Lake Scott State Park was an oasis for us – it was our first cool weather and the lake was full of water. The park is not only a recreational haven it is also full of history. The park is a nature lover’s paradise with hiking, horseback and biking trails, swimming, and boating, along with just plain relaxing.

El Cuartelejo, Spanish for old barracks or building, is said to be the site of the north most pueblo in the United States and the ruins are located in Lake Scott Sate Park. A group of Taos Indians fleeing from Spanish rule in New Mexico banded with the Apache in 1664 and remained for several years. In 1889 excavations uncovered the lower portions of stone walls of a pueblo along with other artifacts, stone and bone tools, ornaments and pottery shards. These artifacts were characteristic of Plains Apaches and identified the site as the historic El Cuartelejo. In 1970 the ruins lower walls were reconstructed and allows visitors to see the pueblo foundation.

Herbert Steele came to Scott City in 1888 and homesteaded in what is now Lake Scott State Park. The first home was a simple dugout and later he