| Located in Macoupin County seven miles southwest of Carlinville & situated in an oak/hickory woodland, Beaver Dam State Park offers a variety of recreational opportunities on its 750 acres. Fishing, picnicking, hiking, & tent & trailer camping are among the most popular activities. Although the beaver is virtually gone from this area, the park is named for a beaver dam that created its lake.
Park History
The lake became a well-known fishing spot when in the early 1890s, 18 men from the Carlinville area formed a Beaver Dam Lake Club. They spent $2,500 to build a dam at each end of the lake & double the H2O depth. For a number of years the club held summer & fall picnics at the lake. Their families enjoyed fishing & boating throughout the season. The area then became the property of the family of Mrs. Sarah Rhodes, who for some time operated a small hotel which stood on the site of the present ranger residence. One mile northeast of the hotel existed a cluster of houses & a railroad stop known as Macoupin Station. Trails stopping here were met by a large horse-drawn coach which took guests to the hotel. With the advent of the automobile, however, this transit business disappeared & the hotel was closed. The initial land acquisition for Beaver Dam State Park was 425 acres in 1947. Additional land purchases have increased the park to a total of 751 acres. |
Beaver Dam - State Park Campground Web Site
Driving Direction GPS Coordinates:
39.214916, -89.977035
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Campground: Beaver Dam - State Park in Plainview Illinois *