Versailles State Park
Encyclopedia
Versailles is an Indiana state park, near the town of Versailles, Indiana
. The land was given by the National Park Service
for use as a state park to Indiana's Department of Conservation in 1943.
In the early 20th century, the area was farmland. In the 1930s, the National Park Service
acquired the land, and hired the CCC
to improve the land into a Recreational Demonstration Area
. The 230 acre (0.9307778 km²) Versailles Lake was formed in 1954 when a dam was built across Laughery Creek.
It is a recreation area, featuring fishing and boating on Versailles Lake and Laughery Creek. A covered bridge
, the Busching covered bridge, crosses the creek. This Howe truss bridge was constructed in 1885, is 176 feet (53.6 m) long, and although within the state park, Ripley county owns it. A group camp, originally constructed by the CCC, is available for use as well. Swimming isn't allowed in Versailles Lake, but a 25 meter pool is available.
Versailles, Indiana
Versailles is a town in Johnson Township, Ripley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,113 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Ripley County.-Geography:Versailles is located at...
. The land was given by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
for use as a state park to Indiana's Department of Conservation in 1943.
In the early 20th century, the area was farmland. In the 1930s, the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
acquired the land, and hired the CCC
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
to improve the land into a Recreational Demonstration Area
Recreational Demonstration Area
The Recreational Demonstration Area program was a National Park Service program during the 1930s and early 1940s that built forty-six public parks in twenty-four states on , chiefly near urban areas in the United States...
. The 230 acre (0.9307778 km²) Versailles Lake was formed in 1954 when a dam was built across Laughery Creek.
It is a recreation area, featuring fishing and boating on Versailles Lake and Laughery Creek. A covered bridge
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
, the Busching covered bridge, crosses the creek. This Howe truss bridge was constructed in 1885, is 176 feet (53.6 m) long, and although within the state park, Ripley county owns it. A group camp, originally constructed by the CCC, is available for use as well. Swimming isn't allowed in Versailles Lake, but a 25 meter pool is available.