Near Van Buren in Carter County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Building Human Happiness
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Growing out of the hillside overlooking the river and spring branch, the dining lodge still offers visitors a beautiful view and a peaceful meal. It took nearly 11 months for the CCC boys to hew the beams and to quarry, cut and haul the stone needed to raise the massive structure. The lodge was designed in an Old England style so as to be in harmony with the surrounding environment.
The architect in charge of designing the structures at Big Spring was Donald A. Blake. He served as architectural foreman for Co. 1710 during the winter of 1933-34 before being transferred to Jefferson City, where he continued with state park design planning. Blake later returned permanently to Big Spring as Camp Superintendent from November 1935 to 1937.
The CCC built cabins to serve as a woodland retreat for visitors. In 3 cabins, a rustic, Old England "half timber" design featuring native stone and massive oak beams served the dual purpose of providing modern attractive accommodations and using natural materials to blend in with the forested, rocky terrain. This minimized the visual intrusion of structures on the natural scene. The C's also moved 3 existing cabins from the bank of the spring branch to the hillside and remodeled them to fit the landscape.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1935.
Location. 36° 56.881′ N, 90° 59.47′ W. Marker is near Van Buren, Missouri, in Carter County. Marker is at the intersection of State Highway Z and Pea Vine Road (State Highway 103), on the right when traveling north on State Highway Z. Located at the entrance to the dining lodge at Big Spring in Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Van Buren MO 63965, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. CCC - A Peace-Time Army (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); There Was Work To Be Done (about 600 feet away); Camp Hains - 1710 (about 600 feet away); Big Spring: A Karst Topography (approx. 0.3 miles away); Big Spring (approx. 0.3 miles away); Van Buren (approx. 3˝ miles away); Carter County Veterans Memorial (approx. 3˝ miles away).
Additional keywords. New Deal
Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 927 times since then and 14 times this year. Last updated on September 27, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 26, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.