Trapper's Bay State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trapper's Bay State Park |
|
|---|---|
 Trapper's Bay State Park
Location in Iowa
|
|
| Location | Dickinson, Iowa, United States |
| Area | 57.5 acres (23.3 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,463 ft (446 m) |
| Established | 1933 |
| Governing body | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Trapper's Bay State Park |
|
Trappers Bay State Park Picnic Shelter
|
|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1933 |
| Architect | Central Design Office, Ames |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| MPS | CCC Properties in Iowa State Parks MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001676 |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 1990 |
Trapper's Bay State Park is a fun place to visit in Iowa, United States. It's located on the west side of Lake Park, Iowa, right along the north shore of Silver Lake. This park is about 57.5 acres big, which is like 43 football fields! It's a great spot for many outdoor activities. You can enjoy picnics, and there's even a special picnic shelter. The lake is perfect for boating and fishing.
Park History
The land for Trapper's Bay State Park was bought by the state of Iowa in 1933. Soon after, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) started working on the park. The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that helped young men find jobs. They built many parks and public spaces across the country.
Building the Park
Company 778 of the CCC began developing Trapper's Bay State Park in 1933. They worked with the National Forest Service at first. Later, they were transferred to the National Park Service. The CCC workers started building the picnic shelter and restrooms in 1933. These buildings were finished by March 1934. In 1936, Trapper's Bay State Park became part of Gull Point State Park's management.
Picnic Shelter
The picnic shelter at Trapper's Bay State Park is very special. It's built in a style called Rustic. This means it looks like it grew right out of nature! The walls are made from rough, natural stones. These stones are placed randomly, making the shelter look very earthy.
Shelter Design
In the middle of the back wall, there's a stone fireplace with a chimney. Imagine having a cozy fire there on a cool day! The roof is made of timber and has a pointed shape called a gable. Two big, round wooden posts help hold up the roof. You can see the wooden beams, called purlins, sticking out from under the roof's edge. The shelter is built on a small piece of land near the lake. Its design, materials, and how it was built all help it blend perfectly with the natural surroundings. This makes it a beautiful and unique part of the park.
