Scott State Park

Native American Ruins Dating Back To 1664 Make This One Of The Top Attractions In Kansas

Scott State Park is a wonderful oasis of craggy bluffs and canyons which are watered by natural springs. It surrounds the 100 acre Lake Scott and indeed is sometimes known as the Lake Scott S.P.

Located in Scott County, Kansas the state park now covers over 1,280 acres of land but has its roots dating back to a donation of land made to the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission in 1928 by the family of Herbert Steele.

In 1888 Herbert and his wife Eliza had set up home on what is now the state park.

They had first lived in a home dug into the earth of their property and had then built a four room house from the local sandstone.

Ruins Of The Pueblo At Scott S.P.

Soon after he arrived, Herbert discovered he was living near the ruins of an ancient Taos pueblo built by Native Americans. (A pueblo is a stone or adobe building) Excavations by archaeologists from the University of Kansas revealed that it would have been a seven roomed building large enough to house a small tribe.

The ruins which have now been reconstructed and can be seen by visitors to the park are thought to date back as far as 1664. The building is known as El Cuartelejo (translates as "far quarter" or "far district") and over the centuries has been occupied at various time by the Taos Indians from New Mexico as well as the Picuri Tribe and a Spanish expeditionary force to the area. Now it is open to the public and there are displays and interpretive signs for visiitors to enjoy.

The Lake At Scott S.P.

As well as this fascinating piece of history, Scott S.P. is a wonderful place for swimming, boating and fishing. Species you can hope to catch include bass, sunfish, crappie, catfish, trout, walleye and bluegill.

Guests who want to camp have a choice of a primitive campground with around 100 sites or there are 55 utility sites , many with 50 amp hook-ups and water services. In addition to that there is a dedicated campground for riders and their horses with trails in the park that are open to both riders and hikers.

Contact details and the address of Scott State Park are as follows -

Scott State Park,
101 West Scott Lake Drive,
Scott City,
KS 67871.

GPS N38 40.765 W100 54.720

Phone (620) 872-2061

Here is a county map of Kansas with the position of Scott S.P. indicated with a star.

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