Lake Scott State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Scott State Park |
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El Cuartelejo pueblo ruins
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 Lake Scott State Park
Location in Kansas
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| Location | Scott County, Kansas, United States |
| Area | 1,280 acres (5.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,831 ft (863 m) |
| Established | 1928 |
| Named for | Lake Scott |
| Visitors | 150,000 |
| Governing body | Kansas Wildlife and Parks |
| Website | Lake Scott State Park |
Lake Scott State Park is a cool place in Scott County, Kansas. It's a state park that covers about 1,280 acres. The park was created in 1928. This happened after the Herbert Steele family gave their land for it. The park is also called Scott State Park. It surrounds Lake Scott, which is a freshwater lake fed by natural springs.
You can find Lake Scott State Park between Oakley and Scott City. It's about one mile west of U.S. Route 83 on Route K-95. The park is open all year for fun activities. These include camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, and picnicking. Lake Scott State Park is special because it has the only known Native American pueblo in Kansas. This ancient site is called El Cuartelejo.
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History of the Park
Lake Scott State Park is home to the ruins of an old Taos Pueblo village. The Taos people came to western Kansas in 1664. They had escaped from Spanish rule in New Mexico. They teamed up with a group of Plains Apache people. The Taos Indians built strong pueblo buildings for protection. They also made an irrigation system from a nearby spring to water their crops. This settlement was known as El Cuartelejo. The Taos lived there for 20 years before going back to their homeland.
The pueblo was used again in 1696 by a group of Picuri Indians. They were forced to return to their homes in New Mexico ten years later. The Picuri were the last Native Americans to live at the pueblo.
In 1720, a Spanish group used the pueblo during a trip north. They wanted to see how strong the French were in the area. But the Spanish group was attacked by Pawnee people about 150 miles from El Cuartelejo. The Spanish thought about using the pueblo as a frontier station. However, they decided not to because it was too far from their supplies in New Mexico. The last time anyone recorded people living at the pueblo was in 1727. Local Indians said French traders were using it then. Over time, weather and erosion caused the buildings to disappear. Only a small mound and some irrigation ditches were left.
Discovering the Ruins
Herbert Steele found the ruins in 1889. Later, archaeologists from the University of Kansas dug up the site. In 1964, the El Cuartelejo ruins were named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place.
In 1970, more digging showed that the pueblo was a building with seven rooms. This was enough space for a small group of Indians. The foundations of the pueblo were rebuilt at this time. You can visit them today and see signs that explain the history. Near the pueblo, you can still see traces of shallow ditches. These ditches stretched from the nearby springs.
The Steele Family and the Park's Beginning
Herbert Steele came to Scott County in 1888. He built his homestead on what is now Lake Scott State Park soon after. He and his wife, Eliza Landon, first lived in a dugout. Later, they built a four-room house using local sandstone. Their original home is now a museum. It shows furniture and tools used by the early settlers of Scott County. The Steeles gave their property to the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission in 1928. The park is 1,280 acres in total. This includes the 640-acre Steele homestead.
Fun Activities at Lake Scott State Park
Lake Scott State Park is open for fun all year long.
Camping and Facilities
There are many places to camp in the park. You can choose from 55 modern campsites or 175 simpler ones. The modern sites have more facilities. There are two modern restrooms for visitors. The lake has a swimming beach, and there's a playground nearby. A shop sells fishing and camping supplies. You can also rent canoes and pedal boats there.
Trails and Wildlife
The park has several miles of trails. You can use these trails for hiking or horseback riding. The trails go into wild areas where you can see animals. You might spot wild turkey, deer, beaver, and even bobcat. Hunting is allowed in the wildlife area just west of the park.
Fishing in Lake Scott
Lake Scott is a great place for fishing. Some of the fish you can catch include:
