Ozark Big Spring Historic Cabins & Lodge Rehabilitation

Location: Van Buren, MO
Budget: $24M

Project Description

Located within Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Big Spring Campground’s historic lodge and cabins were built in the 1930s and 1940s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration as part of Big Spring State Park. In 1970, the state transferred the park and its buildings to the National Park Service. Decades of exposure to a humid environment, along with flood damage, had taken a toll on the wood buildings. In 2018–2019, the National Park Service engaged the design team to prepare a comprehensive report documenting the historic buildings, evaluating their condition, and recommending appropriate treatments. Using the report as a guide, the same team was retained in 2019 to develop construction documents for the rehabilitation of the cabins and lodge. The project encompassed more than a dozen cabins, a laundry, the concessionaire’s residence, a museum, and the dining lodge. Structural improvements included foundation repairs and upgrades, reinforcement of wood framing, repair of stone walls, and construction of new site structures. A major focus was the seismic retrofit of the half-timbered lodge, improving its structural performance while preserving its historic character.

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