FLAT ROCK – The National Park Service has approved nearly $1.1 million for repairs to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site’s Front Lake dam, which dates back to the 1850s.
Funds will be available starting Oct. 1, the start of the new federal fiscal year. Repairs are expected to begin in mid-2025 after design, compliance and contract requirements are met. Repairs will include reinforcing the eroded left side of the earthen dam, replacing the failing corrugated metal pipe with high-density polyethylene pipe, slowing water infiltration and filtering out sediment.
Once the dam is repaired, a more rigorous inspection and monitoring process will be put in place to detect minor problems early before they lead to catastrophic failures.
Repairs to historic structures like this one often take nine to twelve months, with repairs expected to be completed in mid- to late 2026.
“We are grateful for the support of our visitors, partners, elected officials and other community members throughout this time,” said Superintendent Polly Angelakis. “We are committed to restoring this significant feature of our historic landscape. The Front Lake Bridge was built on a portion of the dam. The repairs will also restore access to this bridge, which is our primary pedestrian access.”
“Visitors should continue to stay away from the closed areas on the Front Lake Bridge as the area around the bridge is unstable and eroding,” she added.
The Front Lake Dam failed in August 2022 due to a corrugated metal pipe installed in the 1980s that rusted and rotted, as well as the dam’s original 1850s design. The left side of the dam was originally built on sand, not bedrock, and had a history of slow, normal seepage. This seepage accelerated due to the faulty pipe, undermining the left side of the dam. Corrugated metal pipe is no longer used due to similar problems seen in dams like Front Lake’s.
In spring 2023, the park received $201,000 for the design portion of the repairs. The design was the first step and was complex. Designers had to strike a balance between preserving the original historic elements and appearance and adding modern materials to strengthen and improve the dam. The design should be completed by December.
Erosion has washed away part of the park’s previous shuttle route, which was served by a golf cart. The park has created a new route that involves driving on country roads – something a golf cart cannot do. In 2022, the Friends of Carl Sandburg in Connemara provided emergency funds to lease a street-legal visitor shuttle. In 2023, the Friends raised $80,000 in six months to purchase and donate a new, accessible, street-legal shuttle. They raised this money with support from The Village of Flat Rock, The CommunityFoundation of Henderson County, the Perry N. Rudnick Fund and the Hunter Hometown Foundation.
The Visitor Center/Park Store, operated by nonprofit partner America’s National Parks, and the SandburgHome are open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reserve house tours in advance at www.recreation.gov. These are also the only days national park passes are sold. Otherwise, visit https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes.
The goat barn is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Access to the goat barn, grounds, trails, and farm is free. Weekdays are quieter than weekends. Pets on a leash are allowed on the trails and grounds. The grounds and trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. For current information and all parking options, visit www.nps.gov/carl or follow the park on Facebook.
The Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is located at 81 Carl Sandburg Lane in Flat Rock. For more information, call 828-693-4178 or visit www.nps.gov/carl.
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