Petit Jean State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Petit Jean State Park |
|
|---|---|
Cedar Falls
|
|
 Petit Jean State Park
Location in Arkansas
Petit Jean State Park
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Conway County, Arkansas River Valley, Arkansas, United States |
| Area | 3,471 acres (14.05 km2) |
| Established | 1923 |
| Named for | Petit Jean Mountain |
| Governing body | Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism |
Petit Jean State Park is a wonderful park in Conway County, Arkansas. It covers about 3,471 acres and is managed by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. The park sits on top of Petit Jean Mountain, right next to the Arkansas River. It's a special place located between the Ouachita Mountains and the Ozark Plateaus.
Contents
The Legend of Petit Jean Mountain
Have you ever wondered how Petit Jean Mountain got its name? There's a famous legend about it! Long ago, in the 1700s, a young French woman wanted to explore the Louisiana Territory with her fiancé. To join the trip, she cut her hair and dressed up as a boy. She managed to get a job as a cabin boy on the ship.
She survived the long journey across the ocean. The expedition then began exploring the new land. When they reached the area of the mountain, the young woman became very sick. Before she passed away, she told her fiancé who she really was. She was buried on the mountain, not under her real name, but under the name everyone knew her by on the ship: "Little John."
Locals usually say the name "PET-ih jeen" or "petty jeen."
Exploring Petit Jean State Park
The park has many buildings made of logs and stone. These were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. They give the park a cool, old-fashioned feel.
Places to Stay and Visit
A historic lodge called Mather Lodge sits on the edge of a bluff. It has 24 rooms and offers great views of a deep, forested canyon. Besides the lodge, there are 32 cabins and 127 campsites. These are perfect for visitors who want to stay overnight.
Cedar Creek created the canyon and bluffs. This creek flows into the canyon as an amazing 95-foot waterfall! Above the falls, Cedar Creek was dammed to create Lake Bailey. This 100-acre lake is used for pedal-boating and fishing.
The park has a visitor center and a gift shop. You can also find a boathouse at Lake Bailey. It offers boat rentals, fishing supplies, and snacks. For fun, there are tennis courts, basketball courts, a swimming pool, and picnic areas.
The Museum of Automobiles is also very close to the main camping areas. It's less than a mile away!
Natural Wonders and Views
Petit Jean State Park is home to many interesting natural features. These include Bear Cave, Rock House Cave, the Grotto, Turtle Rocks, Carpet Rocks, and Natural Bridge. You can see amazing views of the Arkansas River Valley from the scenic overlook at Petit Jean's grave.
In 2017, Petit Jean was even named the best campsite in Arkansas! This was part of a survey of all 50 states by Msn.com.
Park Buildings and History
|
Petit Jean State Park-Administration Office
|
|
CCC assembly hall at Petit Jean State Park
|
|
| Nearest city | Winrock, Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1935 |
| Built by | Civilian Conservation Corps |
| Architectural style | Rustic Resort |
| MPS | Facilities Constructed by the CCC in Arkansas MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000520 |
| Added to NRHP | May 28, 1992 |
A lot of the park's buildings and paths were built in the 1930s. This work was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Many of these structures are still in great shape today. They are a big part of what makes the park look so special. The CCC crews built roads, buildings, trails, and dams for Lake Bailey and Roosevelt Lake. Many of these historical features are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Important Buildings
The CCC built several important buildings in the park. These include offices and places for visitors to use. The most famous is probably Mather Lodge. It's a large stone building built in 1935. It was made bigger in 1940 by the CCC and again around 1960.
The main administration building was also built around 1935. Part of it is now a gift shop. The CCC also built a water treatment building. Even though it's far from the main tourist areas, it has the same rustic style as the other public buildings. It was very important for filtering water for park visitors in the early days.
The park also has cabins that visitors can rent. Four of these were built by the CCC. They show off the classic rustic style of the CCC. These cabins (numbers 1, 6, 9, and 16) were built around 1935. They are mostly T-shaped stone buildings with porches.
Roads, Bridges, and Trails
The CCC also created many roads and trails throughout the park. The Blue Hole Road, for example, is now part of the Boy Scout Trail. It used to be a road for cars to get to the Blue Hole swimming area. You can still see parts of it, like culverts and a retaining wall.
The Cedar Falls Trail is another well-preserved path built by the CCC. It goes from Mather Lodge down into the canyon. It even includes a bridge over Cedar Creek.
Two structures built by the CCC are still used for cars today. A stone box culvert is under Highway 154, which is the main road through the park. The Cedar Creek Bridge carries Red Bluff Drive over Cedar Creek, just below Lake Roosevelt. There's also an old pedestrian bridge made of concrete that looks like logs. It's in one of the park's grassy areas.
See also
In Spanish: Parque estatal Petit Jean para niños
