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LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo., Sept. 23, 2011 -- A partnership that pairs up a community college career-training program with the award-winning Missouri State Parks system will rebuild a historic dining lodge at one of the state’s most popular parks, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today.
Department Director Sara Parker Pauley led a groundbreaking ceremony this morning for the new Camp Pin Oak dining lodge at Lake of the Ozarks State Park. A fire last September destroyed the original historic dining lodge that was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Representatives from State Fair Community College and the Missouri Department of Economic Development also attended the ceremony.
The dining lodge is being rebuilt through a partnership between State Fair Community College in Sedalia and the department’s Division of State Parks. State Fair Community College(SFCC) is headquartered in Sedalia and has campuses in six other locations in central and western Missouri, including the Lake of the Ozarks. Students enrolled in the construction trades program at SFCC will rebuild the lodge as a yearlong training and education project.
“The beauty of Camp Pin Oak, with its stone buildings, rustic architecture and sturdy craftsmanship make it a one-of-a-kind place,” Gov. Nixon said. “When the historic dining lodge burned last year, Camp Pin Oak lost a piece of its past. Today, we’re proud to announce that it won’t have to lose a piece of its future. The new lodge will continue the legacy of Camp Pin Oak as a place for recreation, celebration and learning, for many, many generations to come.”
“State Fair Community College looks forward to this opportunity to partner with the state to rebuild Camp Pin Oak's dining lodge,” said Dr. Marsha Drennon, SFCC president. “It's a win-win situation. Our students will learn the construction trade in a hands-on environment and help restore a part of Missouri's rich state park history.”
The Civilian Conservation Corps built Camp Pin Oak between 1934 and 1938, and the lodge served as the hub of the group camp activities for generations of youth groups. The dining lodge was considered one of the finest examples of CCC buildings in the state park system because of its rustic architecture and craftsmanship.
“It is very fitting that the new lodge be built by students who are gaining new skills and experience, just as many of the CCC workers did when they built the original lodge in the 1930s,” said DNR Director Sara Parker Pauley. Director Pauley said she expects the new lodge to continue to serve future generations of youth groups.
The new dining lodge will fit within the historical context of the CCC-era camp, while using modern energy-efficient building materials and amenities to serve the needs of today's group camp users. The new dining lodge will have indoor seating for 135 people, a bigger kitchen with modern appliances, and a new outdoor patio. Construction is expected to take approximately one year to complete. Funding for materials, equipment and training to rebuild the camp will come from a $1.5 million Community Development Block Grant authorized by the Department of Economic Development.
For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mo.gov.
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