June 1st Devils Den State Park, Arkansas

View from the scenic overlook at Devil's Den SP built by the CCC

After packing and unhooking the motorhome from power and water I drove up to the lodge to use the State Park Wifi. My ATT personal hotspot has been working in most places but not in the Queen Wilhelmina campsite. I made myself comfortable in the lounge that looks out over the expansive vista of the Quachita Forest. While there I was able to upload my May 28^th, 30^th and 31^st blog posts and check my email.

Then I headed north continuing on Highway 71 to Devil’s Den State Park in West Fork, Arkansas. Arkansas has 52 state parks so there are lots to choose from. I picked up a great little State Park Guide that divides the state into six areas. It shows the locations of each park and provides a nice description of what each has to offer.

This is the dam built by the CCC. People seem to really like lying on the stones

I chose Devil’s Den because it was on my route, it showed a photo of a beautiful waterfall and mostly because it is touted to be “the most intact CCC park in the country.” I’ve been interested in CCC works ever since it was chosen as the theme for a HALS challenge – see my May 12^th post on the Chiricahua National Monument.

After picking a perfect camp site tucked in the corner and fully shaded, I headed out to see what the CCC had built. They worked at this site from 1933-1942. The first things they built were facilities needed to house the 200 men in the camp. This included several barracks, a kitchen, mess hall, well house, recreation hall and an education building. The CCC program not only taught technical skills they offered educational opportunities. Many received their high school diplomas while serving and others earned college credits.

Bronze sculpture of a CCC worker

One of the first projects a crew from North Dakota started was to extend the road from the town of West Fork to the park site. The CCC also built a dam to create a swimming spot with a diving platform and beach. The outlet side of the dam creates the waterfall that had caught my eye in the promotional material. They also built extensive drainage systems and culverts and a beautifully crafted timber and stone overlook that frames a stunning view. I saw 2 of the 18 unique cabins built for park visitors. Each is adapted to its specific site with stone steps leading up or down as needed. These are still in use today.

The entrance to one of six camping areas is marked by the remnants of a stone bridge the CCC built to cross Lee Creek. It was said to be “one of the most substantial structures built by the CCC.” The bridge washed out in a flood in 1960. They also completed smaller projects like hiking trails – I plan to walk the Devil’s Den Trail tomorrow morning, and go see the amphitheater and Pump House.

Devil’s Den Park was designated as a National Historic District in 1994.

Plan of all the facilities the CCC built at Devil's Den SP

One of several massive stone walls in the park

Remnants of the CCC built bridge

Historic photo of the bridge from Arkansas State Parks
interpretive material

One of the wood and stone cabins built by the CCC

Note how well the cabin fits into its site

Scenic overlook at the Yellow Rock Trailhead, restored in 2000

Roof structure of the scenic overlook

Stone, lichen and tiny daisys

One plaque lists the names of all the original CCC men.
The other lists those to came back for a reunion and funded
the CCC interpretive trail in 1999.

Found these butterfly wings near my campsite