Celebrating the Civilian Conservation Corps’ impact on infrastructure and architecture - Picnic shelters and water fountains

90th anniversary of Virginia State Parks

Picnic shelters and water fountains

These structures were thoughtfully designed to blend into the natural surroundings, using local materials and traditional building techniques that harmonized with the landscape and cultural history of the regions in which they were constructed.

Many of these CCC-era picnic shelters still stand today in our historic parks, some of them, like at Bear Creek Lake State Park and Douthat State Park, are accompanied by stone water fountains that served as convenient refreshment spots for visitors. Their craftsmanship reflects the CCC’s commitment to both functionality and beauty, creating spaces where families could gather and enjoy the outdoors.

Picnic Shelters

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A picnic shelter at Fairy Stone State Park in 1934

A picnic shelter under construction at Hungry Mother State Park in 1934

a completed shelter at Hungry Mother State Park

A completed picnic shelter at Hungry Mother State Park

A closeup of the window detail on a CCC picnic shelter at Douthat State Park

A CCC-built picnic shelter at Holliday Lake State Park

A CCC-built picnic shelter at Twin Lakes State Park

Staunton River rock chimney at at picnic shelter

Building a rock chimney at a picnic shelter at Staunton River State Park

Water fountains

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Blueprint of a drinking fountain at Hungry Mother State Park

Detailed blueprint of a drinking fountain at Douthat State Park

A CCC-built drinking fountain at Douthat State Park today

A CCC-built drinking fountain at Bear Creek Lake State Park today

These landmarks aren’t just historic; they’re living pieces of our shared outdoor heritage, still supporting, inspiring and welcoming visitors nearly a century after they were built.

Next time you visit a Virginia State Park, take a moment to look a little closer. You might be standing beside a piece of history. If you come across one of these historic shelters or fountains, please help us preserve them by leaving them as they are. These pieces of history connect us to the early days of Virginia State Parks and deserve to be enjoyed for generations to come.

We invite you to rediscover the legacy that makes our parks not only breathtaking, but truly one of a kind.