Bennett Spring State Park is a public recreation area located in Bennett Springs, Missouri, twelve miles (19 km) west of Lebanon on Highway 64 in Dallas and Laclede counties. It is centered on the spring that flows into the Niangua River and gives the park its name. The spring averages 100 million gallons (380,000 m3) of daily flow.[5] The park offers fly fishing, camping, canoeing, hiking, and other activities.[6]
Bennett Spring State Park
Location in Missouri
Show map of Missouri
Bennett Spring State Park (the United States)
Show map of the United States
Location
Dallas and Laclede counties, Missouri, United States
In 1837, the James Brice family built a mill at the stream and the spring became known as Brice Spring. The town they built was known as Brice. The family of Peter Bennett soon settled near the spring and started their own mill. Originally, the families were rivals, but they soon intermarried. Both of these mills were eventually destroyed in a flood.
During the Civil War years, another mill was constructed by Peter Bennett. This Bennett Mill was larger and more successful than the Brice Mill. The spring soon took on the Bennett name. Peter died in 1882 and his son William Sherman Bennett took over. The Bennett Mill burned in 1895.
The state purchased the spring and some surrounding areas in 1924-1925 to create a state park. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made various improvements to the park. The CCC built the dining lodge, cabins, trails, roads, shelters, gauge station, and the arched stone bridge across the spring branch.[7] The bridge has 3 distinctive sideways “C’s” to memorialize the men of the CCC who built it. The CCC also channelized the spring branch and constructed the dam just upstream of the stone bridge to make the spring more habitable to the non-native trout. The dam is used to divert water through the fish hatchery and to maintain a constant water level at Bennett Spring to this day.
Bennett Spring State Park Hatchery-Lodge Area Historic District: The district encompasses six contributing buildings and two contributing structures erected by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1933 and 1938. They include two concrete and stone arch bridges, barn, storage building, custodian's residence, Old Officers Quarters ("Hotel"), restroom, and dining lodge.[8]: 3–4
Bennett Spring State Park Shelter House and Water Gauge Station: The picnic shelter is of wood and random ashlar stone construction with an enclosed alcove that houses a stone fireplace. The water gauge station is a small (8 feet by 8 feet) two-story tower of random cut stone construction with a pyramidal roof and round-arched window openings. It measures 26 feet by 26 feet and has a pitched cross-gabled roof.[9]: 2
Activities and amenitiesedit
The park offers trout fishing for rainbow and brown trout in the natural spring that is the namesake of the park. The fishing area is divided into three zones, each with its own set of regulations.[10] During the regular season, fish may be caught and kept. Catch and release regulations are in effect during the winter months. Daily fishing begins and ends with a whistle or siren. The opening march of the angler can sometimes resemble a Civil War–style battle line as the anglers progress into the water with a rod in hand.
The park also offers 12 miles (19 km) of hiking trails, canoeing on the Niangua River, camping, cabins, nature center, dining lodge, and park store.[6]
^"Bennett Spring State Park: Data Sheet" (PDF). Missouri Department of Natural Resources. November 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
^"State Park Land Acquisition Summary". Missouri State Parks. August 25, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
^"Missouri State Park Attendance For January - December, 2022" (PDF). Missouri State Parks. February 3, 2023.
^"Current Conditions for USGS 06923500 Bennett Spring at Bennett Springs, MO". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
^ ab"Bennett Spring State Park". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. December 10, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
^"Bennett Spring State Park: History". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. January 29, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
^Bonnie Wright (n.d.). "Bennett Spring State Park Hatchery-Lodge Area Historic District" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 1, 2016. (includes 11 photos)
^Bonnie Wright (n.d.). "Bennett Spring State Park Shelter House and Water Gauge Station" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form. Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 1, 2016. (includes 3 photos)
^"Bennett Spring State Park: Fishing". Missouri Department of Natural Resources. January 30, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bennett Spring State Park.
Bennett Spring State Park Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Bennett Spring State Park Map Missouri Department of Natural Resources
December 15, 2023
bennett, spring, state, park, public, recreation, area, located, bennett, springs, missouri, twelve, miles, west, lebanon, highway, dallas, laclede, counties, centered, spring, that, flows, into, niangua, river, gives, park, name, spring, averages, million, ga. Bennett Spring State Park is a public recreation area located in Bennett Springs Missouri twelve miles 19 km west of Lebanon on Highway 64 in Dallas and Laclede counties It is centered on the spring that flows into the Niangua River and gives the park its name The spring averages 100 million gallons 380 000 m3 of daily flow 5 The park offers fly fishing camping canoeing hiking and other activities 6 Bennett Spring State ParkLocation in MissouriShow map of MissouriBennett Spring State Park the United States Show map of the United StatesLocationDallas and Laclede counties Missouri United StatesCoordinates37 43 32 N 92 51 45 W 37 72556 N 92 86250 W 37 72556 92 86250 1 Area3 216 74 acres 13 0177 km2 2 Elevation1 076 ft 328 m 1 Established1924 3 Visitors1 324 725 in 2022 4 Governing bodyMissouri Department of Natural ResourcesWebsiteBennett Spring State ParkBennett Spring State Park Shelter House and Water Gauge StationU S National Register of Historic PlacesHistoric water gauge station and shelter houseLocationDallas and Laclede counties Missouri USA near Bennett Springs MissouriAreaLess than one acreBuilt1933Built byCCC NPSMPSECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933 1942 TRNRHP reference No 85000527Added to NRHPFebruary 28 1985Bennett Spring State Park Hatchery Lodge Area Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtLocationMO A64 Bennett Spring MissouriArea20 acres 8 1 ha Built1933 1933 ArchitectCCCMPSECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933 1942 TRNRHP reference No 85000504Added to NRHPMarch 4 1985 Contents 1 History 2 Historic sites 3 Activities and amenities 4 References 5 External linksHistory editIn 1837 the James Brice family built a mill at the stream and the spring became known as Brice Spring The town they built was known as Brice The family of Peter Bennett soon settled near the spring and started their own mill Originally the families were rivals but they soon intermarried Both of these mills were eventually destroyed in a flood During the Civil War years another mill was constructed by Peter Bennett This Bennett Mill was larger and more successful than the Brice Mill The spring soon took on the Bennett name Peter died in 1882 and his son William Sherman Bennett took over The Bennett Mill burned in 1895 The state purchased the spring and some surrounding areas in 1924 1925 to create a state park In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps CCC made various improvements to the park The CCC built the dining lodge cabins trails roads shelters gauge station and the arched stone bridge across the spring branch 7 The bridge has 3 distinctive sideways C s to memorialize the men of the CCC who built it The CCC also channelized the spring branch and constructed the dam just upstream of the stone bridge to make the spring more habitable to the non native trout The dam is used to divert water through the fish hatchery and to maintain a constant water level at Bennett Spring to this day Historic sites editThe park includes two resources that were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 Bennett Spring State Park Hatchery Lodge Area Historic District The district encompasses six contributing buildings and two contributing structures erected by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1933 and 1938 They include two concrete and stone arch bridges barn storage building custodian s residence Old Officers Quarters Hotel restroom and dining lodge 8 3 4 Bennett Spring State Park Shelter House and Water Gauge Station The picnic shelter is of wood and random ashlar stone construction with an enclosed alcove that houses a stone fireplace The water gauge station is a small 8 feet by 8 feet two story tower of random cut stone construction with a pyramidal roof and round arched window openings It measures 26 feet by 26 feet and has a pitched cross gabled roof 9 2 Activities and amenities editThe park offers trout fishing for rainbow and brown trout in the natural spring that is the namesake of the park The fishing area is divided into three zones each with its own set of regulations 10 During the regular season fish may be caught and kept Catch and release regulations are in effect during the winter months Daily fishing begins and ends with a whistle or siren The opening march of the angler can sometimes resemble a Civil War style battle line as the anglers progress into the water with a rod in hand The park also offers 12 miles 19 km of hiking trails canoeing on the Niangua River camping cabins nature center dining lodge and park store 6 References edit a b Bennett Spring State Park Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior Bennett Spring State Park Data Sheet PDF Missouri Department of Natural Resources November 2017 Retrieved May 3 2018 State Park Land Acquisition Summary Missouri State Parks August 25 2011 Retrieved May 3 2018 Missouri State Park Attendance For January December 2022 PDF Missouri State Parks February 3 2023 Current Conditions for USGS 06923500 Bennett Spring at Bennett Springs MO U S Geological Survey Retrieved June 17 2012 a b Bennett Spring State Park Missouri Department of Natural Resources December 10 2010 Retrieved October 1 2014 Bennett Spring State Park History Missouri Department of Natural Resources January 29 2011 Retrieved December 2 2017 Bonnie Wright n d Bennett Spring State Park Hatchery Lodge Area Historic District PDF National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Missouri Department of Natural Resources Retrieved December 1 2016 includes 11 photos Bonnie Wright n d Bennett Spring State Park Shelter House and Water Gauge Station PDF National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Missouri Department of Natural Resources Retrieved December 1 2016 includes 3 photos Bennett Spring State Park Fishing Missouri Department of Natural Resources January 30 2011 Retrieved October 1 2014 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bennett Spring State Park Bennett Spring State Park Missouri Department of Natural Resources Bennett Spring State Park Map Missouri Department of Natural Resources Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bennett Spring State Park amp oldid 1188557708, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
