Thousand Hills State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thousand Hills State Park |
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Aerial view of Thousand Hills
swim beach & cabins area |
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 Thousand Hills State Park
Location in Missouri
Thousand Hills State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Adair County, Missouri, United States |
| Area | 3,079.70 acres (12.4631 km2) |
| Elevation | 814 ft (248 m) |
| Established | 1952 |
| Visitors | 549,910 (in 2022) |
| Governing body | Missouri Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Thousand Hills State Park |
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Thousand Hills State Park Petroglyphs Archeological Site
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Shelter protecting petroglyphs
at Thousand Hills State Park |
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| Nearest city | Kirksville, Missouri |
| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000320 |
| Added to NRHP | January 23, 1970 |
Thousand Hills State Park is a fun place to visit in Missouri. It's a big park, covering over 3,000 acres, which is like 2 miles wide! You can find it west of Kirksville in Adair County. The park has a beautiful lake called Forest Lake, which is 573 acres big. It's also home to ancient rock carvings made by Native Americans, called petroglyphs.
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How Thousand Hills Park Began
In the late 1940s, the city of Kirksville needed more water. A local doctor named George Laughlin and his family generously gave 1,100 acres of land to the city in 1948. The city then bought another 1,150 acres.
People in Kirksville voted to build a dam across Big Creek. This dam created a new lake in the summer of 1952. At first, it was called "Lake Kirksville."
By September 1952, the city council officially named it "Forest Lake." This name was chosen because of all the trees around the lake. The land around the lake was given to the state of Missouri for free. This was done so a state park could be created to protect the area.
The park was named Thousand Hills State Park. This honored Doctor Laughlin's farm, which used to be on some of the park's land.
Ancient Rock Carvings
Inside the park, you can find special rock carvings made by Native Americans. These carvings are called petroglyphs. They are very old, possibly made over 1,500 years ago!
These important carvings are protected in a special building. This building helps keep them safe and lets visitors learn about them. The site is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Thousand Hills State Park offers many activities for visitors.
Lake Activities
Forest Lake is a great spot for water fun. You can go fishing, swimming, or boating. The park has a marina where you can rent boats and other equipment.
Camping and Staying Over
If you want to stay longer, the park has two campgrounds. They offer a total of 57 campsites for tents or RVs. You can also stay in one of the seven cozy duplex cabins.
Trails for Exploring
The park has trails perfect for hiking and bicycling. One popular path is the Carolyn Bagley Harding Trail. This paved trail is being developed with help from a local group called FLATS (Forest Lake Area Trail System).
Park Events
The park hosts several events throughout the year.
Annual Events
Every spring, the park holds a bass fishing tournament. In April, you can join the annual Earth Day event. In September, the park celebrates Archaeology Day, where you can learn more about the ancient petroglyphs.
