Sitting Bull Shelter & Lakeshore Drive

It is possible the Civilian Conservation Corps built shelters in Guernsey State Park may be some of the most photographed picnic shelters in America. Sitting Bull shelter is the most elaborate of the east side picnic shelters, built with a   huge fireplace, stone benches and great views it is the highlight of Lakeshore Drive shelters. 

The Wonderful Sitting Bull Shelter

 Sitting Bull has long been one of the most popular day-use picnic areas in the park.  This description is from my book, The Civilian Conservation Corps & the Building of Guernsey State Park – With Folktales and Stories of the Park.

Picnic with the CCC

With picnic time at hand, this is a most peaceful place to spend an hour of two. It is a day use area (no camping) and weekdays there is not much competition to use the shelter. Weekends it would be a good idea to get there early, well before lunch time. I cannot think of a better place, anywhere, to roast a hot dog and a few marshmallows.

Now That's a Roasting Place

Once Again

One last comment and I have made it here, on this blog, before. It is Lakeshore Drive. The houses on the drive after leaving the park are addressed as Lake Side Drive or Road. Too bad, as this was most likely a mistake made, that has stuck. That means that Lakeshore Drive turns into Lake Side Drive after leaving the park and the lake. Oh well, that does make for an interesting story, even some of the state materials about the park list it as Lake Side. Google Maps also call it Lake Side, they should have called me first. (just kidding)

It's All About the View

All early CCC maps and documents list the east side road as Lakeshore, one word. I like it, like Chicago, we have our very own Lakeshore Drive, only ours, has mountains and animals, and a few great picnic, and camp sites. 

Oh, and What About the Sunsets? Looking South-West from the Shelter

Guernsey State Park and Happy Birthday Yellowstone

Happy Birthday to the greatest park on earth, Yellowstone, who turns 142 today, certainly doesn’t look it.  

Much of the Civilian Conservation Corps work at Guernsey State Park is a reflection of the Parkitecture movement so prevalent in Yellowstone. Parkitecture was the movement sometimes called, rustic architecture, where natural settings blend into the buildings.

Here is a recent picture of Sitting Bull Shelter at Guernsey State Park – a great example of Parkitecture.

Obviously the centerpiece of the movement in the park is the Museum. I took this photo two weeks ago. See how well nature and construction can blend?

Guernsey State Park and FDR's New Deal - The Men of the CCC

Guernsey State Park is well known as a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts. But did you know that it is one of America’s best historical sites to take a close look at Civilian Conservation Corps History?

Dozens of projects undertaken by CCC workers in the 1930s are still in use in the park today. For those of you who dozed off in high school history class the CCC was part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. The Civilian Conservation Corps was the government’s attempt to put young men back to work. Guernsey State Park was built by theses CCC workers, the park having two camps, one on each side of the lake.

Although the park abounds in wonderful reminders of the CCC and their work building the park, here are my five favorites.

1.     The Museum – The Museum is on the east side of the lake and was built by CCC camp Br-9, which was located down the deep valley south of the museum.

2.     Lakeshore Drive – Lakeshore Drive crosses the dam and follows the east shore. The drive leaves the park at Long Canyon and leads on into the town of Hartville. The drive from Guernsey to Hartville via Lakeshore Drive may be the most beautiful drive in all of eastern Wyoming.

3.     Sitting Bull Picnic Shelter- Located on Lakeshore Drive

4.     Skyview Drive – This is the main road on the west side, unlike Lakeshore Drive, it is not paved but the surface is well maintained, hard packed, gravel.

5.     The Castle- The Guernsey State Park Castle can be reached by taking Skyview Drive to its termination on the North Bluff. While there check out the, Million Dollar Biffy, the most ornate and overbuilt comfort station in all of Wyoming’s state park system. Skyview Drive, the Castle and the, Million Dollar Biffy were all projects of Camp BR-10 although the Castle was finished up by the men of Camp BR-9.

For true history buffs, the Powderhouse at Camp BR-10 and the bridge on the Brimmer Point walking trail are musts. (Unfortunately the bridge on the Brimmer Point trail was burned in the terrible fire in the summer of 2012 but the terrific stone work is still in place)

The Powderhouse may be one of the least visited historical places in the park. To find the Powderhouse take Skyview Drive the road left from the park entrance pay station, (the road to sandy beach) after going up the mountain (May West Hill) and coming down you will find a turnoff to the left, south, at the bottom of the hill. This is across the road from the beginning of Tunnel Mountain Trail. The old Powderhouse is only about one-hundred yards northwest from this turn off. The turn off is steep but there is room to turn around at the bottom.

The Powderhouse has a small bright metal (unfortunately) interpretive sign. If you are adventurous many ruins from old camp BR-10 are in the area immediately west of the Powderhouse strung out for nearly a quarter of a mile.

On a final note - If you have taken a long drive to reach Guernsey State Park check out the hiking trails. Wonderful views with many great photo opportunities and great exercise also.

                         "The Worker" - Civilian Conservation Corp statue at the Museum