Was Roaring River?

[denjac]

Was roaring river built by the CCC? Watched a show on the CCC and those guys worked for a buck a day, new clothes and shoes, plus 3 squares a day. and they were happy to have it. They built most of the State and Federal parks.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I believe many of the buildings in it and Bennett were built by the CCC. The only thing left at Bennett is the bathroom and lodge, and I believe the store at RR.

[laker67]

I believe many of the buildings in it and Bennett were built by the CCC. The only thing left at Bennett is the bathroom and lodge, and I believe the store at RR.

I think you are right Wayne. RR was acquired in 1932 and the stone work at both parks are typical of the work by the CCC, Civilian Conservation Corps.

[Zack Hoyt]

I am pretty sure it was. My great grand father drove a dump truck hauling rock into and out fo the park way back when. He has a few stories of the breaks going out coming down the hill.

[denjac]

I found this article::

NPS Form 10300.. OM0 No. 1024-0618

Exp. 10-3-84

United States Department of the Interior

National Park Service

National Register of Historic Places

Inventory-Nomination Form

E.C.W. Arcnitecture in Mo. State Perks T.R. District

Continuation sheet

Roaring River State Park Item number and Property data Page 1

Roarinq River State Park

Both the CCC and the WPA took part i n developing Roaring River State Park, a dramatic

s l i c e o f the Ozark Mountains, seven miles south o f Cassville, i n Barry County, Missouri.

The o r i g i n a l park, acquired i n 1923, contained a lake (destroyed by a flood i n 1939), a

trout hatchery, and a few cabins. CCC Commpany 1713 arrived i n the area i n June 1933 and

remained u n t i l November 1939. During t h i s period, the CCC enrollees developed the

hatchery, b u i l t new cabins and other park buildings, developed hiking t r a i l s , and repaired

the damages o f a disastrous flood. The major achievement o f WPA workers at Roaring River

was the construction of an impressive three-story stone and timber Lodge. An important

survival i n the park i s Camp Smokey, which contains four o r i g i n a l CCC officers' barracks.

There i s one h i s t o r i c d i s t r i c t i n the park: Camp Smokey-Company 1713 Historic D i s t r i c t .

Nominated as non-contiguous sites are the following: Deer Leap Trail, the lodge, the club

house (bathhouse), the honeymoon cottage, the shelter and restroom ( # ' s 30 & 311, and the

dam/spillway. D i s t r i c t data follows; please see inventory data sheets on non-contiguous

sites.

[Murdoc]

Here's a great read on the park.

http://mdc.mo.gov/areas/hatchery/roaring/history.htm

[Wayne SW/MO]

There was a lake in the park as late as the mid 50's. You could rent paddle boats on it. The west end of the dam anchor is still visible above the low water bridge at the south end of the park.

[ness]

I only caught about half the show, which ticked me off. I just need to DVR American Experience -- it's one of the best shows on TV.

I'm pretty sure they built the old lodge at least. Don't they even call it the "CCC Lodge"?

I gotta tell you, the 'improvements' at Roaring River sure have changed the flavor of the place. My first time there we stayed at the old motel. I was sad when they tore it down, but thought the new lodge looked cool -- at first. Now it just looks out of place to me. Sure, it's a nice place to go potty if the campground restrooms are overflowing, but I'd never stay there. Ate there once -- high price, bad food and service.

Now they've got the new store -- just like the one at Bennett. They've got more floor space devoted to girly crap than fishing gear. Dammit -- if I want a toe ring, pink cowboy hat, dream catcher, cappuccino, Christmas ornaments or a tote bag, I can get it at the mall.

[eric1978]

My grandfather was in the CCC and did some work in Sam A. Baker state park. Mudlick Trail is a twelve mile hike that leads up onto Mudlick Mountain, which overlooks the St. Francis River. There are several stone hiking shelters at the peak of that bluff trail that my grandfather helped build with his own hands. I saw them for the first time a couple years ago, and it was a really cool experience for me. It was also a very beatiful view.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Yea they ripped Bennett apart. They moved the campers out of sight and built plush cabins for the more affluent at the stream. They bought Vogels so that people could have better access to the river, and then tied it up for their own canoe rental. I think the biggest disappointment for me was when they tore down the old store, it was classic and I know they could have found another use for it.

I don't really think the public shared their vision of modernization, or going commercial to the excess. At least I've never met anyone who did.