Sue-Meg State Park Development – Trinidad CA

Description

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) did major work developing the former Patrick’s Point (now Sue-Meg) State Park, which had just been purchased by the new State Parks Commission in 1929. The CCC work was carried out between 1933 and 1937 by the men of Company 1903 at Camp Prairie Creek.

Engbeck reports that the CCC enrollees tore out an old road and reconfigured the entry road in a more naturalized fashion; constructed a campground and day-use picnic area, with combination restrooms, washrooms and laundry rooms; rehabilitated a staff residence; and cleared a protective firebreak around the perimeter of the park  (Engbeck, p. 24).

The CCC crews evidently did more than that, since rangers at the visitor center credit the CCC with the park’s extensive trail system and stonework.  It is also very likely that the road system around the large park was laid out by the CCC and that a water supply system was installed, as well.

The campground at Lookout Rock appears to have original CCC stone stoves, but we did not investigate the other park campgrounds and picnic areas.  The elegant restroom at Lookout Point may be CCC, but the concrete slab construction indicates that it is more recent. An ancient standpipe/fire hydrant near Lookout Point looks to be of CCC vintage.

The most striking CCC works in the park are the stone stairs and viewing platforms on Wedding Rock, Ceremonial Rock and Lockout Rock. 

The name was changed from Patrick’s Point to Sue-Meg State Park in 2022 to recognize the historic name and present participation of the Ner’-er-nerh/Coastal Yurok People. There is a re-created Yurok village on the park site, which is sometimes used for ceremonies.  Furthermore, the point was named after an Irish settler who killed a native boy and fled in the early 1850s.