Lake Ahquabi State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Ahquabi State Park |
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Sunset on Lake Ahquabi by kayak
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 Lake Ahquabi State Park
Location in Iowa
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| Location | Warren, Iowa, United States |
| Area | 770 acres (310 ha) |
| Elevation | 860 ft (260 m) |
| Established | 1936 |
| Governing body | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Lake Ahquabi State Park |
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Lake Ahquabi State Park
Picnic Area (Area A) Bathhouse Area (Area B) Refectory Area (Area C) |
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| Built | 1934-1934 |
| Built by | Civilian Conservation Corps |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| MPS | CCC Properties in Iowa State Parks MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001663 900016634 90001665 |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 1990 |
Lake Ahquabi State Park is a fun place to visit in Iowa, USA. It has a big lake that is about 115-acre (47 ha) in size. The name Ahquabi means "resting place" in the Fox language, which is a Native American language.
The park is located about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Indianola. It is also about 22 miles (35 km) south of Des Moines. Some parts of the park are very old and important. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Contents
History of Lake Ahquabi
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A famous person named J.N. "Ding" Darling suggested this area for a state park. The city of Indianola bought the first 560 acres (230 ha) of land in 1934. At first, it was called Indianola State Park.
Building the Park
From 1934 to 1937, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build the park. The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that gave jobs to young men. They built many things in the park, including the dam and the lake. They worked on the dam and lake from April 1934 to July 1935.
Protecting the Lake
Over time, the lake started to have problems. Dirt and mud, called sedimentation, began to fill it up. This made the lake smaller. Also, dirty water from nearby farms, called surface runoff, made the water quality worse.
In the 1980s, many groups worked together to make Lake Ahquabi better. Farmers started using special methods to protect the soil. They also created wetlands and basins to catch dirt before it reached the lake. These efforts helped a lot.
In the mid-1990s, the lake was cleaned out using a process called dredging. This means they removed the extra mud from the bottom. The shoreline was also made stronger. They fixed the dam and added a device to keep the water fresh, called an aeration device.
After all this work, many types of fish were put into the lake. These included largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, channel catfish, and crappie. More people started visiting the park and fishing. The park's popularity grew a lot.
Special Historic Buildings
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On November 15, 1990, three areas of the park became part of the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Their importance comes from being built by the CCC.
- Area A is a picnic spot. It includes the park's old entrance, a picnic shelter, restrooms, fountains, and a footbridge. These were built from December 1934 to April 1935.
- Area B has the beach shelter, restrooms, and a place to buy snacks. The CCC started building these in May 1935 and finished them by September 1937.
- Area C is the lodge, also called the refectory. Work on it began in July 1936 and finished in July 1937.
The buildings were designed in a style called Rustic. This style uses natural materials and designs to help the buildings blend in with nature. It makes them look like they belong in the park.
What You Can Do at Lake Ahquabi
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Lake Ahquabi State Park offers many fun activities for visitors.
Camping and Facilities
The park has a campground right by the lake. There are 141 campsites, and 85 of them have electricity. There is also a special area for youth groups to camp. The campground has modern restrooms and showers. You can also find two dump stations for RVs.
You can reserve the stone lodge, built by the CCC, for private events. There are also three open shelters that can be reserved for picnics or gatherings.
Fun Activities on the Lake
Lake Ahquabi has a sandy beach where you can relax. There are two boat ramps if you want to bring your own boat. You can also rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats from the park's concession stand. They also sell food and bait for fishing.
There are special fishing spots called jetties. There is also a pier that is easy for everyone to use, even if they have a disability. These spots are great for fishing from the shore.
Exploring Trails
A gravel trail goes all the way around Lake Ahquabi. In the winter, you can use this trail for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Other trails wind through the woods around the lake. These are perfect for hiking and exploring nature.
