Monument Lake Park Building and Hatchery Complex
Las Animas County
Monument Lake Park Building and Hatchery Complex was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) and is significant for its association with social programs the WPA and CCC provided under the New Deal legislation, the conservation of its aquaculture, entertainment and recreation it offered to visitors in its zoo and other accommodations. Additionally the complex is architecturally important for its Pueblo Revival and WPA Rustic style cabins and buildings and its potential to yield information important to understanding to the complex, its visitors and builders.
Monument Lake Park Building complex
In 1931 IWLA began transporting 750,000 brook, rainbow, and black spotted trout fingerlings from state and federal hatcheries to Monument Lake. In 1934 IWLA built the hatchery building and by 1936, it raised over one million fish per year. The complex became a popular tourist destination for its fishing and a zoo made from rock wall enclosures built by the WPA to house black bear, elk, deer, coyote, bison, turkeys and pheasants. Although the hatchery and zoo are no longer operational, visitors continue to stay at the original cabins or lodge and enjoy the outdoors and fishing in Monument Lake. Monument Lake Park Building and Hatchery Complex’s lodge, community house, cabins, zoo and fish hatchery enhanced the recreational opportunities available to residents of Las Animas County and beyond.