Beeds Lake State Park, State park in Franklin County, United States.
Beeds Lake State Park is a 319-acre public recreation area northwest of Hampton, Iowa, surrounding a 99-acre reservoir on Springbrook Creek. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the dam, spillway, bathhouse and footbridge between 1934 and 1938, using boulders from adjacent fields. A causeway crosses the old dike, and a flagstone walk and roadways remain from the CCC era.
Springbrook Creek was dammed in 1857 to power a sawmill, and a flour mill followed two years later. William Beed bought the property in 1864 and ran the mill until 1903–1904; the dike washed out between 1910 and 1913, the mill was taken down in 1916 and the 40-acre mill pond drained the next year. The Civilian Conservation Corps, camped at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, built the present dam and spillway between 1934 and 1936 and began filling the lake in August 1937; the park opened on June 5, 1938.
The park's name comes from William Beed, who bought the mill property in 1864 and ran it until 1903–1904. The CCC camp stood at the Franklin County Fairgrounds while crews worked from 1934 to 1938, and the park opened on June 5, 1938. Visitors can still walk the flagstone paths and roadways the CCC laid out.
The park lies northwest of Hampton, reached from the town by road; the lake, beach and bathhouse sit at its centre, with the fish rearing ponds east of the water. Trails, picnic areas and shelters are spread through the 319 acres, and the CCC flagstone walks and roadways remain in use. Camping is available in the park.
The CCC camp stood at the Franklin County Fairgrounds while crews worked from 1934 to 1938. Boulders for the spillway and bathhouse were gathered from neighbouring fields, and the park opened on June 5, 1938.
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