In 1933 the Civilian Conservation Corps built the core of Starved Rock Lodge, including the lobby, dining room, kitchen, and cabins, at a cost of $200,000, and also constructed many of the park's bridges, shelters, and trails. At the same time, private contractors built the hotel's section of the building. The CCC was a federal Depression-era back-to-work project employing young men, and those working here were mostly from the local area, including Utica, Oglesby, La Salle-Peru, and Ottawa. They were 17-23 years old, were paid $30 per month, and enlisted for 6 months at a time. Organized into companies, three CCC units were stationed here at various times, first the 614 and later the 1601 and the 2601.