Meramec State Park
| Meramec State Park | |
| Missouri State Park | |
 A stalactiflat in Fisher Cave | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Missouri |
| County | Franklin, Crawford, and Washington Counties |
| Coordinates | 38°12′24″N 91°6′9″W / 38.20667°N 91.10250°W |
| Area | 10.8 sq mi (28 km2) |
| Founded | 1927 |
  | |
| Website: http://mostateparks.com/meramec.htm | |
Meramec State Park is located near Sullivan, Missouri, about 60 miles from St. Louis, along the Meramec River. The park has diverse ecosystems such as hardwood forests, and glades. There are over 40 caves located throughout the park, the geology of which is a mixture of limestone and dolomite. The most famous is Fisher Cave, located near the campgrounds. The park borders the Meramec Conservation Area.
In the late 1970s, as part of the Meramec Basin Project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began work on a dam in the park to impound the river. The resulting reservoir would have permanently flooded much of the park and imperiled many different species, including the endangered Indiana bat. However, in response to direct citizen action against the dam, the project was halted, marking a victory for the environmental movement.[1]
National Register of Historic Places
The park has a number of places on the National Register of Historic Places:
- Meramec State Park Lookout House/Observation Tower
- Meramec State Park Pump House
- Meramec State Park Shelter House
- Meramec State Park Beach Area Historic District
References
- ↑ Watkins, Connor (2006). "The Meramec Basin Project; A Look Back 25 Years Later". Conor Watkins' Ozark Mountain Experience. Retrieved 2010-10-24.