Stephens Lake Park

Stephens Lake Park is a park located in Columbia, Missouri. Today it serves as an arboretum with a lake, and a park spanning 116 acres. It is often used as a live music venue with the Roots N Blues Festival taking place here every year.

In the early 1800s the David Gordon House and Collins Log Cabin were built upon the land. A century later Stephens College purchased the land from the Gordon family. During the start of the 21st century, the city purchased the land and opened it to the public.

History
In the early 19th century, Captain David Gordon, a wealthy farmer from Madison County, Kentucky, moved his family and his slaves to the land due to debates over slavery. In 1818, Gordon built a cabin on the area that would become the park. In 1823, The David Gordon House were built using slave labor. After construction of the manor was complete, the Gordons turned their cabin into slave quarters. The area was owned by the Gordon family for over a century. Then in 1926, the family sold the land to Stephens College.

In 1999, allegedly the college was going to sell the land to private developers for $10 million. This caused outrage among community. Near the end of the year someone purposely set the David Gordon House on fire.

In 2001 the city of Columbia purchased the area the same year it the park was opened to the public. An amphitheatre in the park was opened on June 26, 2010.

The park contains a marker of the historic location of Sherman's Dam.

Discovery Garden


The park contains a garden called Darwin and Axie Hindman Discovery Garden, it was built to honor Darwin Hindman and Axie Hindman.

Wildlife
Enchenopa binotata have been found at the park. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation; Stephens lake contains species like Black Bass, Catfish, and Bluegill.

Concerts
The Roots N Blues Festival is held annually in the park.

According to Concert Archives, eight concerts have taken place at the park. Musicians like Dale Watson and Alejandro Escovedo performed concerts at the park in 2013. Amos Lee and Rosanne Cash performed a concert in 2014.