Echo Bluff State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Echo Bluff State Park |
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Echo Bluff State Park, May 2019
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 Echo Bluff State Park
Location in Missouri
Echo Bluff State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Newton, Shannon, Missouri, United States |
| Area | 476.62 acres (192.88 ha) |
| Established | 2013 |
| Governing body | Missouri Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Echo Bluff State Park |
Echo Bluff State Park is a super fun place in Missouri where you can enjoy nature! It's a big park, about 476 acres, which is like 360 football fields. This park used to be a summer camp for kids called Camp Zoe, which started way back in 1929. The park got its name from a huge cliff that stands tall over a stream called Sinking Creek. When you visit, you might hear echoes bouncing off this amazing bluff!
How Echo Bluff State Park Began
Imagine a place that was once a summer camp for kids, now a beautiful state park! The land where Echo Bluff State Park is located was once a summer camp called Camp Zoe. In 2013, the state of Missouri bought this land. They paid about $640,000 for the main camp area. Later, they bought another 80 acres of land for about $455,000 to make the park even bigger.
After buying the land, a lot of work began! About $52 million was spent to build new and exciting things for visitors. This included a brand-new lodge, fun playgrounds, places for camping, picnic areas called pavilions, and cozy cabins. The government also helped out with money. They gave about $10.5 million to improve the roads around the park and build a new bridge over Sinking Creek. All this hard work paid off, and Echo Bluff State Park officially opened its doors to the public on July 30, 2016.
What to Do at Echo Bluff State Park
Echo Bluff State Park is packed with awesome things to do for families and friends!
- Stay Overnight: You can stay right inside the park! There's a big lodge where you can rent rooms. If you prefer a more rustic adventure, you can stay in one of the comfy cabins or set up your tent in the campgrounds.
- Special Events: Planning a party or a get-together? There's a special shelter on top of the bluff that's perfect for events.
- Outdoor Entertainment: The park has a 50-seat amphitheater. This is a great spot for shows, talks, or just relaxing and enjoying the view.
- Explore the Trails: If you love being active, you're in luck! The park has many trails for both hiking and mountain biking. You can explore the beautiful nature and see amazing sights.
