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State Park Location Maps:
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State Park Photo Gallery:
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State Park Event Calendar:
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Nearby Parks:
Smithville Lake State Wildlife Area
Bonanza State Wildlife Area
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| State Park Overview: |
 | It took Waltus Watkins nearly half a century to build his home estate and small community. Included in the 3,600 acres was an elegant home, three-story woolen mill, fruit-drying shed, smokehouse, brick kiln, sawmill, gristmill and acres of well tended orchards and croplands. A brick schoolhouse and church are also in the vicinity.
Many of the original buildings have been restored, and livestock and plants re-introduced to create an 1870s farm. During summer months, the site's Living History Farm Program offers visitors the chance to watch an 1870s family live, work and play.
Tours are given of the Watkins home and Watkins Woolen Mill. The mill is a National Historic Landmark and is the only 19th century textile mill in the county with its original machinery still intact. The visitor center offers an introduction to the Watkins family and their many business ventures.
A bit of history can be combined with a day of outdoor fun. Williams Creek Lake offers opportunities for fishing and swimming. Encircling the lake is a 3.75-mile paved bicycle trail. Picnic sites and a picnic shelter offer a great place to rest or enjoy lunch. For overnight guests, the park offers nearly 100 wooded campsites. |
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| Camping: |
| Watkins Mill has 96 campsites, 74 have electric hookups. Each site has a graveled parking pad, a picnic table, grill and lantern hook. Parking pads vary in length from 38 feet to 80 feet, with the electric sites having the longer pads.
Five sites, three electric and two basic, are accessible for campers with disabilities. Four of these campsites are reservable.
Two showerhouses, a coin-operated laundry and a sanitary dumping station are available for registered campers during the on-season. These facilities, along with the water, are not available during the off-season.
A woodlot is open in the evening during the on-season for campers to purchase wood. During the off-season, the fee collector will sell wood upon request.
Campsites 35-97 are closed November through March.
For reservations, there is a two-night minimum stay required on weekends from April through October and major holidays from May 15 through Sept. 15. Reservations can be made by clicking on the Campground Reservation System Information link above or by calling 1-877-422-6766 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. CST.
Park Gate Information : The campground gate closes at 10 p.m. during the on-season. Campers need to be sure to arrive prior to gate closure time.
Special-Use Area : A primitive camping area is available for organized youth groups. The area is divided into five sections, each with a picnic table and fire ring. The area has a vault toilet but no water. There is direct access to the bike trail. Groups interested in reserving a campsite in the special-use area should call (816) 580-3387 during office hours. The special-use area is located on the east side of the facility and is accessed from Endsley Road. |
| Picnicking: |
| There are three picnic areas, with tables and grills, and additional picnic tables and grills are located along the bike trail near the beach and the shelter house area. Picnic areas are available on a first-come first-served basis. The north picnic area connects directly to the bike trail. |
| Boating: |
| Boat Launch
A boat launch is located at Williams Creek Lake along with a courtesy boat dock. Boat motors are restricted to 10 horsepower or less. A nearby hard surface parking area is available for vehicles and trailers. |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
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| Related Links: |
| Watkins Mill State Park, Missouri - Watkins Mill State Park, Missouri ... From East To West 3G WiFi Mobility presented by Watkins Mill State Park, Missouri Thursday, June 19, 2003 18:38:52 PDT Wherein we meet the Lisac cousins ... | | Watkins Mill State Park Bike Path - ... Snowshoeing X-C Skiing Topographical Maps Tips Training/Fitness Repair/Maintenance Skills/Techniques Watkins Mill State Park Bike Path State: Missouri County: Clay Setting: Open Spaces Length: 4.0 ... | | Mo-Kan VW Club - Mo-Kan Volkswagen Club home page ... found here. Next Club Events January 2-4, 2004: New Years Busolution campout, Watkins Mill State Park, MO. See this web site or e-mail gratefulphisher@kc.rr.com for ... | | Kearney Missouri Real Estate - Kearney Missouri Real Estate. Homes and Community directory from Relocate-America.com, nationwide ... Also east of Kearney, is Watkins Mill State Park. This park contains the first woolen mill ... | | http://www.route56.com/highways/35nexit.shtml - ... 20 Lawson William Jewell College NORTH Des Moines (MP 22.2) EXIT 26 Kearney Excelsior Springs Watkins Mill State Park Historical Site Smithville Lake (MP 32.8) EXIT 33 Lawson Holt (MP 34.1 NB/34 ... | | City of Lawson, Missouri Tourism and History - HISTORY OF WATKINS MILL STATE PARK Abridged from the book "From Entry Fee to 'Fifty-Three" by Ruth Bogart Roney The Watkins Mill is a half mile northwest of the main stem of William's Creek, and ... | | Watkins Mill State Park Overview - Department of Natural Resources, Information concerning state parks and state historic sites in ... State Park 8. Missouri Civil Rights Museum 9. Watkins Mill State Park and State Historic Site 10 ... | | Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site - Preamble - Missouri State Parks and Historic Sit - Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site and Park, combines a unique historic site with a popular ... other historic buildings, and Watkins Mill State Park, containing the recreation area. The ... |
| Nature Programs: |
| Guided tours are available of Watkins Woolen Mill and the Watkins family home. The mill is a National Historic Landmark and is the only 19th-century textile mill in the country with its original machinery intact. The visitor center offers an introduction to the Watkins family and their many business ventures.
During the summer months (May through August), the historic site?s Living History Farm Program offers visitors a glimpse into the life of a family in the 1870s. Costumed staff and volunteers give demonstrations on cooking, gardening and other period activities.
Natural history programs are offered throughout the summer months in the campground. |
| Directions: |
| From Kansas City : From I-70, take Exit 8 north onto I-435 northbound. Travel on I-435 north for 11 miles until it merges into northbound I-35. Continue north on I-35 for 15 miles, exiting at Kearney (Exit 26). Turn right onto eastbound Hwy. 92 and continue east for five miles to turn left (north) onto Route RA. The park entrance will be on the right off of Route RA.
From St. Joseph : Take U.S. Hwy. 36 east for 27 miles to Cameron. From there take I-35 south for 28 miles, exiting at Kearney (Exit 26). Turn left onto eastbound Hwy. 92 and continue east for five miles to turn left (north) onto Route RA. The park entrance will be on the right off of Route RA. |
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