Bennett Spring State Park

Bennett Spring State Park
Missouri State Park
Country	United States
State	Missouri
Counties	Dallas, Laclede
Elevation	1,076 ft (328 m)
Coordinates
Area	3,216.74 acres (1,302 ha)
Established	1923
Management	Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Location in Missouri
Website: Bennett Spring State Park
Bennett Spring State Park Shelter House and Water Gauge Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	Dallas / Laclede counties, Missouri, USA, near Bennett Springs, Missouri
Built	1933
Architect	CCC; NPS
Architectural style	No Style Listed
MPS	ECW Architecture in Missouri State Parks 1933-1942 TR
NRHP Reference #	85000527
Added to NRHP	February 28, 1985

Bennett Spring State Park is located in Bennett Springs, Missouri, approximately 12 miles (19 km) west of Lebanon on Highway 64 and is in Dallas and Laclede counties. The park was established in 1923. 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. The park offers fly fishing, camping, canoeing, and hiking, among other activities.

History

In 1837 the James Brice family built a mill at the stream and the spring became known as Brice Spring. The town that built up 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.

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. 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.

Activities and amenities

Trout fishing

The park offers trout fishing for both rainbow trout 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. 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 rod in hand.

Trails

There are 12 miles (19 km) of hiking trails named Natural Tunnel, Savanna Ridge, Spring, Whistle, Oak Hickory, Bluff, and Bridge.

Other

The park also offers canoeing on the Niangua River, campsites, cabins, a swimming pool, nature center, dining lodge, and park store.

External links

• Bennett Spring State Park Missouri Department of Natural Resources