became a historic site on August 30, 2005, because of its connection to the CCC.
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What Can You Do at Crystal Lake State Park?
Crystal Lake State Park is located at the northern end of Crystal Lake. This lake is really big, covering over 750 acres. The park is just southeast of the village center. You can get there by taking Bellwater Avenue off Vermont Route 16.
Exploring the Park's Layout
When you arrive, you'll see the entrance gate and a parking area. There's also a house for the park ranger. A small cottage near the water can be rented. It's a great place to stay when the park is open. A low stone wall separates the parking lot from the beach. This wall is made from local granite. It gets smaller as you go towards the east. The eastern part of the park is narrow. It has a strip of beach that leads to a grassy area.
Fun Facilities and Activities
At the back of the grassy area, near the parking lot, is the bathhouse. This building has restrooms and changing areas. It also has a concession stand where you can grab snacks. The park offers about 40 grills for cooking. There are almost 80 picnic tables for your meals. You'll also find play areas for games. You can even rent boats to explore the lake.
There are many fun things to do here. You can go swimming in the lake. Boating and fishing are also popular activities. It's a great spot for watching wildlife too. In the winter, you can enjoy various winter sports. If you like hiking, there are trails nearby. These trails are in the Willoughby State Forest. The Crystal Lake Cottage can fit up to six people.
How Crystal Lake State Park Was Built
The park was created in the 1930s. Most of the work was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a group of young men. They worked on projects across the country. They helped build parks and other public places.
The Civilian Conservation Corps' Role
The CCC crews designed the park's layout. They built the parking lot and the stone wall. They also built most of the bathhouse. The bathhouse was designed by David Fried. He was an architect from New Hampshire. He also designed other CCC buildings in Vermont. The bathhouse is special because it uses local stone. It also has a unique, partly modern design. The building was finished in 1942. Local workers completed it. This was because the CCC crews had to leave. They were needed for service related to World War II.
Later Additions to the Park
The ranger's house and the rental cottage were added later. They were bought in the 1990s. The gate house was built more recently, in 2003.
