Wintersmith Park Historic District, Historic district in Ada, Pontotoc County, US.
Wintersmith Park Historic District covers 150 acres on Ada's southeastern edge, bounded by 18th Street, Scenic Drive and Country Club Road. It holds Wintersmith Lake, a lodge, stone bridges, a 1.5-mile lighted trail, eight picnic pavilions, a playground, a dog park, sports courts and a Kiwanis amusement park. The 1934 stone amphitheater sits on a natural slope at the south edge.
Work began in 1933 when Civilian Conservation Corps camp 824 arrived in Ada, paying its young men $30 a month. The Wintersmith project was the first time the National Park Service joined the CCC, which had previously worked only on national parks. The combined team spent more than a year transforming 143 acres, building the lake, lodge, bridges, trails and amphitheater. The district was listed on the National Register in June 2000.
The stone amphitheater built in 1934 serves as a gathering place where the community hosts outdoor performances, theater productions, and social events. This structure continues to shape how local groups use the park for shared cultural activities and celebrations.
The grounds offer varied activities from water play and sports courts to quiet walking routes around the lake. Visitors should dress for weather conditions and note that some areas may have limited access depending on the season.
Two historic buildings were relocated to the park: Jones Chapel Schoolhouse from 1907 and Campbell Cabin, representing early school and home architecture. These moves demonstrate how the community chose to preserve structures by moving them to a protected location.
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