Crawford State Park (Farlington Lake), KS – Do you have an award winning chili recipe? Maybe it’s time to put it up to the test! This weekend, September 27^th, Crawford State Park host’s Country Music Jamboree and annual Chili cook-off. This is the last big activity planned at the state park this year.

Cooking starts at 12:30 and judging starts at 4:00pm. If you are not the cook, but enjoy sampling the bounty of good cooks, tasting will take place at 4:30pm. If you think you have what it takes to compete, you can contact Kevin Smith, the chili commissioner: 620.362.3237 or [email protected]. The park is offering free park entrance for this event and if you decide to stay and do a little camping you can register at www.reserveamerica.com or visit the park office.

Also, included in the festivities, are live music and a pot-luck “end of season” dinner at 6:30pm. Bring a covered dish and join in. Live music starts at 3:30pm and includes performances by The Duling Band, Jeff Simpson, Kinley Rice, Jason Richison and more. All activities will be in the Oak Point Campground.

Crawford State Park

If you haven’t had a change to visit the lake, take some time before the winter weather comes to go and visit. The park is located 9 miles north of Girard on Hwy 7 and contains an 150 acre lake. The whole park comprises 530 acres, six campgrounds, five modern cabins (for rent), two boat ramps, a swimming beach and three bathhouses. Also, the park offers four hiking trails, a 9-hole disc golf course and a Civilian Conservation Core (CCC) Memorial Museum (when open).

You can click here to visit their website.

We will do a more complete story on the historical activity of the CCC in a future article. The lake was constructed in the 1930’s by the CCC and shortly after, the hatchery was built. The Museum contains many artifacts retrieved from the CCC camp which was located were the park sits today. The museum is curated by Aggie Keeling and her friend Dorothy, both who are actively involved in the “Friends of Crawford State Park.” The two of them are diligently working to preserve the history and legacy of the men who built the park.  They are also working hard to enhance the experience of visitors today, including raising fund to install storm shelters for park campers. There is an outdoor exhibit as you enter the park, make sure you take some time to observe the memorial and learn some of the history of this park.

Crawford State Park
1 Lake Rd.
Farlington, KS 66734
(620) 362-3671
[email protected]
www.ksoutdoors.com