Shakamak State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shakamak State Park |
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The Nature Center on the west side of the lake
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| Location | Clay, Greene, and Sullivan counties, Indiana, United States |
| Nearest city | Jasonville, Indiana |
| Area | 1,766 acres (7.15 km2) |
| Established | 1929 |
| Governing body | Indiana Department of Natural Resources |
| http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2969.htm | |
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Shakamak State Park Historic District
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 Location in Clay County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Jasonville, Indiana |
| Area | 685 acres (277 ha) |
| Built by | CCC; WPA |
| Architectural style | Park Rustic |
| MPS | New Deal Resources on Indiana State Lands MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000199 |
| Added to NRHP | March 15, 2000 |
Shakamak State Park is a fun place to visit in Indiana, United States. It's about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Terre Haute, Indiana. This park is famous for its great fishing!
You can do many outdoor activities at Shakamak. People enjoy swimming, hiking, and boating on the lakes. You can also go camping or rent a cozy cabin. The park is just 3 miles (4.8 km) from the town of Jasonville, Indiana.
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Park History
Shakamak State Park officially opened on September 3, 1928. The land for the park was given by Clay, Greene, and Sullivan counties. The park's founders chose the name "Shakamak."
What Does Shakamak Mean?
The name "Shakamak" is thought to mean "river of the long fish." This comes from the language of the Delaware or Kickapoo Native American tribes. They used this name to describe the nearby Eel River. The park founders picked this name long after these tribes had left the area.
Creating the Lakes
Before the park was built, there were no lakes in this area. The first lake at Shakamak Park was made by blocking a 5-foot (1.5 m) sewer. More lakes were added later, like Lake Kickapoo, which was created 30 years after the first one.
In May 1930, Richard Lieber purposely added bass fish to the lake. This made the park famous for fishing by July 1932, once the fish had grown and had babies. The park also grew with help from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). A group of CCC workers, Company 522, was based at the park from 1933 to 1942.
National Recognition
In 2000, Shakamak State Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special place with important history.
Swimming and Activities
Shakamak used to host many big swimming competitions called Mid-States AAU Championship Swim Meets. These events brought in huge crowds! There was even a special platform with 5 and 10 meter diving boards. Local swimmers called them the "16" and "32" because they were about 16 and 32 feet high.
These diving boards were open to everyone until the 1990s. Then, Shakamak Lake was closed for swimming. A new swimming pool was built instead, so visitors could still enjoy a dip!
The park is about 3 miles (4.8 km) from Jasonville, Indiana. This town even has a motto: "The Gateway to Shakamak."
Images for kids
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This was the Mess Hall for the CCC workers.
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These buildings were once barracks for the CCC, now used as a youth camp.
