New Deal Traditional Cache
MetigosheRanger: The contest is over. Thanks to those that participated!
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This cache is part of the ND Parks & Rec. Department's "Play in Our Backyard Geocaching Contest." Information pertaining to the contest can be found within the cache and/or our department website at http://www.parkrec.nd.gov/activities/geocaching.html.
You can drive right up to this cache so parking isn't an issue. Daily entry fee of $5.00 per vehicle or ND State Park Annual Pass which is $25 and can be purchased at the entrance station or office.
In this area, you'll see a lot of evidence of the park's history!
In the 1930's, President Franklin D. Roosevelt started his New Deal programs. Programs, such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC), put many to work during the Great Depression and post war times. Programs provided food, shelter, clothing and medical care in exchange for work. During this time such programs constructed many hiking trails, roads, picnic areas, campgrounds, bridges, etc. Many state and national parks have infrastructure within them that were built as a result of the New Deal programs.
The first 10 workers to show up on site to build this camp complex started in August 1934. By October, there were 50 men working onsite. Those workers were quartered near the fairgrounds in Bottineau. By late August 1935, the lodge, dining hall and ice house reportedly stood completed. There were 75 men that inhabited the camp at this time. Most workers were unskilled laborers, but included masons, carpenters and an electrician.
The focus of this plans was to build a lodge with administrative offices and dorms. A lodge was built as well as the kitchen/dining hall. There was also a director's cabin (which has been moved and is now unrecognizably Kingfisher cabin, located near the entrance of the modern campground) a shop with laundary faciltiies and a garage. Additional plans included a hospital and stables, which were never constructed.
At this cache, you will see several buildings. These buildings include a kitchen/dining hall, comfort stations and dorms. The cache itself is VERY close to the kitchen/dining hall, which is the only original building that still stands today. The next building to the west is the comfort station. Coming off of the comfort station, there are two buildings that angle off towards the northwest and southwest. Those two buildings are the dorms. The original dorms were torn down and have since been rebuilt. Today, these facilities host many events such as weddings, family reunions, workshops, scout groups, school groups visiting the Lake Metigoshe Outdoor Learning Center, etc.
There are several other caches within the park so while you are here, you can spend the day caching!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ybbx nebhaq, ohg zbfg vzcbegnagyl ybbx haqre.