State Parks

“A healthy, safe park represents more than a walk in the woods… it represents a school, a beacon to workers, a health club, a carbon offset, an art gallery, a preventative care facility, a tourist attractor, a mental health sanctuary, a water purification system, a community center, a laboratory, a library, a source of added value for nearby private property and a competitive boost for business. It is hard to imagine a more efficient use for a public dollar.” 

--Director Sean D. Logan, Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Ohio state park units include natural reserves, recreation areas, and historic sites. These breathtaking lands are found in every corner of the state and are supported by tax dollars and private donations.

The Ohio Parks app includes these awesome state parks:

A W Marion

Nature of the Area

A. W. Marion State Park, located in Pickaway County, can attribute its natural wonders to glaciation that occurred more than 12,000 years ago • As glaciers advanced over more than two-thirds of Ohio, vast amounts of rock and soil (or till) were deposited over the landscape • This till had a direct effect on the natural vegetation that occurs at A. W. Marion • The surface of the park is fairly level and the soil very fertile

The area is diverse with woodlands, plains and prairie • Ohio's prairies, products of an ancient dry climate, are really small versions of the more extensive grasslands in the western United States • This eastern portion extends into Ohio and is part of the prairie-forest border or tension zone • Within this zone, the grasslands increased in size during droughts, only to be reinvaded by forests during wet periods • Before settlement began, scrub oak barrens, dense thickets formed by this shrub, were common in the region but have since been cleared for raising crops

The nearby floodplains of the Scioto River are adorned with a variety of wildflowers • Wildlife indigenous to the area includes fox squirrel, ring-necked pheasant, a variety of songbirds, red fox and white-tailed deer


History of the Area

Long before A.W. Marion became a state park, this area had developed an amazing history • Due largely to the fertile soils of the Pickaway Plains, which are said to contain the richest land in Ohio, early inhabitants were attracted here • The Adena culture were among the first to settle the area 2,000 years ago

An ancient circular earthworks on the site of what is now the city of Circleville (hence the name) gave evidence to their presence • In more recent times the villages of Chief Cornstalk of the Shawnee nation were located on these plains • These same villages were the object of attention of Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, who in 1774 marched his army within striking distance of the Indians • His intention was to destroy the villages and end the uprising that had resulted in the Battle of Point Pleasant days earlier • At the request of the Indians, a peace settlement was agreed upon before any more fighting occurred

In 1948, construction began on the dam for Hargus Creek Lake • By 1950, the area became part of the newly created Division of Parks and Recreation • In 1962, the park was renamed the A.W. Marion State Park in honor of the first director of the Department of Natural Resources, a Pickaway County native

Adams Lake

Nature of the Area


Adams Lake State Park lies in an area rich in natural diversity with many unique plants and animals • Wedged between the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the east and the glaciated land to the north and west, no other area of Ohio boasts a richer abundance of plant species

Known as the Bluegrass Region of Ohio, Adams County harbors scattered pockets of prairie communities, a remnant of the past when the great western prairies reached into Ohio • Sometime after the last glacial advance, the climate turned warmer and drier • It was during such periods that the prairie advanced eastward into Ohio • Purple coneflower, little blue stem and prairie dock provide an impressive display during the peak blooming season of mid-summer

The glaciers which covered most of Ohio did not reach Adams County, but their effect is still evident • As the glaciers advanced and the climate changed, many northern species of plants expanded their range southward and remained after the glaciers retreated • White cedar and maidenhair fern represent two such northern transplants

Before the glaciers advanced, a great river called the Teays flowed through Ohio • As the glaciers moved forward, they had a profound effect on the drainage system by blocking existing rivers • The ancient Teays River was blocked and its waters were backed up forming the Ohio River • The Teays River transported plants native to more southern conditions to Adams County • Mountain laurel is one such traveler still found in the area

Once teeming with elk, buffalo and bear, animals of the region now include numerous songbirds, as well as opossum, gray squirrel, raccoon and other mammals

History of the Area


The Adams Lake region was once inhabited by prehistoric and mound building cultures, most notably the Adenas and Hopewell • Internationally renown Serpent Mound, the hallmark of the Adena culture (1000 B.C.-100 A.D.) remains a mystery in regard to its origin and purpose • The historical site can be found north of the park near Locust Grove off State Route 41

The shorter-lived Hopewell culture (100 B.C.-600 A.D.) created Tremper Mound, located along State Route 104 in adjacent Scioto County • Here, effigy pipes which were fashioned in stylized images of native animals were discovered in great numbers

In more recent history, the powerful Shawnee Nation controlled this area until trappers and traders seized upon its abundance of furbearers • Pioneers followed in vast numbers as the permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory continued • Adams County was one of the original four counties of this huge district

Adams Lake was originally constructed to provide drinking water for the village of West Union • When an alternative county water system was developed, the state purchased the lake and surrounding land in 1950 • The 95-acre park is now operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation

Alum Creek

Nature of the Area


Alum Creek rests in the midst of the fertile agricultural till plains and river valleys of Delaware County • In contrast to the surrounding farmlands, the park offers a diverse array of natural features • Cliffs of Ohio shale are notable in many areas, exposed as Alum Creek and other streams cut through underlying bedrock • The shale was formed as mud washed into the ancient sea which covered the area several hundred million years ago • The dark hue of the rock is due to the mixture of a carbonized plant material and mud that formed the shale

The rich soils of Delaware County gave rise to a luxuriant beech-maple forest after the retreat of the glaciers about 12,000 years ago • That original forest has long since been cut but a healthy second growth forest is preserved in the park • The woodlands harbor a variety of plant species and offer the interested observer beautiful displays of wildflowers and wildlife • Large-flowered trillium, wild geranium, bloodroot, and spring beauties carpet the forest floor • The forest is home to the fox squirrel, woodchuck, rabbit, white-tail deer and many other species of wildlife

History of the Area


Long before recorded history, man called this forest and the Alum Creek valley home • The Adena culture lived here over 2,000 years ago • Seven mounds constructed by the mound builders were identified along the creek • Six were excavated before the valley was flooded although archaeologists did not believe them to be burial mounds

Much later, the Delaware Indian tribe occupied several villages near Alum Creek • A large town was located where the city of Delaware now stands on the banks of the Olentangy River • The Indians cultivated a 400-acre cornfield in much of what is presently downtown • These Algonquin tribespeople entered Ohio in the 1700s, being displaced from their eastern home in the Delaware River valley by the fierce Iroquois nation

Colonel Moses Byxbe was one of the first settlers in the county • He built his home in 1805 on Alum Creek and named the township Berkshire after his native Berkshire, Massachusetts • He owned 8,000 acres on the creek and was the co-owner of 30,000 more • These were military lands which he sold for $2.50 to $10 per acre

With the threat of the War of 1812, the frontier counties set about erecting structures to defend themselves in case of Indian attack • Four blockhouses were built in the county, one of which was on Alum Creek • The fortress had two stories, the second of which protruded over the first yielding a place from which to shoot • drop boiling water on the attackers and defy attempts to set the log structure on fire • This Fort Cheshire, which stood until the Civil War, was later used as a schoolhouse • A bronze plaque commemorates the site where the fort once stood in what is now the park's family campground

During the fifty years prior to the Civil War, the border state of Ohio offered many routes for the Underground Railroad by which slaves escaped to freedom • Over 40,000 slaves passed northward through Ohio along these paths • The Sycamore Trail, whose guideposts were often the ghostly white bark of this floodplain tree, ran along Alum Creek • Slaves waded in the waters of the creek as they left the safe Hanby House in Westerville and attempted to elude pursuing trackers • Africa Road received its name from the fact that thirty slaves, freed in North Carolina, settled near friendly homeowners in this area

Alum Creek Dam is part of the flood control plan for the Ohio River Basin • The lake was authorized by Congress in the Flood Control Act of 1962 • Construction began in August of 1970 and was completed in 1974

Barkcamp

Nature of the Area


The sandstone hills of the Barkcamp region are part of the Appalachian highlands which envelop the southeastern part of Ohio. In the sandstone bedrock can be found layers of coal which were formed by decaying swamp vegetation millions of years ago during the Pennsylvanian geologic period. Barkcamp State Park lies in the heart of the coal-mining region of Ohio.

The hills and valleys of the area are clothed with a second-growth forest. Today, southeastern Ohio is one of the most extensively forested in Ohio, and only a few areas remain which suggest the magnificence of these original forests.

The woodlands of Barkcamp support a variety of plant and animal life. The observant visitor may find a wealth of woodland wildflowers including wild geranium, hepatica, bloodroot and spring beauties. The woodlands explode with flowering dogwood and redbud blossoms in spring.

Songbirds, squirrels, skunk, opossum, raccoon, white-tailed deer and the wild turkey take up residence in the park's varying habitats.

History of the Area


This area was first inhabited by the Moundbuilders, then later by Wyandots, Delaware and Shawnee. Belmont County was one of the earliest areas settled in Ohio, and the scene of several bloody conflicts between settlers and Indians. Prior to the Treaty of Greenville of 1795, the nearby Ohio River was the accepted boundary between Indians to the north and settlers to the south of the river. Conflicts arose as land-hungry settlers began encroaching on Indian lands. The celebrated Indian fighter, Lewis Wetzel, was often through this region. Wetzel instigated many of the conflicts as Indians were the object of his mortal hate. A large boulder near the park's Antique Barn bears an inscription carved by Wetzel.

The Society of Friends (Quakers) established the first church in the area. Benjamin Lundy, a Quaker who lived in St. Clairsville, became known as the "Father of Abolitionism." He formed an anti-slavery society here in 1815 called the Union Humane Society. At one point, there were 120 miles of the Underground Railroad in Belmont County. Lundy helped produce the abolitionist paper, The Philanthropist at nearby Mt. Pleasant.

As years passed, coal was discovered and became the foundation of the area's economy. Belmont County is now the state's leading producer of coal with an estimated 5,668 million tons of coal available below the earth's surface.

Land acquisition began for the park in 1955, and a dam was completed in 1963 resulting in the 117-acre Belmont Lake. The park derives its unusual name from Barkcamp Creek, the former site of a logging camp where logs were stripped of their bark in preparation for delivery to the mill.

Beaver Creek

Nature of the Area


Beaver Creek State Park is nestled in the sandstone hills of eastern Ohio • The park is comprised of various habitats including bottomlands, a gorge, forests and Little Beaver Creek--a state and national wild and scenic river • The valley of Little Beaver is characterized by steep walls, high rock cliffs and numerous gentle rapids • Geologically, the valley of Little Beaver is extremely unique, being the only stream valley in the United States yet described, in which evidence of all four major glaciations is found

The flora of the park contains several interesting and unusual species, some of which are more commonly found in northern regions • Canada yew, yellow and black birch, hemlock and mountain laurel can be found in the deep stream valley • The stream banks are lined with delicate wildflowers including jewelweed, hepatica, violets and spring beauties

Many types of wildlife find the park's varying habitats inviting • Red fox, skunk, raccoon and white-tailed deer are commonly seen while the elusive wild turkey is making a comeback in the area • Recently, sightings of black bear have become more frequent

History of the Area


The first inhabitants of the Beaver Creek area were Indians of the Fluted Point Culture nearly 10,000 years ago • Flint knives, fluted arrowheads and pottery have been found nearby • In more recent history, the Wyandot and Mingo Indians resided here • The family of Logan, the celebrated Mingo chief, was massacred near here on the Ohio River at the mouth of Yellow Creek--spurring Lord Dunmore's War in 1774 • The first permanent white settler in the area, Trapper John Quinn, moved into the valley around 1790

Remnants of the Sandy and Beaver Canal, a spur off the Ohio-Erie Canal, are found throughout the park • The 73-mile Sandy and Beaver Canal was built in the mid-1800s and contained 90 locks and 30 dams • Lusk's Lock, with its double-curved stone staircase is the largest and most artistic on the canal and still remains intact • Lusk's Lock is also known as Simon Girty's Lock because it is believed Girty, a notorious renegade during the Revolution, frequented the area

As railroads came into Ohio, canal and river traffic declined • The founding of the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad Company caused the closing of the Sandy and Beaver Canal in 1853

The Little Beaver valley provided opportunity for water power and resulted in the construction of Gaston's Mill in 1837 • The mill stands completely restored and today grinds whole wheat flour, corn meal and buckwheat flour on a seasonal basis • A pioneer village, adjacent to the mill, includes a log home, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop and a church

Of other local, historical significance was the capture of the infamous Confederate General, John Hunt Morgan • Morgan was one of the Confederacy's most daring cavalrymen • Morgan and his 2,000 raiders crossed the entire width of Ohio from west to east before his eventual capture near the park

The discovery of rich clay deposits in the area of East Liverpool led to the birth of the pottery industry in the 1840s • The industry was so prosperous that the area became known as the pottery center of the United States

One pottery alone produced 24 tons of ware daily • Nearly three-fourths of the nation's white ware was produced in this region in the mid-1800s

When the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created in 1949, Beaver Creek was dedicated as a state park

Blue Rock

Nature of the Area


The origin of Ohio's bedrock materials can be traced back millions of years when the state was inundated by a shallow inland sea. Materials deposited by this sea formed the bedrock types now found in Ohio--namely limestone, shale and sandstone. The silt from these waters formed the sedimentary shale found within the Blue Rock State Park region. This blue-colored shale gave the park its name.

Before settlement of the area began, most of Ohio was in forest cover. By 1900, only twelve percent of the original forest remained. In the Blue Rock region, the rough terrain, poor soils and the economic woes caused by the Great Depression forced farmers to abandon their lands allowing them to revert back to forest.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources now maintains 4,573 acres of the Blue Rock State Forest surrounding the park. The forest is dominated by oaks and hickories. In the lush undergrowth, woodland wildflowers such as trilliums, cardinal flower and rare orchids can be found amongst a variety of ferns, mosses and lichens. Deer, grouse, squirrel and wild turkey are just a few of the woodland game which make the forest their home.

History of the Area


Years before this beautiful region was known to the white man, the great Shawnee Nation built Old Town, the village of Chief White Eyes, near present-day Duncan Falls on the Muskingum River. For years, White Eyes was on friendly terms with the white man including the adventurous trapper named Duncan who was permitted by the chief to hunt, trap and trade with them. Duncan became enraged when he found game was being stolen from his traps by a hostile band of Indians from across the river. Duncan began to shoot all Indians who meddled with his traps until he himself was shot by the hostiles while crossing the river at a low spot. His body was found on a gravelly ripple now called Dead Man's Ripple, and the falls at that spot are called Duncan's Falls because it was there that Duncan fell.

Rich coal deposits were discovered in the area. By utilizing the Muskingum River for transporting the coal, a prosperous mining industry soon developed.

In 1856, this area was shaken by one of the most remarkable mine disasters in history. The collapse of the mine happened about 11 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 1856. It was soon discovered that four persons were either imprisoned or crushed to death inside the mine. A dangerous rescue attempt began at once combining the greatest speed with the utmost caution possible. The rescue continued night and day with varying success. An immense crowd of people from the surrounding countryside and towns gathered at the mouth of the mine to offer help, encouragement and prayers for the imprisoned men. At 11 p.m., on Friday, May 9, after having been entombed for fourteen days, the men were reached and brought to safety--alive!

To the north of Blue Rock lies the city of Zanesville, Ohio's state capital from 1810 to 1812, and a leader in the manufacture of clay products. Several potteries still exist. In 1796, Congress gave Ebenezer Zane authority to construct a road from Wheeling to Maysville, Kentucky. The point where the road, known as Zane's Trace, crossed the Muskingum River became the site of Zanesville--named for Ebenezer Zane.

In 1936, the state of Ohio purchased the lands comprising Blue Rock State Forest. Construction of Cutler Lake was completed in 1938. Blue Rock officially became a state park with the formation of the Division of Parks and Recreation in 1949.

Buck Creek

Nature of the Area


The natural features of Buck Creek State Park can be attributed to the effects of glaciers which receded from Ohio over 12,000 years ago • Low hills called moraines can be seen in the area where glaciers halted for extended periods of time and left deposits of gravel and sand • Old river valleys were filled by these deposits where numerous springs now well up through the sand and gravel • The nearby city of Springfield is named for the many springs seeping up from the broad meadows • The springs account for the many bogs and fens in Clark and Champaign counties of which Cedar Bog is probably the best known

These wet areas harbor an assortment of rare and unusual plants including round-leaved sundew and horned bladderwort • The spotted turtle, a state endangered animal, is found in the area • The northernmost region of the park is an excellent area to observe waterfowl • The shallow waters provide a stopover for thousands of migrating ducks • Relatively rare songbirds of open meadows are also present including dickcissels, bobolinks and Henslow sparrows

History of the Area


Buck Creek was home to Indians and pioneers • The land at the time of early settlement was mostly forested by large trees with minimal undergrowth • Occasionally, the forests were interrupted by prairie openings

In 1780, George Rogers Clark, a Revolutionary war hero, led a band of nearly 1,000 Kentuckians in a raid against Ohio Indians • The Shawnee Indians abandoned their camp which they called Old Chillicothe (near Xenia) and fled to Piqua, the Shawnee capital, located west of the present site of Springfield • Clark pursued the fleeing Indians, and the Shawnee were defeated at the Battle of Piqua • Most of the Indians, however, had dispersed into the woodlands • One Indian hiding in the woods was the young Tecumseh, who vowed to avenge the attack • Following the battle, Clark's men retreated to their homes in Kentucky and the Indians moved north • A new Piqua was erected on the banks of the Miami River • This battle put a temporary end to Indian warfare

With the decline of Indian threat, settlers moved into the area • In 1799, legendary frontiersman Simon Kenton settled in the region with six other Kentucky families • The group lived near the confluence of Buck Creek and Mad River • After two years, the settlers moved to different areas • Kenton established a home along Buck Creek about four miles north of present Springfield • Settlement brought change to the area as trees were cut to construct buildings • Acres were cleared and farm crops were planted • The settlers found the land extremely fertile

The community of Springfield was founded in 1801 and has served since then as the county seat of Clark County • In 1838, the National Road (U.S. 40) reached Springfield and this opened new markets for manufacturing and agriculture • Over the years, Springfield's character changed from rural to industrial • By 1880, the community led the nation in the manufacturing of agricultural implements

In September 1966, work was started by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to impound Buck Creek as a flood control project • In 1974, the Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir were dedicated and an agreement gave the Ohio Department of Natural Resources the operation of much of the area. Buck Creek State Park was officially opened in June 1975

Buckeye Lake

Nature of the Area

At one time, the ground now known as Buckeye Lake was swampland resulting from glaciation. Thousands of years ago the glaciers moved south across Ohio altering drainage systems and landscape. Natural lakes, known as kettles, were created when huge chunks of ice broke off the glacier and melted in depressions. Other lakes were formed when the glacier blocked existing water outlets. As time progressed, clay and silt settled out of the still water into the bottom of the lakes.

Today as we study the landscape, we can learn of the old lake locations by the nature of the underlying clay and silt. The large area of fine clay sediment in the Buckeye Lake region indicates that the glacial lake was broader than the present man-made lake.

When the white man began settling in Ohio, only a few of the ancient lakes remained. They were shallow and swampy, and more correctly classified as bogs or marshes. Explorer Christopher Gist, while traveling the Scioto-Beaver Trail just south of Buckeye Lake, camped by the watery bog's edge. In 1751, he named the area Buffalo Lick or Great Swamp in his journal. The Great Swamp included two long narrow ponds that were joined during high water. A considerable part of the wetland was a cranberry-sphagnum bog. Cranberry Bog, a state nature preserve and a National Natural Landmark, is situated in Buckeye Lake. When the lake was impounded in 1826, Cranberry Bog broke loose from the bottom and became a floating island which may conceivably be the only one of its kind in the world. Most of the island is an open sphagnum moss meadow with an abundance of cranberries and pitcher plants making the area a naturalist's delight. Access to the island is by permit only from the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.

Buckeye Lake's shoreline offers excellent habitat for waterfowl. Good bird-watching opportunities exist especially during the spring and fall migrations. One of the state's largest great blue heron rookeries is situated on adjacent private land, but the birds can often be seen in the park.

History of the Area

In order to provide interconnecting waterways for a growing state, a canal system was developed in the early 1800's. The system required feeder lakes to supply the water necessary to maintain the four-foot canal water level. Because of their location, areas such as St. Marys, Indian Lake, Lake Loramie, Guilford and Buckeye lakes were to be developed as part of the project.

The canal project was formally started by Governor Jeremiah Morrow on July 4, 1825 in a special ceremony near Newark. In attendance was New York's DeWitt Clinton, the father of the Erie Canal. Ohio's canal system was becoming a reality.

Construction of the dike blocking drainage into the South Fork of the Licking River began in 1826 and was completed in 1830, forming the Licking Summit Reservoir which would eventually become Buckeye Lake. Before impoundment, the forests were not cleared leaving large tracts of timber and brush emergent in the newly formed lake.

As the water level rose, several large mats of sphagnum moss broke loose from the bottom and became "floating islands". Other islands were created because the land was above the water level.

During the canal era, canal boats traveled along the original western end of the lake. This lake however, was not large enough to supply the necessary water for the canal so it was enlarged. Later, in order to provide an even larger amount of water, another lake was developed north and west of the original one. A dike, known as "Middle Wall", separated the Old Reservoir and New Reservoir. This dike was used as a towpath for the canal.

With the advent of railroads, the canal system became outdated. Many miles of canal fell into disuse and were abandoned or sold. In 1894, the General Assembly of Ohio set a policy whereby the feeder reservoirs were established as public parks. At that time, the name of Licking Summit Reservoir was changed to Buckeye Lake.

By 1900, there were numerous cottages and several amusement parks around Buckeye Lake. In the early 1900's, as recreational use increased and power boats became popular, the "North Bank" was reinforced and the "Middle Wall" removed. Development continued around the lake. During the 1940's and 50's, many folks traveled to the Buckeye Lake Amusement Park to see big-band stars, dance and picnic.

In 1949, when the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created, the area officially became Buckeye Lake State Park.

Burr Oak

Nature of the Area

Burr Oak State Park epitomizes the wilderness character of southeast Ohio • Miles of forested ridges and hollows comprise these foothills of the Appalachian Mountains • The woodlands support a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, box turtles and the elusive wild turkey • The lake's shore is inhabited by the industrious beaver and various waterfowl species

The forest is comprised of numerous hardwoods but is dominated by stately oaks and hickories • In autumn, the forest displays spectacular fall colors as leaves turn to deep reds, brilliant yellows and burnt oranges • Woodland wildflowers are equally as impressive in the spring when violets, Dutchman's breeches, trillium, rare orchids, bloodroot and hepatica are in bloom

History of the Area

Situated in the valley of Sunday Creek, the Burr Oak area was inhabited by Indians and, later, by settlers who found an abundance of game animals and the resources necessary for survival in the Ohio wilderness

Coal, one of Ohio's most important mineral resources, was mined here for many years • As mining operations expanded, mining towns grew and prospered • Few of these mining towns were as notorious as the village of Santoy

Many colorful tales were told of life in Santoy • In the true spirit of frontier life, so the story goes, a gunfight was once held over a $20 debt • The street was cleared as the two participants met for a showdown • The ensuing battle left both men lying in the street--one dead and the other critically wounded • The "Old West" came to life in Ohio when the coal company payroll was robbed by bandits who made a horse-mounted getaway through the town

Countless other tales live on, but Santoy could not • A fire in 1924 destroyed the coal tipple and several businesses • The loss was so devastating that just three years later the second mine shaft shut down • In November 1931, the nineteen remaining voters decided to abandon the town • Today, only the church, the town's first building, still stands as a reminder of days gone by

In 1950 Burr Oak Lake was created by the construction of the Tom Jenkins Dam across the east branch of Sunday Creek • Two years later, Burr Oak was dedicated as a state park

Caesar Creek

Nature of the Area

The park area sits astride the crest of the Cincinnati Arch, a convex tilting of bedrock layers caused by an ancient upheaval • Younger rocks lie both east and west of this crest where some of the oldest rocks in Ohio are exposed • The sedimentary limestones and shales tell of a sea hundreds of millions of years in our past which once covered the state • The park's excellent fossil finds give testimony to the life of this long vanished body of water

The forests of the area are comprised of over 65 species of plants • Several major communities thrive in the area • A northern flood plain forest is found in the valley, while mixed associations of oak-hickory and beech-maple woodlands clothe the ridges and hillsides • Red-tail hawk, white-tail deer, raccoon, red fox and box turtle make the park their home

History of the Area

The wooded lands of the park were home to several early Ohio Indian cultures • While the Hopewells inhabited several sites in the state, their earthworks (known as Fort Ancient) on the nearby Little Miami River are among the largest and best known • This hilltop enclosure used for ceremonial gatherings is surrounded by three miles of earthen walls, constructed using animal shoulder-blade scoops and hides for transporting dirt • This Indian race lived in the region during a period from 300 BC to 600 AD

A later group, living on the site from 1200 AD to 1600 AD, were known as the Fort Ancient Indians • These people lived in villages along several river systems in the region including Caesar Creek • Displays about the Hopewell mounds and the later cultures can be seen at the Army Corps of Engineers' Visitor Center

Woodland Indian tribes such as the Wyandot, Miami and Shawnee also called southwestern Ohio home • Old Chillicothe where the famous warrior Tecumseh was said to have been born was located in Greene County, just north of the park • The Caesar Creek area was named for a black slave captured by the Shawnee on a raid along the Ohio River • The Shawnee adopted Caesar and gave him this valley as his hunting ground • Caesar lived in this area during the time Blue Jacket was war chief and was said to have gone on many raids with him

Many of these Indian villages were located along an ancient Indian trail, part of which follows the ridgeline on the eastern side of the Caesar Creek valley • The trail was used by white settlers in the early 1800s, who named it Bullskin Trace • Later the trail became part of the Underground Railroad used by runaway slaves to reach safe houses run by area Quakers

The Caesar Creek valley was impounded in 1978 by the Army Corps of Engineers to assist with flood control in the Little Miami River watershed • The 4,700 acre park and adjacent 2,500 acre wildlife area were dedicated that year

Catawba Island

Nature of the Area

Several parks comprise the Lake Erie Island group. The islands were formed during the glacial period when massive ice sheets entered Ohio. Glaciers gouged and scoured the bedrock; their tremendous weight left deep depressions which filled with meltwater, forming the Great Lakes.

Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes --allowing for violent storms with high waves. The lake is divided into three basins. The western basin has an average depth of 25 to 30 feet; the central basin averages 61 feet; and the eastern basin shows an average depth of 120 feet.

Lake Erie has high nutrient levels and warm temperatures which produce greater numbers and varieties of fish than any other Great Lake. Annual catches nearly equal the combined catch of all other Great Lakes. Yellow perch, smallmouth bass, white bass, channel catfish and walleye are dominant species.

The islands are composed of limestone bedrock. Small scratches in the rock surface known as glacial striations are common while major grooves such as those found at Kelleys Island are rare but awesome.

Vast stands of red cedar and the presence of underground caverns, both associated with limestone are found here. The islands and shoreline support a variety of reptiles including the state's highest concentration of the harmless fox snake. The timber rattlesnake was at one time quite prevalent on the islands but is now gone from the area. Rattlesnake Island was so named due to the presence of this reptile years ago.

Migrating songbirds rest here before winging across the lake. Hundreds of different species have been identified, making this one of the best birdwatching areas in the country. Several nesting pairs of the magnificent bald eagle are located in the area.

History of the Area

Prior to the War of 1812, the Lake Erie Island region had been occupied by Ottawa and Huron (Wyandot) Indian tribes at different times throughout the years. A testimony to their existence on the islands is carved in Inscription Rock on Kelleys Island. Pictographic writings over 500 years old are etched in this massive limestone boulder.The Ottawa and Huron were eventually moved out by European settlers. The War of 1812 ended the last Indian threat to the European settlement of Ohio. One decisive naval battle of that war was fought in Put-In-Bay, off the shores of South Bass Island. Oliver Hazard Perry with an inferior fleet defeated the British making famous his saying, "We have met the enemy and they are ours." The victory gave the Americans control of Lake Erie and led to the ultimate defeat of the British in that war.

The islands remained sparsely settled until 1854 when J.D. Rivers purchased five of the islands. At first he turned Put-In-Bay into a sheep ranch, having at one time a herd of 2,000, but eventually he converted the island into a fruit farm. Despite the extreme northern location, the islands have the longest frost-free period of any area in Ohio due to the stabilizing effect of the lake.

It soon became apparent to islanders that the cultivation of grapes was very profitable. The grape culture has had a dramatic influence on the islands, sometimes called the "Wine Islands." By 1887, more than one-third of the grape product and nearly one-half of the wine product of the entire state was credited to this area. Wines from these islands were once pronounced by the best judges as being comparable to the best productions of France. Several island wineries still exist today.

In addition to raising fruits, the islands supported other profitable industries. Logging of red cedar, quarrying for limestone and the propagation of fish provided additional means of support.

For over a century, South Bass Island has been famous as a summer resort. Ruins of the Victory Hotel, destroyed by fire in 1919, are still evident. Tourism thrives today making the islands one of the most popular vacation spots in the state. The five areas comprising Lake Erie Island state parks were added to the state park system in the early 1950s.

Cleveland Lakefront

Nature of the Area

Ohio has been truly blessed by the presence of Lake Erie on its northern border • Lake Erie is the 12th largest bodies of freshwater in the world • When considering nearly 99% of the world's water supply is either frozen or saltwater, the Great Lakes are a tremendous resource most Ohioans take for granted

Lake Erie is shallow allowing for violent storms with high waves • The lake is divided into three basins: west, central and eastern • The west is most shallow at 25 to 30 feet average depth • The central basin, wherein lies Cleveland Lakefront State Park, has an average depth of 61 feet • The eastern basin is deepest at 210 feet average depth

Lake Erie, because of its higher nutrient levels and warmer temperatures, produces greater numbers and varieties of fish than any other great lake • The annual Erie fish catch nearly equals the combined catches of all the other great lakes • Dominant species are perch, smallmouth and white bass, channel catfish, walleye and freshwater drum

Sand beaches are scattered along the main shoreline • Coastal plants such as sand cherry, beach grass, beach pea and others are rare in this urban environment • Common trees include cottonwood, willow and ash with vines of wild grape, Virginia creeper, bittersweet and poison ivy among the branches

History of the Area

The first pioneer settlers arrived in the area in 1796 • In 1827, the Ohio Canal was completed as far south as Akron, and by 1832, it was in operation from Lake Erie to the Ohio River resulting in great prosperity and a rapid population increase for Cleveland • Cleveland was a noted center of the stagecoach lines between the East, West and South until the railroads came about 1850 replacing the stagelines • When the Cleveland and Mahoning Valley Railroad was completed, it extended into that valley's great coal fields laying the foundation for Cleveland as an industrial giant • With the availability of coal and iron ore, great iron furnaces and rolling mills soon lined the banks of the Cuyahoga River

As early as 1865, lands were set aside in Cleveland to be developed as recreation areas • In 1977, the city of Cleveland leased its four lakefront parks to the state of Ohio • The four parks became Cleveland Lakefront State Park in 1978 • In 1982, the Euclid Beach area was added to the state park property • The Villa Angela area consisted of two separate land purchases • The first 30 acres was bought by the city of Cleveland and turned over to the state in 1984 • ODNR and the Cleveland Public Library purchased the remaining 13 acres in May 1991 • While each area appears to be a separate park, they are administered through a single park office located at Gordon Park

Cowan Lake

Nature of the Area

It has been said that Ohio's history can be found written in the rocks • By studying the bedrock layers in Ohio, we know that ancient seas, marshes or swamps covered all or portions of the state at times over the past 500 million years • Sediment deposited by those ancient waters solidified into rock and eventually uplifted forming dry land • Animals and plants were embedded in the sediment, and today, these fossils reveal the different life forms that existed in Ohio's past

Cowan Lake lies near the Cincinnati Arch, an uplifting of bedrock that occurred during the Appalachian Mountains' building process • The erosion of this arch in the Cowan region exposes fossil-rich limestone • The limestone near Cowan and other parts of the exposed arch are some of the most famous fossil hunting fields in the world

A fine stand of beech-maple forest can be found around the lake at Cowan • These woodlands contain beautiful wildflowers including bloodroot, wild ginger, spring beauties and trillium • The woods, fields and lake provide habitat for a variety of animals, including ring-neck pheasant, ducks, geese and herons • Songbirds such as eastern bluebirds, catbirds, house wrens and many others inhabit the fields and bushy areas of the park • Mammals include white-tailed deer, raccoon, opossum, woodchuck, skunk and others

American Lotus, a brilliant water lily, is abundant in the lake's shallow areas • It is unusual to find such a large colony of lotus on an inland lake • The plant's leaves grow up to two feet in diameter supporting large yellow flowers

History of the Area

The Cowan Lake region was once a stronghold of the Miami and Shawnee Indians • After their defeat at the hands of General Anthony Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the Indian threat subsided and settlement began here • In 1797, the first settler in the area, William Smalley, began clearing land for his home along the river which was later dammed to form Cowan Lake • Smalley had been captured by the Indians when he was a small child and was forced to live with them until he was twenty years old • He later fought in General Wayne's army and was recaptured, but luckily escaped with his life

Cowan Creek was named for the area's first surveyor, John Cowan • A dam was completed across Cowan Creek in 1950, and in 1968, Cowan Lake was dedicated as a state park

Deer Creek

Nature of the Area

Deer Creek State Park lies on the eastern edge of the great till plains of Ohio • These plains receive their name from the glacial debris, or till, which is a mixture of sand, silt and gravel that was deposited by the glaciers • As glaciers advanced across the northern two-thirds of Ohio, most hills and valleys were covered and filled in by the till, leaving this part of Ohio relatively flat

Today, these rich plains in the park's region support corn, soybeans and wheat • The first settlers to the area did not find these open fields • Except for a few small prairie openings, the region was covered by dense woodlands • A regrowth of the original woodlands can be found scattered along the ridge tops and creek bottoms of the park

Wildflowers abound in the fields and woodlands of the till plains • In spring, common flowers are Dutchman's breeches, rue anemone, trillium, spring beauty and bloodroot • Summer months produce thimbleweed, wild lettuce, jewelweed and daisy fleabane • In autumn, the most abundant flowers are aster, goldenrod and chicory, whose roots were used by settlers to make a coffee-like beverage

The best known animals of the Deer Creek area include amphibians such as the chorus frog, spring peeper and American toad • Reptiles include box and painted turtles, black rat snake and eastern garter snake • Numerous mammals inhabit the park • Most of them are small and include the red fox, raccoon, opossum, woodchuck, skunk, rabbit, deer mouse and white-tailed deer • Deer Creek is known for its population of ring-necked pheasant • Other birds of the area include eastern meadowlark, song sparrow, cowbird, eastern bluebird, barn swallow and woodcock

History of the Area

On a long ridge that once overlooked Deer Creek and its valley, researchers have discovered evidence of a camp of an ancient Indian tribe • The nomads who camped here around 2,000 B.C. were hunters and gatherers and used this camp periodically throughout the year • Since agriculture was not practiced by the nomads, they moved on after they depleted the plant or animal food supplies in a locale • Burial sites near the camp indicate it was inhabited over a period of time

In more recent years, a cottage owned by Harry M. Daugherty, the attorney general under President Warren G. Harding, overlooked the valley • The rustic one and one-half story cottage was built in 1918 • The President was said to have visited this cottage which now bears his name

The completion of the dam in 1968 created the lake with the park officially opening in 1974

Delaware

Nature of the Area

Delaware State Park rests in the midst of the fertile agricultural till plains of Delaware County • In contrast to the surrounding farmlands, the park offers a variety of natural features • The area lies upon Columbus limestone • Formed over 350 million years ago, this bedrock outcrops in a north-south band through Ohio • The rock has been quarried for years and utilized in many ways including the construction of the state capitol building in Columbus

Before settlement of the area, a rich beech-maple forest covered the landscape • That original forest has long since been cut, but a healthy second growth forest is preserved in the park • The woodlands and meadows harbor a diverse array of plant and animal life • Interested observers can find large-flowered trillium, wild blue phlox, Queen Anne's lace and New England asters

The fields and woodlots are home to the fox squirrel, woodchuck, rabbit and white-tailed deer • The adjacent wildlife area is populated with ring-necked pheasant, while the lake and wetlands are a mecca for waterfowl

Birdwatching is popular here as many species of songbirds nest in the area • A bluebird management trail attracts this beautiful cavity-nesting bird

History of the Area

The town, county and park of this area are all named for the Delaware tribe • These people were referred to by other Indians as Na-Be-Naugh-a or "people from the east" • They moved westward from their ancestral home in the Delaware Valley to escape pressure exerted upon them by the fierce Iroquois nation • The tribe assumed the name of Delaware, derived from the designation of their eastern valley • The word originates from the name of Lord Delaware, once the governor of Virginia

In Ohio, the Delaware joined with other tribes including the Wyandot and Shawnee to block the western expansion of the settlers • A reminder of this long struggle is reflected in the ruins of Fort Morrow located on private property north of State Route 229

In the early 1800s, a route near present U.S. 23 was well worn by folks destined for Lake Erie • A brick tavern, constructed in 1810, served as a resting place for the travelers • The structure was built on a small hill overlooking the valley now holding the reservoir • In response to the coming war with the British and Indians, a Captain Taylor directed the building of a palisade around the tavern • The new Fort Morrow served to protect the establishment as well as to function as a sanctuary for local settlers in case of Indian attack • Although several scares brought families to its protective cover, no actual attacks were recorded

Delaware Lake was created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the construction of a flood control dam in 1951 • The flood control reservoir was dedicated as a state park later that year

Dillon

Nature of the Area

Dillon State Park in Muskingum County is situated in an area of the state that possesses diverse and interesting natural features resulting from the unique properties of the Black Hand Sandstone. Sand, eroded hundreds of millions of years ago from mountains farther east, accumulated in a vast delta in the sea covering the region. This hard bedrock erodes to form sheer cliffs and supports a lush, hardwood forest.

The rolling, reverting farmland of the Dillon area provides visitors the opportunity to see some of Ohio's most magnificent wildlife. White-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and wild turkey can be seen by quiet observers. During migration, numerous species of waterfowl visit Dillon's waters and sightings of bald eagles have also been reported.

History of the Area

Much of the history of the Dillon region can be attributed to the effects of transportation through the park. The Licking River provided transportation for Native Americans on their way to Flint Ridge where outcroppings of flint were found. In the Blackhand Gorge, carved by the Licking River, a sandstone cliff bore a soot blackened engraving of a human hand. This mysterious petroglyph is thought to have served as a guide marker for Indians searching for Flint Ridge. Specimens of Flint Ridge flint have been found as far east as the Atlantic seaboard, as far south as Louisiana and as far west as Kansas City.

Other methods of transportation affected the Dillon region. The Old National Road, just south of the park, was partly responsible for the establishment and growth of nearby Zanesville. The Ohio-Erie Canal followed the route of the Licking River for several miles and boosted trade and commerce to surrounding towns. An inter-urban railroad that connected Zanesville and Newark with Columbus passed through Blackhand Gorge. Steamboat traffic was busy through Zanesville on the Muskingum River.

In 1803, Moses Dillon purchased the land bordering the Licking River where the park is located. This industrious, early American built and operated a local iron foundry, founded the village of Dillon Falls and dammed the Licking River to provide water power for the community. Moses Dillon is probably most noted for his contributions toward the design and construction of the world-famous "Y" bridge in Zanesville.

Dillon Reservoir was constructed for flood control by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was completed in 1961. The park was dedicated in August 1968.

East Fork

Nature of the Area

Clermont County's rolling hills and meandering river valleys provide a colorful backdrop for spacious East Fork State Park. Shaped by the forces of the Illinoian and Wisconsinan glaciers, the East Fork region is characterized by beautiful hill country scenery and is noted for the occurrence of remnant prairie habitats. Illinoian glacial deposits are not common in Ohio but can be observed at East Fork and the surrounding area.

East Fork's diverse landscape includes dry-forested hills, rocky cascades, abandoned farmlands, thickly grown floodplains, marshy grasslands and swamp forests. This diversity lends well to an abundance of plant and animal life. Woodlands are composed of beech, sugar maple, red and white oak, shagbark hickory, and wild black cherry. The swamp forests contain silver maple, American elm, sycamore, and black gum. The meadows and remnant prairies contain big bluestem grass and purple coneflower among others.

Animals of the area include eastern plains garter snake, fence lizard, red fox, deer, raccoon, Canada geese, song sparrow, eastern meadowlark, and the barn swallow.

History of the Area

The Little Miami River basin in which East Fork State Park is situated has been home to many generations of man, dating back to nearly 3,000 years ago. Moundbuilders, the Adena and Hopewell Indians, occupied this area. The mound near Elklick Road is thought to have been built by the Adena. The Erie Indians also lived here much later, though by 1655 this nation was completely destroyed by the powerful Iroquois. The area was virtually uninhabited through the remainder of the 17th century.

As the new state of Ohio began to be settled in the early 19th century, the East Fork region attracted settlers from the east. Grist mills, sawmills, blacksmith shops, tanneries and stagecoach depots were among the early commercial activities.

In 1869, two gold mines operated in the vicinity. One mine was located near Elklick and consisted of a flume for washing gravel containing flakes of gold. The mine near Twin Bridges tunnelled underground to reach gold deposits encased in bedrock.

Not far from the present park office, the "Old Bethel Church" on Elklick Road dates from 1867. It occupies the site of a log church built about 1807 by Reverend John Collins. Some of the hand-hewn timbers secured with wooden pegs and hand-forged nails used to construct the 1818 church are still present in the existing church.

More recently, the area has taken on a new appearance due to the creation of East Fork Reservoir in 1978. As part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control program, East Fork Lake and the surrounding region comprise one of southwestern Ohio's largest recreational areas.

East Harbor

Nature of the Area

East Harbor State Park is situated on a peninsula of land stretching into the waters of Lake Erie--one of the largest freshwater bodies in the world • The history of Lake Erie began with the glacial period when massive sheets of ice gouged and scoured the bedrock of Ohio • Evidence of the force of the ice is found throughout the lake area • Small scratches in the rock surface known as glacial striations are common while major grooves are rare but awesome • The deep depressions left by the glaciers were filled with meltwater forming the series of lakes we know as the Great Lakes

East Harbor lies on the fringe of Ohio's prairie marsh zone • These wetlands are remnants of the Great Black Swamp which once covered an area 120 miles long and 30 to 40 miles wide • After a period of intense lumbering and draining in the late 1800s, the swamp was nearly destroyed • Only ten percent of Ohio's original wetlands now remain • These wetlands produce more wildlife than any other type of habitat in Ohio • Reptiles and amphibians are numerous including the green frog, American toad, water snake, fox snake and painted turtle • Large numbers of ducks, geese, gulls, terns and other migratory waterfowl delight birdwatchers • Middle Harbor is a game sanctuary where black-crowned night herons, egrets, great blue herons and other shorebirds find refuge • Furbearers in the park include muskrat and red fox • Hundreds of migrating songbirds rest here before winging north across the lake

History of the Area

Before European settlement, the East Harbor region was home to the Ottawa and Wyandot Indians • Ottawa in native tongue means "trader" • An east-west trail skirted the southern shore of Lake Erie connecting the Pittsburgh and Detroit settlements, and also linked with the famed Scioto Trail from the south • This important area remained in Indian control until the British and Indians were defeated in the War of 1812 by the Americans

After the Great Black Swamp was eventually drained, the land became highly productive • Fruits, particularly peaches and grapes, were grown extensively • The grape culture became very successful as a result of quality soil, natural drainage and suitable climate

Marblehead Lighthouse was erected in 1821 east of the park on the Marblehead Peninsula to aid navigation in and out of Sandusky Bay • Johnsons Island on the bay side of the peninsula was the site of a prison for Confederate soldiers captured during the Civil War • A Confederate cemetery still remains on the island

The region has long been valued as a recreation area • The unique plant and animal life, sandy beaches, marshland and the lake itself led to the development of East Harbor State Park • The park was opened in 1947 and today is one of northern Ohio's most popular vacation spots

Findley

Nature of the Area

The bedrock materials underlying Findley State Park, principally Bedford Shale and Berea Sandstone, were formed over 300 million years ago. In most places in Ohio, the Berea Sandstone is only 10 to 40 feet thick. In South Amherst, north of the park, this sandstone reaches its maximum thickness of more than 200 feet. The sandstone quarries at South Amherst are the largest and deepest in the world.

This part of the state is known as Ohio's dairyland. Crops and cows are a common sight. In the midst of this rich agricultural area is the forest oasis found within Findley State Park. This forest is a regrowth secondary forest on abandoned farmland. It contains red maple, white ash, wild black cherry, oaks, white and red pine and beech.

The forest floor supports a variety of woodland wildflowers including spring beauties, Dutchman's breeches, hepatica, bloodroot, marsh marigold, trillium and woodland asters. White-tailed deer, red fox, beaver and raccoon are just a few of the animals that make this park their home. A variety of reptiles and amphibians can be found along the lakeshore. One area of the park is set aside as a sanctuary for the Duke's skipper butterfly, an extremely rare insect.

History of the Area

Long before the first settlers arrived in this area, the Erie Indians inhabited the area now known as Lorain County. Although the Eries were fierce warriors, they were eventually subdued by a confederation formed between other Iroquois tribes in the early 1600s using firearms obtained from the Dutch.

In 1795, the Treaty of Greenville set aside the lands north of the treaty line as a reserve for Indians. Much of the land restricted by the treaty had previously been granted to Connecticut. This claim, known as the Connecticut Western Reserve, ran along Lake Erie from the Pennsylvania border to present-day Erie County and included more than 3.5 million acres. The Connecticut Land Company, after purchasing some of the land, disputed the Indian claims and petitioned the government for the right to establish settlements on Indian lands. In 1800, Connecticut and the Congress agreed to attach the lands in dispute to the Ohio Territory as a county.

The threat of Indians still existed in the area, so settlement was slow. In 1807, a major settlement was established at the mouth of the Black River which later became the city of Lorain. That same year, the Connecticut Land Company sold 4,000 acres of land of what was to become Wellington Township to four men from Berkshire County, Massachusetts. In the winter of 1818 the four men were joined by William T. Welling of Montgomery County, New York. Following an Indian trail, they cut their way through to the area that became known as Wellington.

Wellington today has a rich heritage. Almost seventy-five percent of the downtown district is included on the National Register of Historic Places, reflecting the New England influence in the architecture. Many industries flourished during the mid-1800s, most notably brickyards, wagon and carriage shops. Later, it shared the reputation of being one of the greatest cheese producing locations in the Union. Lorain County generated annually the equivalent of one pound of cheese for each man, woman and child in the state. Wellington was also the home of Archibald M. Willard, painter of the classic "Spirit of 76." A copy of the work and many Willard originals hang in the town library.

Located two miles south of Wellington is a tract of agricultural land purchased in 1936 and 1937 by Guy B. Findley, Lorain County Common Pleas Judge. Judge Findley donated the land to the state of Ohio to be maintained as a perpetual state forest, utilized for timber production and forest product experiments.

Findley Forest was planted by the Division of Forestry with extensive assistance from the Civilian Conservation Corps with nearly half a million trees including many varieties of pine and hardwoods. In 1950, the forest was transferred to the Division of Parks and Recreation to be maintained as a state park. An earthen dam, started in 1954 and completed in 1956, created the lake.

Forked Run

Nature of the Area

Forked Run State Park lies in the forested hill country of southeastern Ohio. This is Ohio's oldest landscape never reached by the glacial ice that once covered much of Ohio. Although this area was untouched by the massive ice sheets, torrents of glacial meltwaters hastened the carving of the valleys and hillsides into their present-day form.

Much of the area, now heavily forested, was once void of timber. Trees were cut to fuel the many iron furnaces of the area in the mid 1800s. Today, much of the forest has regrown, and vast stands of oak, hickory, maple and tuliptree clothe the deep ravines and hillsides. Wildflowers can be found in bloom except in winter months. Wild blue phlox, bloodroot, dame's rocket, cardinal flower, daisy fleabane, goldenrod and asters provide colorful displays. In spring, the hillsides burst forth with brilliant blooms of dogwood and redbud.

The forest and fields provide habitat for a variety of wildlife species including gray fox, raccoon, opossum, gray squirrel, white-tailed deer and wild turkey. Many songbirds enjoy the refuge of the forest including wood thrush, white-breasted nuthatch, scarlet tanager, pileated woodpecker and whip-poor-wills.

History of the Area

The colorful history and folklore of the Ohio River create the character of Forked Run State Park. The Ohio River felt the pull of the Indian's paddle, served as a territorial boundary, brought settlers into the Northwest Territory and carried flatboats and "steamers" that shipped passengers and cargo from Pittsburgh to New Orleans.

boat launch The mouth of the Shade River which empties into the Ohio nearby was known as a gloomy, rocky place called the Devil's Hole. The Indians returning from their raids into western Virginia routinely crossed the Ohio at that point with their prisoners and plunder. They would travel through the valley of the Shade River on the way to their towns on the Scioto. Settlement of the area was slow to develop until the Indian threat had subsided and the discovery of coal in the region provided means of support.

As mining increased, towns sprang up along the Ohio. Pomeroy, Middleport, Minersville and Syracuse were important mining centers. The coal was used to manufacture coke which in turn was used in the many furnaces that smelted iron ore from the surrounding sandstone bedrock. The ore resulted in iron used to produce agricultural implements, ammunition and cannons for the Union Army during the Civil War. During the 1860s, Ohio was one of the nation's leading producers of iron.

Equally important to the prosperity of the area was the salt industry. The first salt well was drilled in 1850 near Pomeroy. Eighteen salt furnaces were in operation during their peak of importance. Nearly 3,600 barrels of salt were produced daily.

The villages of Reedsville and Belleville were important boat-building centers, and it was on this section of the Ohio River that Captain Horatio Crooks introduced the compound-cylinder steam engine.

John Hunt Morgan, the Confederate General, while on his raid through Ohio was hampered in his efforts here to escape into western Virginia. The local militia thwarted Morgan's effort to ford the Ohio near Pomeroy, and as a result, he was eventually captured in Columbiana County.

Today, the area is known as a truck-farming center which produces crops of cabbage, melons, sweet corn and the famous Ohio River tomatoes.

Construction of Forked Run State Park began in May of 1951. In October 1952, the 102-acre lake was completed. The lake was stocked and opened to the public in the following year.

Forked Run State Park is located adjacent to Shade River State Forest. Much of the forest's 2,601 acres is second growth pitch pine and Virginia pine. The area is also rich in hardwoods such as oaks and hickories. Hemlock and mountain laurel are found in some of the deep gorges.

Geneva

Nature of the Park

Geneva State Park exhibits graphic evidence of the dynamic effects Lake Erie has on our changing landscape • The lake has been a dominant force shaping Ohio's natural and cultural development for thousands of years

The lake's beginning can be traced to the glacial era of Ohio's geologic history when the state was covered by ice over a mile thick • During the Pleistocene (Ice Age), continental glaciers advanced and receded from Ohio at least four times

The scouring action of this ice sheet created the Lake Erie Basin which slowly filled as the ice melted northward to Canada • Initially, the newly formed lake drained to the southwest into the Mississippi River • When the glacier retreated from near present-day Buffalo, New York, a new outlet was exposed via the Niagara River • A flood of water escaped, draining the shallow western basin and much of the central basin • Twelve-thousand years ago, this outlet was 100 feet lower than it is today due to the great weight of the mile-thick ice depressing the land surface • The rebounding of this bedrock is reflected in the present lake level

Because Lake Erie is a relatively shallow lake, it becomes treacherous during severe storms • In just a matter of hours, the lake can change from peaceful and serene to raging and thundering • Over the years, storms have taken their toll on the lake's shoreline • In the mid 1970s, the park installed a variety of protective devices and planted different types of vegetation in an effort to control erosion • Today, the park's shoreline is bordered by several breakwalls

Geneva offers the visitor a natural beach, several areas of freshwater marsh and beautiful mature woodlots • The middle and western beach areas contain plants that are rare in Ohio but characteristic of the Atlantic coast • Sea rocket, seaside spurge, beach pea and silverweed can be found on the Geneva beaches • Marshes located at the mouth of Cowles Creek, No Name Creek and Wheeler Creek contain swamp smartweed, leafy sedge and submerged aquatic vegetation

History of the Area

Geneva State Park is situated along the Lake Erie shoreline • Erie, meaning wildcat or "it is long-tailed," is derived from the tribal name of Indians who inhabited the area until 1655

The lake was a principal avenue of transportation for Indians and frontiersmen alike • Overlooked by French settlers traveling west because of a shorter overland route linking Lake Ontario and the western Great Lakes, French trappers eventually established trade routes on Lake Erie in the mid-1600s • Since that time, the lake has figured prominently in Ohio's history and growth

By the mid 1800s, the state's canal system was open and goods could be shipped from Ohio's rural farms to populous eastern cities using well-developed inland canals • Ports were established at Toledo and Cleveland to accommodate the growing shipping industry • Freight from these ports was shipped east across the lake to New York

Today, the Saint Lawrence Seaway enables the Midwest to trade directly with many nations • Freighters of international registry carry corn, wheat, soybeans and other commodities from our region's diverse industries to many foreign markets • New trade avenues opened on Lake Erie contribute to the prosperity of Ohio's strong agricultural and industrial economies

Acquisition of land to create the park began in 1964 with the purchase of Chestnut Grove • Land acquisitions continued through 1972 • The last parcels added were the cottage and campground areas

The park is located within the village of Geneva-on-the-Lake, which was Ohio's first summer resort

Grand Lake St. Marys

Nature of the Area

Although hard to imagine, at one time the Grand Lake St. Marys region was part of a vast forest wilderness that stretched from the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania to the prairies of Illinois • Today, in place of this forest are fields of corn, soybeans and wheat

In addition to forests, pre-settlement Ohio contained large prairies and wetlands • The land which now lies beneath St. Marys reservoir was once a vast wet prairie • Today, the park contains varying habitats including woodlands, wetlands, and prairies in addition to the surrounding croplands

Grand Lake St. Marys lies along one of the country's major migration routes • Water birds using the lake as a resting stop include Canada geese, ducks, grebes, swans, egrets, loons, herons, cormorants and ospreys • Many ducks, geese and heron also nest here • Bald eagles, magnificent birds long absent from the area, have again nested on the southwest corner of the lake at the wildlife refuge • Other animals of the park include fox squirrel, mink, raccoon, beaver, coyote, white-tailed deer and many others

History of the Area

The area in and around Grand lake St. Marys State Park played an important part in the development of the Northwest territory • The St. Marys River served as a vital link between the Great Lakes and the Ohio River • Because of this heavy water traffic, the renegades Simon and James Girty established a trading post, which eventually evolved into the town of St. Marys • General “Mad” Anthony Wayne passed through the area in 1794 during this march to drive out the Shawnee, which culminated in the Battle of Fallen Timbers • Some of Wayne's men returned here to make their homes

In 1837, work commenced on a reservoir for the Miami-Erie canal to maintain the canal’s five-foot water depth • Workers using hand tools were paid 35 cents a day and a jigger of whiskey to keep malaria away • At its completion in 1845, 13,500-acre Grand Lake was the largest man-made lake in the world • The lake was connected to the canal by a three-mile feeder

The canal prospered until the coming of the railroads in the 1870s • The area experienced another boom in the late 1890s when oil was discovered • For a time the lake was dotted with oil derricks • Today a pile of rocks near the center of the lake marks the spot of the last producing well

Grand Lake St. Marys and other canal feeder lakes in the state were the first areas to be dedicated as Ohio state parks in 1949

Great Seal

Nature of the Area

Ancient history is recorded in the sandstone hills that comprise Great Seal State Park. It lies upon the Appalachian escarpment, a line of hills stretching across Ohio's mid section which outline the edge of the Appalachian plateau in the state. North and west of the line are glaciated plains while south and east rugged hills extend to the foothills of the mountains. This definition is obvious from the trails in the park where one can see Columbus on a clear day to the north and unbroken forested ridges to the south.

These sharply etched ridges harbor a fine stand of hardwoods. Due to the underlying rock strata, one unexpectedly finds chestnut oaks on the slopes and sugar maples on the crests of the hills where the opposite are more common. Spring wildflowers are abundant in the moist coves, while papaws and persimmons entice wildlife in autumn.

History of the Area

Great Seal State Park is located just north of the town of Chillicothe where the history of Ohio and the culture of the Indian shroud the land. In the mid to late 1700s, the Scioto River Valley was the home of the Shawnee. Three Shawnee towns, all named Chillicothe, were located just below the hills that comprise Great Seal State Park. North of here was the intersection of five major Indian trails. The Scioto River was utilized by the Shawnee as their primary means of transportation from one village to another. The great Shawnee warrior Tecumseh was born north of here near what is now Circleville. Not far from the park is where Logan, chief of the Mingoes, gave his most eloquent speech ending his vengeance against the white settlers for murdering all his relatives.

The first settlers came to the area in the 1790s. In 1796, General Nathaniel Massie, a well-known surveyor and woodsman, organized the settlement of the Scioto Valley by laying out on his own land the beautiful town of Chillicothe. Chillicothe was the first capital of the new state of Ohio from 1803 to 1810. (The capital was moved to Zanesville from 1811 to 1812 and then back to Chillicothe until it was permanently moved to Columbus in 1816.)

The park takes its name from the state emblem, "The Great Seal of the State of Ohio." The famous seal depicts a sheaf of wheat representing Ohio's agricultural strength and a bundle of seventeen arrows shows Ohio to be the 17th state to enter the Union. The mountains and rising sun signify that Ohio was one of the first states west of the Alleghenies. The Scioto River flows between Mount Logan and the cultivated fields in the foreground. The design is said to have been the cooperative inspiration of Thomas Worthington, "Father of Ohio Statehood;" Edward Tiffin, the first governor; and William Creighton, first secretary of state. After an all-night meeting at "Adena," the magnificent estate of Worthington, they viewed the sun rising over Mt. Logan and the hills of what is now Great Seal State Park thus inspiring the scene of the Great Seal of the State of Ohio.

Guilford Lake

Nature of the Area

Guilford Lake is situated in the glaciated plateau region of Ohio. This portion of the Appalachian foothills was overridden by the glaciers that invaded Ohio more than 12,000 years ago. Eventually, the glacial advances were blocked by the harder and higher sandstone ridges of southeastern Ohio. The bedrock materials of this area were formed 300 million years ago from deposits laid down in streams and swamps.

Natural lakes are a feature of the glaciated landscape, although most in Ohio are very small and have now aged into bogs or marshes. These bodies of water were formed by huge chunks of ice which broke off from the retreating glacier and melted in depressions forming kettle lakes.

The area surrounding Guilford Lake, before being impounded as a reservoir, was extremely swampy indicating it may have been a remnant of a natural glacial lake. The park attracts migrating waterfowl in the fall and spring and also provides good habitat for a variety of songbirds such as the red-winged blackbird, song sparrow and eastern meadowlark. Other wildlife common to the area are red fox, raccoon, skunk and white-tailed deer.

History of the Area

The capture of the infamous Confederate general, John Hunt Morgan, near the vicinity of Guilford Lake, ended his gallant raid through the state of Ohio in 1863. Morgan and his 2,000 raiders crossed the entire width of the state from west to east before his eventual capture.

Guilford Lake was constructed as a canal feeder reservoir for the Sandy and Beaver Canal in 1834. An ambitious project undertaken by a private company, the canal was to be 73-miles long and would require two tunnels, thirty dams, ninety locks, three reservoirs and one 400-foot-long aqueduct before it was completed. The park is named after E.H. Gill who was chief engineer of the canal company for several years. He established a road through swampy areas of the present park which became known as Gill's Ford.

When the canal era came to a close, the adjacent landowners breached the embankment in two places and proceeded to use the lake bottom for farmland. In 1927, the land was purchased by the state with the intent of rebuilding the reservoir. The new dam was completed in 1932 by the Division of Conservation. The lake was eventually turned over to the ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation for administration and development. Guilford Lake and Ohio's other canal feeder lakes were the first areas to be dedicated as Ohio state parks in 1949.

Harrison Lake

Nature of the Area

The area comprising Harrison Lake State Park was at one time part of a vast wetland. This mysterious area contained towering trees, soggy black soil and was a haven for the swamp rattlesnake (or massassauga, as it is also known). Very little remains of that once great swamp, but the park still harbors unique natural features associated with wetlands.

Great blue herons and common egrets can be sighted at the lake's shallow western end. Numerous songbirds inhabit the park's meadows and woodlands such as the vesper sparrow, common yellowthroat and brown thrasher. Several species of reptiles and amphibians find the park's habitat suitable. Box turtles, painted turtles, garter snakes, green frogs and American toads are found here. Small mammals such as red fox, raccoon, skunk and the uncommon thirteen-lined ground squirrel are frequently seen.

History of the Area

Originally, Lake Erie was much larger than it is today--stretching from western New York to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Harrison Lake region was at that time under the waters of Lake Erie. As Lake Erie receded to its present size, the area formerly under water reverted to swamplands. This swamp (120 miles long and 30 to 40 miles wide) became known as the Great Black Swamp due to the color of the soil and dark shade beneath the giant trees.

For many years, the swamp was a tremendous barrier to western settlement. Most settlers avoided the area, traveling around the swamp via Lake Erie to reach southern Michigan. The Ottawa Indians settled only near the well-drained lands beside the Maumee River and its tributaries. The swamp was the last area to be settled in Ohio. It served as a reservation for Indians until they were forced out in 1842. It was not until the development of soil drainage techniques in the 1850s that large numbers of settlers moved here.

Even today, northwestern Ohio remains one of the most sparsely populated regions of the state, although it is one of Ohio's richest agricultural regions.

In 1836, the United States Congress and the Ohio Legislature finally settled a 10-year argument with the state of Michigan as to the location of the Ohio-Michigan border. For years, both states claimed ownership of a strip of land 11 miles wide that extended from the mouth of the Maumee River near Toledo to the Ohio border with Indiana. Today's Ohio-Michigan boundary is the one agreed upon in 1836. Had Congress favored Michigan's claim in that year, Harrison Lake State Park may have become a Michigan State Park!

In 1941, a dam over Mill Creek was completed and Harrison Lake was created. The lake and surrounding area were maintained primarily for hunting and fishing purposes until 1950 when Harrison Lake was established as a state park and development for additional recreational usage began.

Headlands Beach

Nature of the Area
The northern shoreline of Ohio displays the dynamic effects Lake Erie has on our changing landscape. The lake has been a dominant force, shaping Ohio's natural and cultural development for thousands of years. Erie, meaning wildcat ("it is long-tailed") is derived from the tribal name of the Indian culture who inhabited this area until 1655.

Lake Erie was originally much larger than it is today. As an eastern outlet opened via the Niagara River, the lake drained down to its present size. Sand beaches from the former lake are still found along the northern shore. The swamp lands adjacent to the beaches were once part of the lake itself.

Plants more common to the Atlantic coastal plain region can be found growing in the surrounding sand dunes. Sea rocket, beach pea, seaside spurge, beach grass and purple sand grass persist on the dunes.

History of the Area

Lake Erie was a principal avenue of transportation for Indians and frontiersmen alike. The Lake Trail, a heavily used Indian path, ran along the south shore of the lake. Originally, the trail was used by the Iroquois. Later other Indians and settlers found it provided access to the Ohio country.

Northeastern Ohio was given to Connecticut in an agreement by which that state gave up claim to all other land running west to the Pacific Ocean. Connecticut named the 3.8 million acres the "Western Reserve." Proceeds from the sale of this land were to benefit Connecticut schools. The Connecticut Land Company purchased the land for roughly 35 cents an acre and began selling tracts of land. Easterners moved west, and by 1800 the population of the Reserve was approximately 1,300.

Nearby Fairport attracted Finns and Hungarians, later Slovenians and Slovaks, who came to fish and unload coal and ore from boats onto railroad cars by hand. The lake influenced development, and the harbor was a gateway for settlers and trade. Fairport Harbor is one of the best located on the lake with access possible when other harbors are closed.

Lake County, Ohio's smallest county, covers 231 square miles. With the lake's effect on the weather, the county developed a substantial nursery and fruit growing industry utilizing the prolonged growing season. The county claims one of the highest points in the Western Reserve. Known as Little Mountain, it is located about seven miles south of Painesville and offers excellent views of the surrounding area and Lake Erie.

In 1951-52, the state of Ohio began acquiring land west of Fairport to create a state park. Originally opened in 1953 as Painesville Beach State Park, the name was changed to Headlands Beach two years later. Its large beach has attracted huge crowds consistently since the opening. In 1957, the beach was closed when Lake Erie's waves and the undertow created safety problems. For a while, the public enjoyed swimming in the creek until the area was filled in. Capital improvement projects started in 1967 created numerous parking lots, concession buildings, restrooms, change booths and a treatment plant. Headlands Beach State Park remains very popular with swimmers and sunbathers.

Hocking Hills

Nature of the Area

The natural history of this region is as fascinating as the caves are beautiful • Here, in these sandstones and shales, one can read Ohio's history from the rocks • The scenic features of the six areas of the Hocking Hills State Park complex are carved in the Blackhand sandstone • This bedrock was deposited more than 350 million years ago as a delta in the warm shallow sea which covered Ohio at that time • Subsequent millions of years of uplift and stream erosion created the awesome beauty seen today

The sandstone varies in composition and hardness from softer, loosely cemented middle zone to harder top and bottom layers • The recess caves at Ash Cave, Old Man's Cave and Cantwell Cliffs are all carved in the softer middle zone • Weathering and erosion widened cracks found in the middle layer of sandstone at the Rock House to create that unusual formation

Other features of the rock include cross-bedding, honeycomb weathering and slump blocks • The first is noticeable as diagonal lines in the rock intersecting horizontal ones • It is actually the cross section of an ancient sand bar in the delta and was caused by changing ocean currents • Honeycomb weathering looks like the small holes in a beehive comb • They are formed by differential weathering which comes about when water, moving down through the permeable sandstone, washes out small pockets of loosely cemented sand grains • Finally, the huge slump blocks of rock littering the streams tumble from near by cliffs when cracks widen to the extent that the block is no longer supported by the main cliff

Although the glaciers never reached the park areas, their influence is still seen here in the form of the vegetation growing in the gorges • The glaciers changed the climate of all Ohio to a moist, cool environment. Upon their retreat, this condition persisted only in a few places such as the deep gorges of Hocking County • Therefore, the towering eastern hemlocks, the Canada yew and the yellow and black birch tell of a cool period 10,000 years ago

History of the Area

The hollows and caves of the park complex have long attracted the peoples of Ohio • Evidence of the ancient Adena culture illustrates man first inhabited the recesses more than 7,000 years ago

In the mid 1700's several Indian tribes traveled through or lived here including the Wyandot, Delaware and Shawnee • Their name for the river from which the park gets its name was Hockhocking of "bottle river" • The name comes from the bottle-shaped valley of the Hocking River whose formation is due to its one-time blockage by glacial ice

After the Greenville Treaty of 1795, numerous white settlers moved into the region and Hocking County was organized in 1818 • The area around the parks began to develop in 1835 when a powder mill was built near Rock House and a grist mill was constructed at Cedar Falls

The cave areas were well-known as scenic attractions by 1870 • In 1924, the first land purchase by the state was made to preserve the scenic features • This first parcel of 146 acres included Old Man's Cave • Subsequent purchases built acreage while the areas existed under the Department of Forestry as State Forest Parks • The Department of Natural Resources was created in 1949 and the new Division of Parks assumed control of the Hocking Hills State Park complex, which today includes the six park areas • A dining lodge and cottages were opened in 1972 • These cottages, together with a campground, provide overnight facilities in one of the most beautiful areas of our state

Hueston Woods

Nature of the Area

Hueston Woods State Park located in southwest Ohio has an enormous wealth of natural resources • The limestone bedrock of the area is evidence of an ancient shallow sea that once covered Ohio • Much of the limestone is the magnesium-bearing type called dolomite • Fossilized remains of ancient marine animals are so abundant that people from all over the world come to Hueston Woods to collect them

The rich soils of the area are part of the glacial till plains of western Ohio • Early settlers cleared the dense woodlands to farm the fertile soil • Nearly all of Ohio’s original forest has since vanished • However, one unique stand of virgin timber remains at Hueston Woods • Over 200 acres have been protected and provide visitors with a glimpse of Ohio’s primeval forest • Stately beech and sugar maple tower above the abundance of ferns, wildflowers and other woodland species • In 1967, the 200-acre forest was designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service

History of the Area

Millions of years ago, a shallow sea covered Ohio, depositing fossil-rich limestone and dolomite bedrock • Fertile soils, left behind by glaciers thousands of years ago, created a productive land that attracted early Native Americans, including the Miami people, and settlers

In 1797, Matthew Hueston, after serving with General "Mad" Anthony Wayne in the Indian wars, bought land for a farm in Butler and Preble counties • He left a remnant of the woods standing for his descendants

When the last of the Huestons died in the 1930s, Morris Taylor, a conservationist, purchased the woods and held it in trust, while Cloyd Acton, a Preble County legislator, influenced the state legislature to buy the land in 1941 • Hueston Woods was designated a state forest, and in 1945, money was appropriated to buy additional land

In 1952, the Oxford Honor Camp was located here, housing honor-status inmates for 12 years • In the summer of 1956, an earthen dam was completed across Four Mile Creek, creating Acton Lake • Hueston Woods became a state park in 1957 • The old-growth forest was added to the National Registry of National Landmarks in 1967, and became a state nature preserve in 1973

Independence Dam

Nature of the Area

The Maumee Valley is but a mere shadow of what it used to be prior to settlement. This area was in the midst of the Great Black Swamp which was 120 miles long and 30 to 40 miles wide. This heavily forested area was an extension of the immense forest that covered 95% of Ohio. This great forest contained huge sycamores often used for temporary barns or even homes when they became hollow. Towering oaks and giant tulip trees became intermixed with walnut trees--some over six feet in diameter.

As vast as this mighty forest once was, nearly every tree had been cut in less than 100 years after settlement of Ohio began. Settlers cut, sawed, burned and girdled most of the 24 million acres of woodlands leaving only four million by 1883. The Maumee Valley in the Great Black Swamp was the last stronghold of Ohio's great forest. The boggy soil made passage into the area nearly impossible until a great system of ditches and drains were installed between 1859 and 1875 to drain the swamp. During that time period nearly 2.5 million acres of the Maumee Valley were cleared. By 1885, the region looked much as it does today--endless farm fields dotted here and there with small woodlots. The Maumee Valley today supports only six percent of the land in forest cover. Fortunately, much of that forest cover lies along the banks of the Maumee River. It is still possible to see great sycamores, black locusts, beech and maple trees lining the river through the park. The river is very scenic and is the largest in northwest Ohio. In fact, it is the second largest stream flowing into Lake Erie with 4,700 cubic feet per second. The river's banks support an abundance of woodland wildflowers including jewelweed, violets and spring beauties.

Songbirds such as the scarlet tanager, Louisiana water thrush and yellow-throated warbler enjoy the wooded canopy draping the river. The fox squirrel, raccoon, skunk and woodchuck find the riparian habitat suitable.

History of the Area

The natural confluence of the Maumee and Auglaize rivers, upstream from Independence Dam State Park, was a significant contributing factor for the development of northwestern Ohio. The waters of these two great rivers were a source of life for Indian and frontiersmen alike. Today, the rivers are a valuable natural resource for both industry and recreation.

This was a rich hunting and fishing area for the American Indian. Tribes residing in the dense hardwood forests included the Hopewell, Erie, Iroquois, Miami, Shawnee, Wyandot, Delaware and Ottawa. The most famous Indian of this area was Pontiac, an Ottawa chief. It is believed he was born near the junction of the two rivers in 1712. He is remembered for the infamous "Pontiac's Conspiracy," a rebellion of Indian tribes against trade policies in 1763.

Blue Jacket, a great Shawnee war chief, made his home near the banks of these same rivers in the late 1700s. In 1793, a "Grand Indian Council," the greatest assembly of tribal representatives on the North American Continent, was also held here. The council convened with the determination to stop the American westward expansion.

At this time, President Washington decided that Indian power needed to be reduced. President Washington chose General Anthony Wayne to lead forces into the northwest. General Wayne's victory in the carefully planned battle, opened the territory to a great wave of settlers.

Homesteaders came on horseback, on foot and in ox-drawn wagons, moving north along the wilderness trails. State Route 424 now follows the narrow military trail used by General Wayne.

In later years, the canals had a great influence on this area. The Miami and Erie Canal, which traveled north from Cincinnati, merged with the Wabash and Erie Canal just south of Defiance. The two canals then proceeded via a common trunk to Maumee Bay. Large cities sprang up along the canals and developed into important trade and industrial centers. The use of the canals began to decline in the 1860s due to the railroads. A flood in 1913 destroyed much of the canal. Today, one can trace seven unbroken miles of the historic canal between St. Rt. 424 and the park. The main entrance road to the park crosses over the ruins of Lock Number Thirteen.

The existing dam on the Maumee River was completed in 1924. This cement dam replaced the original wooden dam which was built in the 1800s for the canal system.

At the time of the rebuilding of the structure, several organizations expressed support for a park between the old canal bed and the river. The Ohio Department of Public Works purchased private lands creating the park. In 1949, Independence Dam State Park came under the administrative authority of the newly created Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Indian Lake

Nature of the Area

The region of Indian Lake was originally a cluster of natural lakes situated on the Miami River. As the continental glaciers left Ohio, chunks of ice broke free, melted, and formed water-filled depressions called kettle lakes. The resultant shallow, marshy, natural lakes in this region covered an area of 640 acres. Among these were Old Indian Lake, Otter Lake, Blake Lake, Sheep Pen Lake and the Buck Wheat Patch.

The present and much larger lake lies along one of the country's major avian migration routes. Indian Lake is an important resting stop for birds such as Canada geese, ducks, grebes, swans, egrets and herons. Many stay over the summer to nest. Bald eagles once nested in the area but are no longer found here.

History of the Area

Early American history tells of the Indian tribes who lived and hunted in this region. Because of its close proximity to the Miami River, Indian Lake became part of the Indian trade route linking the Ohio River to Lake Erie. Generations of native Americans followed this route and occupied villages in the vicinity. By the early 1800s, white settlers made their way here and the history books record many accounts of skirmishes and battles resulting from the conflict between the Indians and new settlers. The famous frontiersmen Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton were known to have traveled here.

Despite Indian Lake's popularity as a year-round recreational area, the lake was not originally constructed with that purpose in mind. In the early 1800s, the primary means of commercial transportation was the canal system. Old Indian Lake was built in 1851 as a feeder lake for the Miami and Erie Canal to maintain the required four-foot water depth.

Following the passage of a resolution by the Ohio General Assembly in 1850 to use Indian Lake as a water supply for the canal, a bulkhead was built in Washington Township where the Great Miami River began and covered 1,000 acres. The work began in 1851 and was not completed until 1860. The total cost up to that time was $340,000. Irish laborers performed the work with picks, shovels and carts. Ironically, use of the canal system was declining as work on Indian Lake was completed. In 1893, Indian Lake or Lewistown Reservoir as it was then called, spanned 6,334 acres with 29 miles of shoreline. On April 9, 1898, the Ohio General Assembly dedicated the lake as a recreation area by the name of Indian Lake.

Indian Lake became a popular resort area at the turn of the century due to its central location on the old Toledo and Ohio Central Steamline and the Ohio Electric Railway. At one time, Indian Lake was known as the "Midwest's Million Dollar Playground." In 1949, the old Department of Conservation was abolished and Indian Lake became part of the newly-created Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation.

Jackson Lake

Nature of the Area

Jackson Lake lies nestled in the heart of the unglaciated hill country of southeastern Ohio. These sandstone hills are part of the Appalachian Highlands known for their diversity of plant and animal life.

This region of Ohio is heavily forested; nearly 70% of the state's woodlands are contained in these highlands. However, at one time most of the land was barren, having been extensively logged to fuel the iron smelting industry that once flourished here. Today, the land has recovered and supports a magnificent second-growth forest containing oak, maple, hickory, tulip tree and others.

The park is home to a variety of animals including white-tailed deer and wild turkey. Other residents are skunks, raccoons, opossums, numerous songbirds, gray squirrels, great horned owls and many reptiles and amphibians. The park's varying habitats support beautiful displays of wildflowers spring through autumn including spring beauties, dame's violet, goldenrod and asters.

Rugged hills and mist-filled valleys provide a colorful backdrop for Jackson Lake State Park. Two miles west of the town of Oak Hill, Jackson Lake is situated in one of the most picturesque regions of the state. The Jackson Lake area, in addition to its outstanding natural features, is endowed with a rich cultural history that spans many centuries.

History of the Area

Prehistoric Indians occupied the vast wilderness north of the Ohio River, as evidenced by numerous relics discovered in the southern Ohio area. Among these relics are impressive burial and ceremonial mounds and mysterious carvings in the sandstone rock of the region. These carvings, called petroglyphs, are symbolic representations of the Indian's life. The Leo Petroglyph near the park has been carefully preserved by the Ohio Historical Society.

Thousands of years later, the densely forested upper Ohio Valley was intermittently populated by more recent Indian tribes. Mingos, Delawares and Shawnees all made a home there. As pioneer settlers moved westward into the wilderness, the Indians were gradually displaced to the western plains. Using the abundant resources of forest and land, the new Ohio immigrants built farms, towns and cities and began development of several industries.

In the autumn of 1854, the hills of Jefferson Township were awakened by the sound of a whistle from a new industry that was to attract nationwide attention to the Hanging Rock Iron Region of southeastern Ohio. Buried below the land's surface lay vast stores of iron ore. Discovery of this valuable material initiated the development of a world-renowned iron industry. The Jefferson Iron Furnace was constructed to help meet the demand for iron products in the eastern United States. During the Civil War, the Jefferson Iron Furnace and other foundries in the Hanging Rock area became crucial to the operation of the Union Army--being used to manufacture cannons.

In a short time, "Jefferson iron" became the standard of excellence throughout the Hanging Rock region and the world. Sold to manufacturers under the trade name "Anchor," this iron was used to build the ironclad warship, the Monitor. History books vividly recall the famous naval battle of the two iron-clad ships, the Monitor and the Merrimack.

Just a few short decades after the Civil War came to an end, richer lodes of iron ore were found elsewhere in the United States. As the growing nation demonstrated a need for iron ore in greater quantities than the Hanging Rock region could produce, the great furnaces of the southeastern Ohio hills shut down. The Jefferson Iron Furnace made its last cast in 1916. Today, visitors may explore remnants of the furnace within the park boundaries. Coal mining was very profitable in the Jackson Lake region. In 1888, over a million tons of high quality coal were mined here. Jackson County was second only to Perry County in coal production in Ohio.

Great salt mines were located along Salt Creek. This salt was thought to be so important to the country that a six-mile tract was set aside by Congress for the use of the state to secure the salt. Prior to settlement, Indians came here from great distances to extract the salt.

During the heyday of the Hanging Rock furnaces, the lush woodlands of the hill country were cut to make charcoal to fuel the furnaces. As the furnaces began to decline, the forests rejuvenated and the area became increasingly attractive as a recreational region.

In 1938, Jackson Lake was impounded and the area was operated by the predecessor of the Department of Natural Resources. Over the years, a small camping area and swimming beach were added. These facilities were improved and picnic areas were added in the mid-1970s. Jackson Park was dedicated as a state park in 1979.

Jefferson Lake

Nature of the Area

The sandstone hills of Jefferson County are part of the Appalachian Highlands which envelope the southeastern part of Ohio. In the sandstone bedrock can be found layers of coal which were formed by decaying swamp vegetation millions of years ago during the Pennsylvanian geologic period.

Covering the hills and valleys of the area is a second growth oak and hickory forest. Growing side-by-side with towering white oaks and shagbark hickories are stately beeches and maples, tulip trees, walnuts, elms and ashes.

The forest is composed of much more than trees, although they constitute its most conspicuous feature. The observant visitor may find a wealth of wildflowers such as wild geranium, hepatica and bloodroot. The leafy canopy rings with a harmonious chorus of bird songs. Wild turkey and ruffed grouse are dispersed in these hills and forests as well. These are just a few of the natural wonders found at Jefferson Lake.

History of the Area

The Jefferson Lake region was once the home of Logan, the celebrated Mingo chief whose family was massacred near here on the Ohio River at the mouth of Yellow creek. This incident spurred Lord Dunmore's War in 1774.

In more recent times, the area has been home to the steel industry in Ohio. The underlying coal fields and Ohio River access have made it a focal point of this industry.

Jefferson Lake State Park was developed on 962 acres in the valley of the Town Fork of Yellow Creek. Land acquisition began in 1928. The lake and other facilities were constructed by the National Park Service in cooperation with the old Ohio Division of Conservation as a project of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. The dam was constructed in 1934 and the 17-acre lake was filled in 1946. In 1950, the area was turned over to the newly created Division of Parks and Recreation.

John Bryan

Nature of the Area

Much of the history of John Bryan State Park is "written in the rocks" of the Little Miami River gorge • Entering the area at Clifton, at 980 feet above sea level, the Little Miami drops 130 feet through layer upon layer of bedrock • Each layer has a story to tell of times when the area was covered by warm, shallow seas or was a part of a muddy river delta or was scoured by tons of slow-moving glacial ice • Each layer has its own characteristics as well • Some of the shale layers are easily worn away by the forces of erosion, causing undercutting in the cliff face • The more erosion-resistant dolomite or limestone rocks above are weakened by this undercutting and large "slump blocks" fall away, creating unusual rock formations including Steamboat Rock • Springs feeding small waterfalls and cascades are common

The glaciers did not only affect the land forms, they also had an effect on the vegetation found here • As the last glacier retreated and the climate warmed, the cool shaded recesses of the gorge valley provided a suitable habitat for several Canadian plant species: Canada yew, redberry elder, mountain maple, arborvitae and even a few hemlocks

More than 100 different trees and shrubs have been identified in the park • More than 340 species of wildflowers grow wild here • Snow trillium, Virginia bluebells, bellworts, wild ginger, Dutchman's breeches, Jack-in-the-pulpit and wild columbines are only a few to be seen in the park • The dominating trees are oaks and maples, but large numbers of sycamores and cottonwoods can be found along the river • Wildlife is also abundant in the park • For instance, more than 90 different varieties of birds live in or visit the park area during the year • To fully appreciate the beauty of John Bryan, one needs to experience it during all four seasons

History of the Area

Some of the first people to experience the area's beauty were the Moundbuilders, and later, the Shawnee Indians • Just five miles south of Yellow Springs, approximately where the town of Oldtown is now, was the site of Old Chillicothe, one of the leading Shawnee settlements in Ohio • The great Shawnee warrior, Tecumseh, was a frequent visitor here and to the nearby James Galloway House, which has been kept intact by the Greene County Historical Society

This portion of the Little Miami River was a vital, economical source of power for the early settlers in the 1800s • The Cincinnati-Pittsburgh stagecoach road served the area and several enterprising settlers began establishing water-powered industries in the gorge • The town of Clifton prospered from the textile mill, grist mills and sawmills located there

By the late 1800s, most of the industrial activity in the area ceased • Water was no longer an economical source of power and many mills were abandoned • However, one of the grist mills built in 1869 is still in operation • Located in the village of Clifton, the Clifton Mill is open to visitors

The park takes its name from an ambitious businessman who was responsible for the preservation of much of the area as a state preserve • In 1896, Bryan purchased 335 acres along the gorge and called these acres, "Riverside Farm"

John Bryan had a great respect for the natural world. In 1918, he bequeathed Riverside Farm to the state of Ohio, "...to be cultivated by the state as a forestry, botanic and wildlife reserve park and experiment station," which would bear his name • In May of 1925, John Bryan's land became one of the state's first forest parks • In 1949, John Bryan State Park was transferred to the newly created ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation • John Bryan State Park and the adjoining Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve overlook the beautiful Little Miami River gorge that has been designated as a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior

Kelley's Island

Nature of the Area

Several parks comprise the Lake Erie Island group. The islands were formed during the glacial period when massive ice sheets entered Ohio. Glaciers gouged and scoured the bedrock; their tremendous weight left deep depressions which filled with meltwater, forming the Great Lakes.

Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes --allowing for violent storms with high waves. The lake is divided into three basins. The western basin has an average depth of 25 to 30 feet; the central basin averages 61 feet; and the eastern basin shows an average depth of 120 feet.

Lake Erie has high nutrient levels and warm temperatures which produce greater numbers and varieties of fish than any other Great Lake. Annual catches nearly equal the combined catch of all other Great Lakes. Yellow perch, smallmouth bass, white bass, channel catfish and walleye are dominant species.

The islands are composed of limestone bedrock. Small scratches in the rock surface known as glacial striations are common while major grooves such as those found at Kelleys Island are rare but awesome.

Vast stands of red cedar and the presence of underground caverns, both associated with limestone are found here. The islands and shoreline support a variety of reptiles including the state's highest concentration of the harmless fox snake. The timber rattlesnake was at one time quite prevalent on the islands but is now gone from the area. Rattlesnake Island was so named due to the presence of this reptile years ago.

Migrating songbirds rest here before winging across the lake. Hundreds of different species have been identified, making this one of the best birdwatching areas in the country. Several nesting pairs of the magnificent bald eagle are located in the area.

History of the Area

Prior to the War of 1812, the Lake Erie Island region had been occupied by Ottawa and Huron (Wyandot) Indian tribes at different times throughout the years. A testimony to their existence on the islands is carved in Inscription Rock on Kelleys Island. Pictographic writings over 500 years old are etched in this massive limestone boulder.The Ottawa and Huron were eventually moved out by European settlers. The War of 1812 ended the last Indian threat to the European settlement of Ohio. One decisive naval battle of that war was fought in Put-In-Bay, off the shores of South Bass Island. Oliver Hazard Perry with an inferior fleet defeated the British making famous his saying, "We have met the enemy and they are ours." The victory gave the Americans control of Lake Erie and led to the ultimate defeat of the British in that war.

The islands remained sparsely settled until 1854 when J.D. Rivers purchased five of the islands. At first he turned Put-In-Bay into a sheep ranch, having at one time a herd of 2,000, but eventually he converted the island into a fruit farm. Despite the extreme northern location, the islands have the longest frost-free period of any area in Ohio due to the stabilizing effect of the lake.

It soon became apparent to islanders that the cultivation of grapes was very profitable. The grape culture has had a dramatic influence on the islands, sometimes called the "Wine Islands." By 1887, more than one-third of the grape product and nearly one-half of the wine product of the entire state was credited to this area. Wines from these islands were once pronounced by the best judges as being comparable to the best productions of France. Several island wineries still exist today.

In addition to raising fruits, the islands supported other profitable industries. Logging of red cedar, quarrying for limestone and the propagation of fish provided additional means of support.

For over a century, South Bass Island has been famous as a summer resort. Ruins of the Victory Hotel, destroyed by fire in 1919, are still evident. Tourism thrives today making the islands one of the most popular vacation spots in the state. The five areas comprising Lake Erie Island state parks were added to the state park system in the early 1950s.

Kiser Lake

Nature of the Area

The area surrounding Kiser Lake State Park is a gift of the ice age. Two natural phenomena caused by the glaciers helped shape the region into its present form. The gently, rolling wooded hills were caused by glacial deposits in the form of end moraines when the ice edge remained stationary for a period of time, creating a linear ridge along the ice front. One such moraine called the Farmersville surrounds the lake on three sides creating a hummocky elevation through the area. Moraine deposits contain boulders, some weighing many tons, carried from as far away as Canada. These boulders, called erratics, are a familiar sight at Kiser. Another geologic feature at Kiser Lake State Park is the kame field at the southeastern end of the lake. Kames are mounds of sand and gravel that are formed by meltwater flowing across glacial ice. The water deposits sediment into holes along the ice margin leaving behind hummocky mounds.

The wetlands at Kiser are in the form of fen and wet meadow habitat. These areas were formed when blocks of ice broke away from the glacier and became covered by sand and gravel. As the climate warmed, the ice melted and left a depression filled with water surrounded by glacial deposits. These areas are filled with many intriguing plants including pitcher plant, sundew, tamarack and spruce.

History of the Area

The Kiser Lake region in Champaign County was the home of Tecumseh, the great Shawnee warrior. He lived and hunted on Buck Creek near the site of present-day Urbana. It was also near here where Simon Kenton, the legendary frontiersman, was once held captive by the Shawnee. Kenton admired the Shawnee for choosing such a beautiful area in which to reside. He remembered the area well and returned later in his life. Around 1802, Kenton settled in Urbana for several years. His remains lie in Oakdale Cemetery, southeast of Urbana under an impressive monument.

Kiser Lake was a dream of John W. Kiser and other members of his family. Their idea was to create a lake in the Mosquito Valley area which was low, swampy and dotted with numerous springs. In 1932, the Kiser family offered to the state of Ohio several hundred acres of the Mosquito Creek Valley. In 1939, a dam was constructed and the new lake was named Kiser becoming part of what is now Kiser Lake State Park. The lake is nearly 2.5 miles in length and has 5.3 miles of shoreline.

Lake Alma

Nature of the Area

Lake Alma lies nestled in the heart of the unglaciated hill country of Ohio • These hills are part of the Appalachian Highlands • Most of the rock layers are acidic sandstones, shales and coals with an occasional limestone member • Much time has passed since the region was first uplifted from the ancient sea that once covered Ohio--allowing for the development of many different habitats • Today, this region supports more than seventy percent of Ohio's remaining woodlands on only one-third of the state's land • Lake Alma contains a fine example of the second growth forest now covering this part of the state • In this area, the forest is mainly of a mixed oak composition

With the advent of forest succession on surrounding farmlands, upswings in the population of deer, grouse, gray squirrel and other woodland species were encouraged • In the late 1950s, wild turkeys were reintroduced into this part of the state giving Vinton County the highest population of this species • Other valuable resources found at Lake Alma include a vast array of woodland wildflowers such as large-flowered trillium, wild geranium and hepatica • The forest floor is blanketed with a variety of ferns, mosses and lichens • The woodthrush, pileated woodpecker, great-horned owl and barred owl make this park their home

History of the Area

A wilder country than this in early days would be hard to imagine • Rocks and intermingled forests, Indians, wolves, wild game and snakes were more numerous than interesting

After the Treaty of Greenville of 1795, the Indian threat in the Ohio territory subsided, clearing the way for settlement • The first geological survey of Ohio revealed that Vinton County was rich in mineral resources • Millstone, coal and iron ore provided the resources for flourishing industries

The charcoal iron industry spurred growth in this Hanging Rock iron region • From 1818 to the turn of the century, thousands of acres of woodlands were cut to fuel the 46 furnaces in the region • At its peak in the mid-1800s, Ohio was the nation's leading producer of iron for implements and weapons • The millstones quarried along Raccoon Creek helped alleviate the dependence upon imported French and Pennsylvania buhrstone • The Raccoon Creek quarry was only one of eight millstone manufacturers in Ohio in the mid-1800s

For a time, coal was an important Vinton County export. Its importance has waned in this century but continues to provide a boost to the local economy • The timber industry is the county's most important business today • Vinton County is the least populated and most heavily forested county in the state

Built in 1903 by the late C.K. Davis, a wealthy coal operator, Lake Alma was originally constructed as an amusement park • The park then boasted a large dance pavilion, outdoor theater, a merry-go-round and several other rides • This attraction prospered only until 1910 and was later purchased by the city of Wellston for a municipal water supply • The city leases the area to the ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation for operation as a state park

Lake Erie Islands

Nature of the Area

Several parks comprise the Lake Erie Island group. The islands were formed during the glacial period when massive ice sheets entered Ohio. Glaciers gouged and scoured the bedrock; their tremendous weight left deep depressions which filled with meltwater, forming the Great Lakes.

Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes --allowing for violent storms with high waves. The lake is divided into three basins. The western basin has an average depth of 25 to 30 feet; the central basin averages 61 feet; and the eastern basin shows an average depth of 120 feet.

Lake Erie has high nutrient levels and warm temperatures which produce greater numbers and varieties of fish than any other Great Lake. Annual catches nearly equal the combined catch of all other Great Lakes. Yellow perch, smallmouth bass, white bass, channel catfish and walleye are dominant species.

The islands are composed of limestone bedrock. Small scratches in the rock surface known as glacial striations are common while major grooves such as those found at Kelleys Island are rare but awesome.

Vast stands of red cedar and the presence of underground caverns, both associated with limestone are found here. The islands and shoreline support a variety of reptiles including the state's highest concentration of the harmless fox snake. The timber rattlesnake was at one time quite prevalent on the islands but is now gone from the area. Rattlesnake Island was so named due to the presence of this reptile years ago.

Migrating songbirds rest here before winging across the lake. Hundreds of different species have been identified, making this one of the best birdwatching areas in the country. Several nesting pairs of the magnificent bald eagle are located in the area.

History of the Area

Prior to the War of 1812, the Lake Erie Island region had been occupied by Ottawa and Huron (Wyandot) Indian tribes at different times throughout the years. A testimony to their existence on the islands is carved in Inscription Rock on Kelleys Island. Pictographic writings over 500 years old are etched in this massive limestone boulder.The Ottawa and Huron were eventually moved out by European settlers. The War of 1812 ended the last Indian threat to the European settlement of Ohio. One decisive naval battle of that war was fought in Put-In-Bay, off the shores of South Bass Island. Oliver Hazard Perry with an inferior fleet defeated the British making famous his saying, "We have met the enemy and they are ours." The victory gave the Americans control of Lake Erie and led to the ultimate defeat of the British in that war.

The islands remained sparsely settled until 1854 when J.D. Rivers purchased five of the islands. At first he turned Put-In-Bay into a sheep ranch, having at one time a herd of 2,000, but eventually he converted the island into a fruit farm. Despite the extreme northern location, the islands have the longest frost-free period of any area in Ohio due to the stabilizing effect of the lake.

It soon became apparent to islanders that the cultivation of grapes was very profitable. The grape culture has had a dramatic influence on the islands, sometimes called the "Wine Islands." By 1887, more than one-third of the grape product and nearly one-half of the wine product of the entire state was credited to this area. Wines from these islands were once pronounced by the best judges as being comparable to the best productions of France. Several island wineries still exist today.

In addition to raising fruits, the islands supported other profitable industries. Logging of red cedar, quarrying for limestone and the propagation of fish provided additional means of support.

For over a century, South Bass Island has been famous as a summer resort. Ruins of the Victory Hotel, destroyed by fire in 1919, are still evident. Tourism thrives today making the islands one of the most popular vacation spots in the state. The five areas comprising Lake Erie Island state parks were added to the state park system in the early 1950s.

Lake Hope

Nature of the Area

Lake Hope State Park is truly a nature lover's dream. In the forest-draped hills, the observant visitor can discover the abundant natural resources of this wild and scenic park.

Although most of the forest was cut to fuel the iron smelting industry that once flourished here, the land has recovered and supports a magnificent, second-growth forest. Oak and hickory are the dominant trees while the woodland floor harbors a fascinating assemblage of shrubs and wildflowers. The yellow lady's slipper, one of the rarest and most showy orchids, blooms in secluded hollows. Other spring wildflowers such as blue-eyed mary, bloodroot and wild geranium can be found in abundance.

Deer and wild turkeys are often seen in a number of park locations. Of the many animals inhabiting the park, none is as popular as the beaver. As nature's dam builders, the beavers are found in numbers and can be observed near the quiet inlets of the lake.

History of the Area

Though the roar of the iron furnaces no longer echoes through the hills of Vinton County, there are many reminders of days gone by at Lake Hope State Park. Situated at the heart of Ohio's Hanging Rock iron region, Lake Hope State Park reflects the rich history of much of southeastern Ohio.

The Hope Furnace was built here over 100 years ago to process the iron ore extracted from the region's sandstone bedrock. The iron resulting from the ore smelting process was used to produce many different items, including ammunition and cannon for the Union Army during the Civil War. Hundreds of men labored cutting timber, working the furnace and driving teams of oxen hauling iron ore to the furnace. Charcoal fires were tended 24 hours a day; so much wood was required for this process that the surrounding hillsides were almost completely stripped of their timber. At the height of the Hope Furnace's production, Ohio was one of the nation's leading producers of iron. As time passed, iron ore was discovered farther west and Ohio's reputation as a major iron producer waned.

By 1900, nearly all of the major furnaces in southern Ohio were shut down. Today, the Hope Furnace chimney and some of the foundation are all that remain of the structure. In the vicinity of the chimney, one may find pieces of slag, the cast-off residue from the smelting process. These pock-marked, glass-like pieces have now become a part of the forest floor. The forest we now see is one that has grown back where hundreds of years ago a primeval forest once stood.

For a time, coal was an important Vinton County export. A number of mines tunneled into the hills and large quantities of coal were transported out in ox-drawn coal cars. Most of the mines were abandoned early in this century.

Lake Hope Forest Park was created in 1937 by the Division of Forestry. The Division of Parks and Recreation and Lake Hope State Park came into existence in 1949.

Lake Logan

Nature of the Area

Much time has passed since the region surrounding Lake Logan was first uplifted from the ancient sea that once covered most of Ohio. This unglaciated plateau in the southeastern part of the state is Ohio's oldest landscape as the glaciers never invaded the region. Lake Logan State Park lies in the Hocking Valley, formed by the Hocking River. The Hocking was a major outlet for glacial meltwaters. These waters deposited large amounts of outwash material, primarily sand and gravel, which strongly affected the type of biological communities present today.

The forest surrounding Lake Logan is for the most part an oak-hickory association. White and black oak, tuliptree, shagbark and pignut hickory are the most dominant species. The forest floor is dotted with a variety of wildflowers such as fire pink, wintergreen, bluets and spring beauties. Ground cover plants include greenbriar, blueberry and numerous ferns and fungi.

Lake Logan is home to the raccoon, opossum, skunk, red-backed salamander, gray squirrel, box turtle, white-tailed deer and wild turkey. Many birds frequent the area such as the turkey vulture, red-tailed hawk, barn owl, pileated woodpecker, Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, wood thrush and scarlet tanager. Various species of waterfowl can be viewed during migration.

History of the Area

Lake Logan is located in Hocking County in southeastern Ohio. This territory once belonged to the Wyandot Indians, who had a large village known as Oldtown on the Hocking River, one mile above the city of Logan. Logan was established by Thomas Worthington in 1816 and named for the Mingo Chief, James John Logan, who was well known at first for his friendship with the whites and later for his bitter animosity toward them following the murder of his entire family by a frontier trapper named Greathouse.

The Hocking River provided sufficient water power for the purpose of operating grist and sawmills particularly at the falls above Logan. The town of Logan was slow to progress until the opening of the Hocking Canal, a branch of the Ohio-Erie Canal, in 1838. Several industries prospered due to the rich mineral resources of the Hocking Valley.

The discovery of immense quantities of coal led to the flourishing mining industry. Towns appeared and vanished as quickly as mines opened and closed.

It was soon found that iron ore could be extracted from the sandstone bedrock of the area. At its height during the Civil War, Ohio was the leading producer of iron for implements and weapons. No less than forty-six furnaces were firing in Ohio's six-county Hanging Rock Iron Region.

The clay soils of the Hocking Valley helped Ohio become a leader in clay products. The firebrick industry of the valley manufactured such products as clay tile, building and paving bricks and clay sewer pipe. Evidence of the industry can be seen in the many brick houses and abandoned kilns of the area. Clay is still an important industry in the region.

Lake Logan was developed in 1955 for recreational purposes. The area was administered by the ODNR Division of Wildlife until 1964, when jurisdiction was transferred to the Division of Parks and Recreation. Originally known as Hocking Lake, it was re-named Lake Logan to reflect the Indian heritage of the area and to avoid confusion with nearby Hocking Hills State Park and Forest.

Lake Loramie

Nature of the Area

Although difficult to imagine, Ohio at one time had more than two-thirds of its surface covered by massive sheets of ice as much as a mile thick in places • At least three great ice sheets invaded Ohio's boundaries in the geologic past. The last one retreated 12,000 years ago

These ice advances directly impacted the natural features now evident at Lake Loramie State Park • Materials deposited by the glaciers included clay, sand, gravel and boulders of various sizes

Picnic overlooking the lakeIn the western half of Ohio where the land is generally level, these deposits resulted in some of the world's richest soils • A great forest emerged after the glacial era, covering 95% of the state • In the vicinity of Lake Loramie, the vegetation consisted of mainly beech forests which thrived in the moist, fertile soils of the region

Today, little can be seen of that mighty forest because development of the land for agriculture and other purposes has drastically altered the original vegetation • Small woodlots, grass plains, prairie and farmland are typical of the area today

The park's campground supports a colony of the unique bald cypress tree as well as a plantation of sweet gum dating back to the early 1950s • Waterfowl, including Canada geese, frequent the park along with various songbirds and small mammals • Wildflowers flourish in the forests and fields

On the lake, waterlily, cattail and a beautiful display of American lotus enhance the view • A trail leading to Blackberry Island will treat visitors to glimpses of nesting red-headed woodpeckers and barred owls • The park's meadows support a large population of eastern bluebirds

History of the Area

Preceding the French and Indian War of 1754-1763, the Miami village called Pickawillany became prominent in this area • Over 400 Indian families lived here and it became the principal headquarters of the Miami Confederacy before being destroyed by the French in 1752 because the Miami Indians sided with the British

Lake Loramie derived its name from the famous French-Canadian trader, Peter Loramie, who in 1769 established a trading post at the mouth of Loramie Creek near the west end of what is now Loramie Reservoir • Loramie first came to the area as a Jesuit priest to minister to the Wyandot and Shawnee Indians

Loramie's store became the center of Indian mischief against the settlers, and Loramie became a bitter enemy of the Americans • General George Rogers Clark destroyed the post and a nearby Indian village in 1782 during an expedition in the Miami valley • Loramie emigrated west with a band of Shawnee shortly afterwards • In 1794, General "Mad" Anthony Wayne built a fort on the former trading post site

Lake Loramie was originally constructed in 1844-45 as a storage reservoir to supply water for the Miami-Erie Canal system • A short feeder canal connected Lake Loramie with the main canal which furnished transportation from the Ohio River at Cincinnati north to Lake Erie • The canal system reached its peak of economic importance in the mid-1800s • Eventually, the advent of the railroads and destruction caused by the floods of 1913 forced the abandonment of the canals in that year

Since that time, Lake Loramie and other canal lands became recognized for their potential to serve increasing outdoor recreational needs • In 1949, Lake Loramie became the possession of the newly created Division of Parks and Recreation of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and has been maintained as a state park since

Lake Milton

Nature of the Area
Lake Milton State Park lies in the portion of the Appalachian Plateau in Ohio that was overridden by glaciers some 12,000 years ago. This glaciated plateau contains a great variety of plants, animals and natural habitats. The plateau's rolling hills are interspersed with forests, bogs, old fields, streams and lakes.

The plateau is a major meeting ground of plants and forest types from the southern Appalachians and northern Allegheny regions. For instance, it is possible to see substantial stands of white oak and hickory which are typical of the southern Appalachians as well as northern hemlock forests which are more common in the northern Allegheny region. This tension zone accounts for the great diversity of plants in the area. Star flower, spring beauties, mountain maple, anemones and wood aster grace the floor of beech-maple woodlots.

Animals suited to this area include cottontail rabbit, red fox, raccoon, muskrat and woodchuck. Bird life is diverse with robins, warblers, pine siskins, hawks and owls being commonly seen. Reptiles found here include the midland painted turtle and the northern watersnake.

History of the Area

Before settlement of Ohio, dense forests covered much of the region. The forests were inhabited by Indians and wild animals including wolf, elk, bear and mountain lion. Indian trails and rivers provided access to the area. When settlers started moving west, they traveled the same routes as the Indians. Historic records recall only a few incidents between settlers and the Indians.

John and Mary Young traveled to this area from New York and in 1797 platted a town on the bank of the Mahoning River. In 1803, the Youngs left the area due to homesickness, but the town (Youngstown) still bears their name. Shortly after the Young's departure, iron, coal and limestone were discovered in the nearby hills. In 1826, the first coal mine opened in the valley. After Lake Superior's extensive iron ore deposits were discovered, the Mahoning Valley steel industry grew at a rapid rate. Union Iron and Steel Company, the first Mahoning steel plant, opened in 1892. Additional mills and fabricating plants drew immigrants of all nationalities to the valley.

In 1910, the city of Youngstown acquired 3,416 acres in Milton Township to construct a reservoir to be used as a water supply. A 2,800-foot dam was completed in 1913 impounding 1,640 acres on the Mahoning River. Lake Milton included a small amusement park at Craig Beach with a swimming beach, roller coaster, boat trips and a busy midway. The east side of the lake included taverns, a dance hall and a skating rink.

During the 1970s, mounting problems with the Lake Milton dam demanded attention. Considering safety factors, the gates were opened in the spring of 1986 and the lake was drained. State assistance was sought and shortly thereafter repairs to the dam began. Within two years, the dam was ready to hold water again.

Lake Milton was officially dedicated as a state park in 1988.

Lake White

Nature of the Area

Located in the Appalachian foothills near the Scioto River, Lake White State Park supports a variety of natural wonders. The forested hills are similar in character to the southern Appalachians with magnificent stands of oak, hickory, tulip, ash, maple and scores of other hardwood species. In spring, the forest trails are lined with flowering dogwood and redbud trees and numerous woodland wildflowers. The sandstone outcroppings are coated with various ferns, mosses, lichens and fungi including the prized morel mushrooms in spring.

The dense forest and remoteness of the area create excellent habitat for some of Ohio's most elusive wildlife. White-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and the secretive wild turkey are abundant in this region. Red fox, skunk, opossum, gray squirrel and raccoons are often sighted. Many reptiles and amphibians find the park's cool waters desirable.

History of the Area
The cultural history of this area dates back to the Adena and Hopewell Indians who settled in the Scioto Valley around 800 B.C. These mound building tribes left behind extensive earthworks throughout the Scioto Valley region. Adena, near Chillicothe, was the site of the first mound excavation attributed to these prehistoric people. Other mounds in the area include Seip Mound, Spruce Hill, Fort Hill and Serpent Mound.

The Scioto River played an important role in the early history of this area. Indian and frontiersmen alike paddled the stream from the Ohio River to the heart of the new frontier. The Shawnee used the river as their primary means of transportation from one village to another. The river also brought the first European settlers to the area in the 1790s. Many of these first Ohioans were veterans of the Revolutionary War claiming land due them for military service.

The construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal heightened the hopes of those along its path that were destined to prosper from canal traffic. Initial plans placed the canal through Piketon, bypassing Waverly. This aggravated an intense rivalry between Piketon and Waverly citizens. After persistent lobbying by Waverly promoters, the canal route was changed and Piketon was bypassed. The Waverly cause was aided greatly by Ohio Speaker of the House, at that time, Robert Lucas, who owned land near Waverly and stood to gain greatly by the new route.

In 1832, the canal was opened. It was announced that the water would reach Waverly on the morning of September 6, and preparations were made to welcome its arrival. The canal banks were packed with residents for a great distance, but the water never arrived. Unfortunately, it had hit an expansive gravel deposit which absorbed most of the water. Eventually the gravelly areas became saturated and the water reached Waverly by noon much to the delight of cheering crowds.

The prosperity of the canal era was short lived. With the advent of rail transportation, goods could be shipped more efficiently throughout the country. As early as 1860, use of the canals had dropped dramatically. In 1913, the Ohio and Erie Canal was officially closed.

Part of Lake White State Park includes the remains of the old canal channel. The lake was built during the depression by the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). Most of the land surrounding the lake is privately owned. Lake White was officially dedicated as a state park in 1949 when the Division of Parks and Recreation was created.

Little Miami

History of the Area

The Little Miami River Valley is historically significant to the state of Ohio • The wooded lands were home to several early Ohio Indian cultures • Nearby are the largest and best known earthworks in the state known as Fort Ancient • Fort Ancient was built by the Hopewell Indians who inhabited the area from 300 B.C. to 600 A.D.

In more recent history, this area was inhabited by the Miami Indians and the Shawnee • After the War of 1812, the Indian threat dissipated and the area attracted settlers • Numerous mills were developed on the river bank and several still stand today • Clifton Mill near Yellow Springs is still in operation • By the mid 1800s, the river corridor was bustling with grist mills, textile mills, stagecoach trails and a railroad line

Indian mounds and relics, historic buildings, grist mills and stagecoach trails can still be found in this historic river valley • The Little Miami Scenic Park became a state park in 1979

Nature of the Area

The Little Miami Scenic Park is located within the beautiful and historic Little Miami River Valley • The Little Miami is a designated federal and state scenic river • It is protected because of its high water quality, panoramic setting and the many historic sites that can be found along its banks

A trail meanders with the river through four counties encountering rolling farm country, towering cliffs, steep gorges and forests along the way • This steep gorge offers evidence of the erosional forces of glacial meltwater. Outcroppings of dolomite and shale are now exposed • Mammoth sycamores border the river's edge where great blue herons reside • Because of the relatively cool sheltered climate in the gorge, eastern hemlocks and Canada yew are able to survive here

Birdwatchers delight in the abundance and variety of colorful warblers and other songbirds in the park • The shaded slopes offer a variety of woodland wildflowers for visitors to enjoy • More than 340 species of wildflowers are known in the river's corridor • Virginia bluebells, bellworts, wild ginger and wild columbines are only a few to be seen in the park

Madison Lake

Nature of the Area

Madison Lake State Park lies within the Darby Plains of Madison County • These plains, before settlement, resembled smaller versions of the Great Plains found in the West • Ohio's original landscape, before being altered by man, was about 95 percent forest with the remaining 5 percent comprised of wetlands and prairies • In Ohio, there were about 1,000 square miles of prairie encompassing the land

During a dry period, about 4,000 years ago, conditions were favorable that allowed prairies to expand eastward into Ohio • This extension known as the Prairie Peninsula covered an area east of the Missouri River, south of the Great Lakes and north of the Ohio River. In time, the climate became more humid and more favorable for forest growth • The prairie retreated to the Indiana-Illinois border leaving isolated pockets in Ohio • Few prairies survive in Ohio as agriculture, woody plants and Eurasian weeds have taken their toll • Prairies do still exist along highway and railroad right-of-ways, marsh borders and abandoned cemeteries

One of the best examples of existing prairie in Ohio is within the Darby Plains of Madison County • Bigelow Cemetery State Nature Preserve near Chuckery contains significant prairie plants including big bluestem, Indian grass and purple coneflower • Smith Cemetery Prairie, also of Madison County, contains stiff goldenrod, gray willow and wild petunia

Animals that favor the habitat of this area include the woodchuck (groundhog), red fox, ring-necked pheasant, 13-lined ground squirrel and numerous songbirds • Kestrels, horned larks, bobolinks and meadowlarks can be spotted in the park • The lake supports populations of migrating waterfowl and shorebirds

History of the Area

This area was first settled by pioneers in 1796 • Jonathan Alder, who was captured by Indians as a child and released fifteen years later, was the first permanent white settler along Big Darby Creek in the Darby Plains • Darby Creek was named after a Wyandot Chief (Darby) who resided along the stream

Settlers considered the Darby Plains and other Ohio prairies almost worthless and unsuitable for farming, reasoning treeless land must be infertile • Wood for fuel and building materials had to be hauled from distant woodlands, and the wet prairies became impassable during heavy rains • During dry periods, fires frequently swept the landscape, and early attempts to plow the soil were thwarted by the tough, thick prairie sod • Eventually, as drainage systems improved and the steel plow was invented, settlement increased on the prairie • The Darby Plains soon became a well- known and important livestock center where large herds of cattle were raised and shipped to eastern markets • Perhaps this is due to the tough prairie sod being more suitable for grazing than for tilling • The livestock sales at London, Ohio obtained a wide distinction throughout the central and western states among cattle and horse dealers • On the day before the sales, the various roads leading to London became clogged with droves of cattle • The cattle were brought from Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and other states. Several thousand people would crowd the streets to witness the sales and transact business

In 1946, a small tract of land in the area was deeded to the state of Ohio for the purpose of developing a lake • Under the supervision of the old Division of Conservation, a dam was constructed across Deer Creek • The lake was filled by 1947, and in 1950, the 106-acre Madison Lake was turned over to the newly created, ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation

Malabar Farm

Nature of the Area

The natural features of Malabar Farm are representative of the diversity of the glaciated Appalachian Plateau region of Ohio • This area is renowned for its interspersion of woodlands, lakes, streams and bogs along with villages, fertile valleys, dairy and grain farms • Located in the Pleasant Valley of Richland County, Malabar's forests and fields offer visitors a glimpse of both the cultural and natural history of the area • The rolling countryside and fertile farmlands of Malabar recreate the pleasure of life on the farm while the wooded ridgetops support an abundance of natural wonders

Glaciers pushed up and over the hills of the area depositing rich soils in the valleys • The woodlands are diverse with beautiful stands of beech and maple along with remnant stands of eastern hemlock in the ravines • Sandstone outcroppings adorn the slopes covered with ferns and mosses • Trillium, spring beauties and wild blue phlox carpet the forest floor • The woodlands are home to the wood thrush, barred owl, fox squirrel and raccoon while the fields support populations of bluebird, red-winged blackbird, cottontail rabbit and red fox

History of the Area

In the rolling countryside of Richland County, Louis Bromfield, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and dedicated conservationist, created his dream -- Malabar Farm • Inspired by his love of the land, Bromfield restored the rich fertility of the farmlands and preserved the beauty of the woodlands • He built a 32-room country home, where his family, friends and neighbors could share the pleasure of life on the farm

In his book, Pleasant Valley, Bromfield wrote, "Every inch of it (the house) has been in hard use since it was built and will, I hope go on being used in the same fashion so long as it stands • Perhaps one day it will belong to the state together with the hills, valleys and woods of Malabar Farm." Bromfield's prophecy came true in August 1972, when the state of Ohio accepted the deed to Malabar Farm • The state pledged to preserve the beauty and ecological value of the farm

Earlier that year, Bromfield's legacy to future generations came close to being extinguished • Malabar Farm, owned and operated by the Louis Bromfield Malabar Farm Foundation for 14 years, was threatened with foreclosure • But the Noble Foundation, which held the mortgage, agreed to erase the mortgage and accrued interest -- about $280,000 -- when the state of Ohio accepted Malabar Farm as a gift to the people of Ohio

From 1972 to 1976, Malabar Farm was operated jointly by Ohio's Department of Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture • Then in 1976, Malabar became one of Ohio's state parks • As a park, Malabar Farm is dedicated to perpetuating Bromfield's farming philosophies, preserving the Big House and its many artifacts, and providing a place where visitors can explore life on a farm and the beauty of nature

On April 4, 1993 the main barn tragically burned to the ground • Through volunteers of the Timber Framers Guild of North America, a new barn was raised in September 1994 • Although modified for modern building standards, the new structure used the same traditional construction methods perfected by the colonists

Marblehead Lighthouse

History of the Area

Marblehead Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes, has guided sailors safely along the rocky shores of Marblehead Peninsula since 1822.

In 1819, the fifteenth U. S. Congress recognized the need for navigational aides along the Great Lakes, and set aside $5,000 for construction of a light tower at the entrance to Sandusky Bay. Contractor William Kelly built the 50-foot tower of native limestone on the tip of the Marblehead Peninsula. The base of the tower is 25 feet in diameter, with walls five feet thick. It narrows to twelve feet at the top with two-foot thick walls.

Through history, fifteen lighthouse keepers, two of whom were women, have tended the beacon. The first keeper was Benajah Wolcott, a Revolutionary War veteran and one of the first settlers on the peninsula. He and his family lived in a small stone home on the Sandusky Bay side of the peninsula. Each night, he lit the wicks of the thirteen whale oil lamps that were the original light fixture. Sixteen-inch-diameter metal reflectors helped project the light across the lake. Other duties of the lighthouse keeper included keeping a log of passing ships, noting the weather conditions, and organizing rescue efforts. Upon Wolcott's death in 1832, his wife, Rachel, took over these duties.

The whale oil lamps were replaced in 1858 by the light from a single kerosene lantern magnified by a Fresnel lens. This specialized, curved glass lens created a highly visible, fixed white light.

A lifesaving station was built one-half mile west of the lighthouse in 1876. Lucien Clemons, who with his two brothers saved two sailors from a shipwreck off the peninsula on May 1, 1875, was named the first commander. In 1880, the lighthouse keeper's household moved to a wooden frame home in a more convenient location, next to the lighthouse.

The turn of the century ushered in new technology as well as structural changes including the addition of another 15 feet to the tower's height. A clock-like mechanism was installed to rotate the lantern, creating the appearance of a brilliant flash of light every 10 seconds. This system required that the lighthouse keeper crank the weights every three hours through the night to keep the lantern turning. An improved Fresnel lens with prism surfaces created an even more brilliant beacon.

Modern conveniences came slowly to the timeless light tower. An electric light finally replaced the kerosene lantern in 1923, dramatically increasing the candlepower of the signal. During World War II, the lighthouse became strategically important for national defense. The last civilian lighthouse keeper resigned, and the United States Coast Guard assumed responsibility for the beacon in 1946.

The beacon was automated in 1958, making the Coast Guard?s job easier. With its original finish tattered by time and harsh weather, the exterior of the lighthouse tower was given a fresh coat of new stucco the same year.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has maintained the property surrounding the lighthouse since 1972 and proudly accepted ownership of the Marblehead Lighthouse tower in May 1998. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to operate and maintain the lighthouse beacon. Today's 300 mm lens projects a green signal that flashes every six seconds and is visible for eleven nautical miles. The distinctive green distinguishes the lighthouse signal from white lights coming from air beacons.

Marblehead's beloved beacon continues to shine and protect boaters from peril in Lake Erie's unpredictable waters along her rocky shores.

Mary Jane Thurston

Nature of the Area

Northwestern Ohio was covered by a massive ice sheet during the Ice Age. As the ice melted, the area from Fort Wayne, Indiana to western New York was covered by a large lake named Lake Maumee by geologists • With the retreating of the ice, new eastern outlets opened and eventually present-day Lake Erie was formed

As the water drained from the state, swamps formed in the lowlands • The Great Black Swamp, 120 miles long and 30 to 40 miles wide, included the Maumee Valley • The heavily wooded swamp was a barrier to westward settlement • By 1900, through the use of a major system of dikes and ditches, the area was drained • The dark soils of the old swamp became fertile agricultural lands

Ridges of sand or old beaches can be found from Liberty Center, Ohio northeast to Detroit • Known in Ohio as the Oak Openings, these sand beaches were formed when present-day Lake Erie was larger • Originally, the Oak Openings were surrounded by dense swamp forests • Today, the Oak Openings area includes impressive dunes, bogs, prairies, swamp forests and a variety of unique vegetation

History of the Area

This area was the rich hunting grounds of many Indian tribes • As settlers moved west, hostilities arose. President Washington appointed General Anthony Wayne to lead forces into the area • After building Fort Defiance in 1794, at the junction of the Maumee and Auglaize rivers, Wayne advanced down the Maumee Valley • At the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Wayne's troops defeated the Indian warriors commanded by Blue Jacket • This battle put an end to twenty years of conflict between Indian and settler

In later years, the canal building era had a great influence on the region • The Miami and Erie Canal, which traveled north from Cincinnati, merged with the Wabash and Erie Canal south of Defiance in 1845, linking Cincinnati to Lake Erie • The canal stimulated development and trade along its route

In order to better use the slackwater at the head of the Maumee River near the community of Gilead, a second dam was built by the state in 1845 • Previously, a smaller dam had been built across part of the river to power a mill • The citizens were outraged about the new dam which limited water power to the mill and one night destroyed the dam • As a compromise, the Gilead Side Cut Canal was built, connecting Gilead with the Miami and Erie Canal, and a replacement dam was constructed • In 1855, the canal port of Gilead was incorporated as Grand Rapids

In 1928, Mary Jane Thurston, a Grand Rapids schoolteacher bequeathed fourteen acres of land to be used as a park • After several transfers and leases, Mary Jane Thurston State Park was dedicated in 1968 • Adjacent property and additional land upriver, known as North Turkeyfoot Area, were purchased in 1968 and 1969

Maumee Bay

Nature of the Area

Maumee Bay State Park is a tribute to Lake Erie. This precious gift is one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the world and it reflects the diverse natural heritage of Ohio.

The history of Lake Erie began with the glacial period known as the Pleistocene. Massive sheets of ice gouged and scoured the bedrock of Ohio. Testimony of the ice's force is found throughout the lake area. Small scratches in the rock surface known as glacial striations are common, while major grooves are rare but awesome.

The wetlands of the Maumee Bay area offer a vivid array of natural wonders. Wetlands contain more species of wildlife than any other habitat type, including: fox snake, northern water snake, painted turtle, chorus frog, green frog, spotted salamander, raccoon, muskrat, dragonfly, caddis fly, and water striders. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded with shorebirds such as snipe, great blue heron, common gallinule and ring-billed gulls residing with waterfowl including Canada geese, pintails, redheads, and ruddy ducks. Songbirds include the red-winged blackbird, yellow warbler, killdeer and swamp sparrow. Spring migration brings many others including the colorful warblers. The plant life is diverse as well. Cattails, buttonbush, phragmites, bur-reed, cottonwood and black willow are just a few examples of the marsh plants at the park.

In addition to marsh and swamp wetlands, several prairies add more diversity to the landscape. Ring-necked pheasants densely populate the meadow areas of the park.

The Lake Erie shoreline sets the stage for the comeback of the bald eagle in Ohio. Nesting pairs have been reported recently in Ohio with the majority being in the western basin of Lake Erie.

History of the Area

Thirteen thousand years ago, Lake Erie was much larger than it is today -- stretching from western New York to Fort Wayne, Indiana. As the lake receded to its present size, a great flat plain was formed (120 miles long and 30-40 miles wide). This area became known as the Great Black Swamp due to the color of the soil and dark shade beneath the trees. The Indians settled only near the well-drained lands beside the Maumee River and its tributaries.

For many years, the swamp was a tremendous barrier to western settlement. Most settlers traveled by boat on Lake Erie to reach southern Michigan. Major cities of the area circled the perimeter of the swamp; none lay within it except Bowling Green. In 1859, a law was passed providing for a system of public ditches to drain the land. By 1870, the swamp was still only half cleared • Eventually, after a period of intense lumbering and draining, the swamp had nearly vanished and the area became a major agricultural region.

Acquisition of park lands began in 1974 with matching funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Maumee Bay officially became a state park in 1975.

Middle Bass Island

Nature of the Area

Middle Bass Island was formed during the glacial period when massive ice sheets entered Ohio • Glaciers gouged and scoured the bedrock, and their tremendous weight left deep depressions which filled with meltwater, forming the Great Lakes • Lake Erie, the world's 12th largest freshwater lake, is large in area but shallow, allowing for violent storms with high waves • The western basin, where Middle Bass Island is located, has an average depth of only 25 to 30 feet

Lake Erie has high nutrient levels and warm temperatures which produce greater numbers and varieties of fish than any other Great Lake • Annual catches nearly equal the combined catch of all other Great Lakes • Yellow perch, smallmouth bass, white bass, channel catfish and walleye are dominant species • Due to the stabilizing effect of the lake, the Lake Erie islands are also highly productive; despite their extreme northern location, the islands have the longest frost-free period of any area in Ohio

Middle Bass, as well as the neighboring Lake Erie islands, is composed of limestone bedrock • The island's glacial past is evident in small scratches in the rock surface, known as glacial striations, carved by rocks embedded in the glacial ice • Vast stands of red cedar and the presence of underground caverns, both associated with limestone, are found here • The islands and shoreline support a variety of reptiles including the state's highest concentration of the harmless fox snake • The timber rattlesnake was at one time quite prevalent on the islands but is now gone from the area • Rattlesnake Island was so named due to the presence of this reptile years ago

The Lake Erie water snake, a subspecies of the Northern water snake, comes in a variety of colors, ranging from banded gray and brown blotches to solid gray • The Lake Erie water snake is a federally threatened and state endangered species • This snake has one of the smallest geographic ranges of any vertebrate in the world and is only found on the islands of Lake Erie • The Lake Erie water snake is similar to its relative, the Northern water snake, except that the dark pattern of crossbands is very pale or completely lacking • The general coloration is gray, greenish, or brownish • The belly is white or pale yellow, occasionally tinged with pink or orange down the center • In the summer, snakes prefer to spend time near the water's edge basking on the rocky shoreline or foraging just off shore • Overwintering sites are typically located within 76 yards of the shore in rocky substrates and are sometimes covered with soil, leaf litter, decaying wood, and grass • Overwintering sites include natural and man-made structures in open and wooded areas • This snake mates from late May to early June by forming "mating balls" consisting of one female and several males • Live birth of 30 or so pencil-sized young occurs in early September • Only about 15 percent of the young survive their first year

Migrating songbirds rest here before winging across the lake • Hundreds of different species have been identified, making this one of the best birdwatching areas in the country • Several nesting pairs of the magnificent bald eagle are located in the area

History of the Area

Some of the earliest known inhabitants of the lower Great Lakes region were the Ottawa Indian tribe, whose name means "trader," and the Wyandot (Huron), whose name is believed to mean "islander" or "dweller on a peninsula" • Pictographs carved several hundred years ago into a huge slab of limestone known as Inscription Rock on Kelleys Island attest to the presence of Indians on the islands in Lake Erie's western basin

In 1534, France first laid claim to the Great Lakes, sight unseen, as French explorer Jacques Cartier sailed across the Atlantic and into the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, naming all of the region drained by that river "New France" • Later explorers ventured further into the continent, and in 1608 Frenchman Samuel de Champlain founded the colony of Quebec on the banks of the St. Lawrence • Several years later, a trader and adventurer, Etienne Brule, left the colony and wandered deeper into the interior of New France, eventually becoming the first European to "discover" Lake Erie • Soon after the French got comfortable in the Great Lakes region, explorers from Great Britain arrived in the far northern reaches of the vast Canadian territory, claiming that area as their own • In 1670, the Hudson Bay Company was founded by Prince Rupert, a cousin of King George II of England, to rival the thriving French fur trade

In the early 1700s, the Wyandots settled into the sparsely populated Lake Erie area and claimed the Ohio country between the Great Lakes and Miami River • There, they traded with the French and coexisted peacefully with other Indian tribes to whom they granted land • Meanwhile, the fur rivalry between France and Britain had turned into all-out war over the Canadian territory, including the Great Lakes region • In 1763, France ceded the Great Lakes region to victorious Britain • Britain's victory was short-lived, however

At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, the Lake Erie area became part of the Connecticut Reserve • By 1795, the Bass Islands were transferred to the Connecticut Land Company and parcels were offered for sale to U.S. citizens

In 1807, Middle Bass and South Bass islands, along with Green, Sugar, Ballast, Gibraltar, and Starve Islands were purchased for $26,087 by Pierpont Edwards, a Revolutionary War veteran and member of the U.S. Continental Congress • In August 1854, the Edwards family sold the islands for $44,000 to José de Rivera Saint Jurgo, who cultivated the land for grape production and wine making • Jurgo sold Middle Bass Island in 1864, and in 1866 one of the new owners, Andrew Wehrle, established the Golden Eagle Wine Cellars, which soon became one of the largest wineries in the country • In 1884, island resident Peter Lonz established his own winery on the island • The Bass Islands earned the nickname "Wine Islands" and the wines they produced were compared favorably to fine French vintages • The Golden Eagle winery was expanded to include a dance pavilion over the wine cellar, and a subsequent owner built a 60-room hotel, the Hillcrest, in 1905 • Both the hotel and the dance pavilion were destroyed by fire in 1923

In 1926, Peter Lonz and his son, George, merged their own winemaking business with the remains of the Golden Eagle Winery • Despite the nationwide prohibition of alcohol and the onset Great Depression, the Lonz business survived by selling bottles of grape juice with instructions for fermenting the juice at home • Following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, George Lonz began rebuilding the winery complex • After a fire destroyed the structure in 1942, work began on the Gothic-style stone castle that became a familiar landmark for tourists and wine enthusiasts for nearly 60 years • A modern wine press was built in 1956, and in 1962, a marina was added to the winery complex to accommodate pleasure boaters • The Lonz Winery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, and remained popular with tourists until the tragic collapse of a crowded terrace in July 2000

In the winter of 2000 and spring of 2001, the state of Ohio purchased 124 acres on Middle Bass Island, including undeveloped natural areas featuring wetlands, woodlands, glacial grooves, and nearly a mile of Lake Erie shoreline, along with the shell of the Lonz Winery and the marina complex • Middle Bass Island became Ohio's 74th state park in March 2001

Mohican

Nature of the Area

The scenic beauty and natural features of the Mohican region can be attributed to events that occurred over 12,000 years ago during the ice age in Ohio • The last glacier to enter Ohio, the Wisconsinan, ended its advance in the Mohican region forming a glacial boundary • Several moraines, linear ridges of soil and rock till deposited along the ice edge, are evident in the area

The erosional forces of glacial meltwaters hastened the carving of the narrow gorge of the Clear Fork of the Mohican River • This gorge cuts into the sandstone bedrock exposing huge outcroppings and creating steep cliff walls • The gorge is more than one thousand feet wide at the top and over three hundred feet deep • The striking Clearfork Gorge with its towering hemlocks and stands of old-growth white pine are of national significance • The National Park Service has thus dedicated the area as a Registered National Natural Landmark

The Mohican State Memorial Forest surrounds the park and contains great plant and animal diversity • Ridge tops contain stands of white, red and black oaks, red maple and white pine • Beech, ash and tulip can be found in the middle and lower slopes with hemlock and yellow birch • The bottomlands contain sycamore, willow, buckeye, hawthorn and dogwood • The diversity of ferns in this region is astounding with as many as fifteen different species identified, including the rare walking fern

Mohican is home to numerous mammals including raccoon, white-tail deer, skunk, opossum and red fox • Reptiles such as the box turtle, black rat snake and the poisonous copperhead are present in the area • Dusky salamanders, American toads and the gray tree frog are samples of local amphibians • The wild turkey has made a tremendous comeback in Ohio after being totally extirpated at one time • Significant numbers of this magnificent bird can be found in the surrounding forest • Bald eagles are occasionally sighted in the area

Of particular interest is the abundance of nesting warblers in the Clear Fork Gorge • More than fifteen species including Northern Parula, Hooded, Cerulean and American Redstart nest here during spring and summer

History of the Area

The Mohican State Park area was once the hunting grounds of the Delaware Indians, whose more famous warriors included Janacake, Bill Montour, Thomas Lyon (reportedly the ugliest man alive!) and James Smith, who was the first white man to come to this area • Smith was captured by the Indians and later adopted into their tribe • Several Delaware villages were located in the Mohican vicinity

Settlement by non-Indians began at the turn of the nineteenth century, but settlement did not increase until the Indians were driven from the area during the War of 1812 • John Chapman, immortalized as Johnny Appleseed, frequented the region during the 1800's, caring for his apple tree nurseries • His name and the date, carved in the wall of Lyons Falls, were an attraction for years • Unfortunately, the etchings have been obliterated with the passage of time

Prior to 1949, most of the area that comprises the present Mohican State Park was part of the Mohican State Forest (also known as Mohican State Forest Park) • The forest lands were administered by the Ohio Division of Forestry • In 1949, when the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created, Mohican and several other state parks were developed from existing state forests • The new park was named Clear Fork State Park • Years later in 1966, the name was changed to Mohican State Park in order to alleviate confusion between Mansfield's Clearfork Reservoir and the state park • Even before this official move, visitors referred to the area as Mohican

Mosquito Lake

Nature of the Area

Before Ohio was settled, the banks of Mosquito Creek were hidden by a vast forest that covered most of the state • Little remains of the ancient forest that stood for nearly 10,000 years • In the Mosquito Lake area, regrowth has occurred and the nice stands of beech-maple woodlands can be enjoyed • In pioneer times, the beech-maple belt was very extensive and stretched from Mansfield to Pennsylvania • The reason is that this area has more cloudy days, cooler summer temperatures and more winter snow cover as compared to the rest of Ohio

The park's woodlands support colonies of spring beauties, anemones, Dutchman's breeches, purple cresses and other spring wildflowers • Goldenrod and asters will bloom in the fall in the park's open areas. Many wildlife species find the park's varied habitats suitable • Red fox, woodchuck, muskrat, beaver, fox squirrel, raccoon, rabbit and white-tailed deer are common • Recently, river otters were reintroduced in nearby favorable locations • Several otter families have been sighted

Many birds live in or migrate through the area including robins, warblers, swallows and sparrows • The yellow-bellied sapsucker and hairy woodpecker are uncommon in other parts of Ohio but abundant in this part of the state • Numerous species of waterfowl and shorebirds take advantage of the park's many wetlands during spring and fall migrations • Canada geese, herons, tundra swans, great egrets and a variety of ducks can be observed • Large predatory birds including several species of hawks and the magnificent bald and golden eagles have been spotted here

History of the Area

Mosquito Lake State Park lies in Bazetta and Mecca townships in the center of Trumbull County • In 1795, the Connecticut Land Company offered for sale a 17,247-acre tract of land named Bazetta Township • This large tract of land was divided into 100 parcels and offered for sale to the early pioneers • The first settlers arrived in the township in 1805 • The area was wilderness, and their first tasks were to clear the land, plant crops, build a log house and a stockade for their animals • Deer, turkey, rabbit and squirrel were plentiful • So were bears and wolves • By 1812, most Indians had left the area

Samuel Bacon moved to Bazetta Township in 1816 • The Bacon family operated a sawmill from 1816 to 1850 • Samuel Bacon erected some of the first frame buildings, developing stores in the community • Thus, the area now named Cortland was locally called Baconsburg

The village of Cortland became a reality in 1874 when the first railroad was built with a depot in Cortland • By 1882, the population of the village rose to 614 people • There were three churches, two newspapers, stores, mills and other enterprises

Agriculture was the first and foremost industry in the area • Most other industries were farm related: feed and flour mill, cheese, dairy and canning factories, mercantiles and lumberyards

In 1930's, plans were drawn up to dam the Mosquito Creek under the Federal Flood Control Act to alleviate floods on the Mahoning, Beaver and Ohio rivers • The dam would also provide domestic water supply for the city of Warren and pollution abatement as a result of the industrialized steel production along the Mahoning River • Completed in April 1944, the dam's capacity held 34 billion gallons of water covering 7,850 acres of land • In 1946. the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers entered into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to manage the recreation on the lake

Mt. Gilead

Nature of the Area

The wealth of natural wonders found at Mt Gilead State Park can be traced back to the Ice Age--a time when two-thirds of Ohio was frozen land covered with glacial ice, nearly a mile thick in places. During this age many changes occurred in the Ohio landscape: the stream systems were altered, topography changed and the Great Lakes were formed. The glaciers left Ohio a legacy of valuable natural resources.

In the vicinity of Mt. Gilead, three end moraines (linear ridges of glacial sediment deposited along the ice edge) converged and account for the rolling terrain seen today. A beautiful stand of second growth beech-maple forest exists at Mt. Gilead.

The mature woodlands provide a glimpse of what Ohio was to the early settlers. Wildflowers such as wild geranium, hepatica, trillium and bloodroot, carpet the spring forest floor. The leafy canopy is occupied by the woodthrush, white-breasted nuthatch, Carolina wren and other songbirds. Skunks, raccoons, white-tailed deer and a variety of other mammals make this park their home.

History of the Area

Mt. Gilead State Park is located in Morrow County near the center of the state. The first permanent settlers came into the county after the close of the War of 1812. The first gristmill and sawmill were built on Whetstone Creek in 1821. The town of Mt. Gilead, the county seat, served as a major stop on the underground railroad prior to the Civil War. In more recent history, an oil boom occurred in Morrow County. In 1961, a well was drilled on the Orrie Myers' property that produced 200 barrels a day. As a result of that wells success, 30-40 well are drilled in Morrow County annually.

The first lake at Mt. Gilead was built in 1919 on the upper level of Sam's Creek. On July 10, 1930, a larger lake was completed below the first one on this same tributary of Whetstone Creek. The recreational area was originally under the supervision of the Bureau of Engineering. In 1949, it was turned over to the newly formed ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation to be maintained as a state park.

Muskingum River

Nature of the Area

The Muskingum River is formed by the confluence of the Walhonding and Tuscarawas rivers in Coshocton, Ohio. From there, it flows south through Zanesville where it is joined by the Licking River until it eventually drains into the Ohio River at Marietta. This mighty river travels 112 miles in all, traversing the scenic hill country.

The rich floodplains of the Muskingum provide suitable conditions for walnut, elm, cottonwood and sycamore. Dense paw-paw thickets line the banks of the river. A rich diversity of bird life and mammals share the wooded shores. The Muskingum provides a remarkable fishery including catches of huge shovelhead catfish. The mighty Ohio muskellunge was once abundant in the Muskingum and its tributaries, but its population has declined in recent years. A number of rare fish share the waters such as sanddarters, northern madtoms, mooneyes and channel darters. The Muskingum and its tributaries have long supported large and diverse populations of freshwater mussels. Dissolved limestone in the river is used by the mussels in constructing their shells. The Muskingum River system supports the last remaining Ohio populations of mussels such as monkeyface shell, fan shell, Ohio pigtoe and the butterfly shell.

History of the Area

The Muskingum River, because of its size and location, has played an important role in Ohio's history. Its watershed drains 8,036 square miles, an area equal to one-fifth of the entire state. It remains the longest continually navigable river traversing Ohio, due to the series of locks and dams that date back to 1841.

Missionaries settled along the headwaters of this picturesque river in 1761. The first permanent settlement in Ohio was established in 1788 at Marietta. One of the city's founders, General Rufus Putnam, recognized the economic potential of the Muskingum River for transporting raw materials to eastern markets and brought in New England shipbuilders. In 1824, steam-powered paddle wheelers joined the flatboat and keelboat traders, generating public support for river navigation.

West Point graduate Major Samuel Curtis designed a system of 10 dams and 11 locks to connect the Muskingum River to the Ohio and Erie Canal at Dresden. Opened in 1841, the system provided navigable waterways from Marietta to Lake Erie.

The area we drain is 5,051 sq. miles, according to an EPA report done last year.

Nelson-Kennedy Ledges

Nature of the Area

The spectacular rock formations at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges have become trademarks of the park. These rock formations are among the few outcrops in northern Ohio still exposed to view. Most of the outcrops elsewhere have been covered with soil and rock left by receding glaciers.

The remarkable sandstone cliff formations resulted from the forces of erosion--wind, water freezing and thawing--that wore away at the softer rock layers. As these soft layers eroded, large blocks of rock called slump blocks fell away leaving more resistant layers to form ledges above.

The jumbled rocks and shaded rock faces are home to a wide variety of wildflowers, trees and ferns. The spring wildflower show includes spring beauties, hepatica and trillium and features the rare red trillium, which grows in great numbers along the ledges.

The beech-maple forest harbors a few tree species that are more common in cooler climates: yellow birch, Canadian hemlock and Canada yew are common here. Some of these trees cling to the rock faces, their roots pushing into every available crevice. In the shelter of the roots and shaded by the leafy canopy above, ferns such as the Christmas and maidenhair fern grow in abundance. Others such as the marginal shield fern, grape fern, wood fern and common polypody are more unusual for this part of the state.

The leafy canopy is home to a variety of songbirds, while small mammals such as skunk, raccoon and fox squirrels inhabit other areas of the park.

History of the Area

This area was of vital importance to the Indian tribes. The Delaware, Shawnee, Miami, Seneca, Mohawk, and Cajuga tribes were among those said to have lived at Nelson Ledges.

The park lies near one of the highest points of the state and is close to the watershed divide between the Ohio River and Lake Erie. Several major foot trails and canoe routes passed through this vicinity. This area became an important trade center for both pioneers and Indians.

The area developed into an important agricultural and dairy center. Cheesemaking was prominent and began nearly as soon as the first settlers arrived. By 1834, northeast Ohio cheese controlled the southern markets. Eventually, canal and rail transportation increased the area's importance.

The town of Hiram, west of the park, is home to Hiram College where James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States, was educated. At the age of 26, he was chosen president of the college. The college was opened in 1851 as the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, received its charter in 1867, and was rebuilt and enlarged in 1886.

The Nelson-Kennedy region has always been a popular vacation spot and eventually came under state protection. In 1940, the state purchased land at Nelson Ledges, and in 1948, it bought 101 acres of the area known as Kennedy Ledges. The state of Ohio created Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park in 1949 to preserve the area for future generations of Ohioans to enjoy.

Paint Creek

Nature of the Area

The Paint Creek region lies at the very edge of the Appalachian Plateau. This escarpment marks the boundary between the hilly eastern section of the state and the flatter western portions. Most of the plateau in southeastern Ohio was never reached by glaciers, although the Paint Creek area bears evidence of glacial activity. One stream near the park, Rocky Fork Creek, was blocked by glacial ice and reversed direction, rapidly cutting the 75-foot gorge seen today. Sullivantia, an extremely rare wildflower in Ohio, blooms in the gorge in mid-summer.

Equally impressive here are the Seven Caves, all located about 50 feet above Rocky Fork Creek. A short trip to the caves from the park is well worth the time.

Before Paint Creek was impounded to form a reservoir, the creek valley was unrivaled in the state for scenic beauty and its display of wildflowers. Some of this unspoiled land yet remains above the still waters of the lake. Wild geranium, jewelweed, yarrow and Queen Anne's lace can be found blooming in the woodlands and meadows of the park.

The reservoir provides habitat for numerous waterfowl and shorebirds as well as the great blue heron. Osprey and bald eagles have been sighted over the lake. The limestone outcroppings on the lake's edge provide nesting habitat for the cliff swallow. Other songbirds, raccoons, white-tailed deer and the elusive wild turkey inhabit the park.

History of the Area

We are not the first to recognize the richness and beauty of this land. Prehistoric Indian cultures built a variety of earthworks throughout the region, while the Shawnee Indians considered the Paint Valley home.

Conflicts often arose between the original holders of the Ohio country and the white settlers invading from the east. A Shawnee named Waw-will-a-way became a victim of this strife when he was unjustly accused of scalping a white man. This Indian encountered three white men in the Paint Valley bent on revenge for the scalping. They shot him in the chest, yet he killed one and severely wounded the other two before he succumbed. His funeral pyre laid at the peaceful confluence of the Paint and Rattlesnake creeks.

The waters of the creeks provided a source of power for early mills. Grinding grain, processing wool and sawing wood were all facilitated by the waters flowing over dams constructed in the creeks. Many of the original dams were made of only earth and wood and were washed out by annual floods. One such mill, Crawford's Mill, was built at a place later called Hewitt's Crossing on Paint Creek. The site now lies beneath the waters of the reservoir. Construction of the dam on Paint Creek started in 1967, and the site was dedicated as a state park in 1972.

Pike Lake

Nature of the Area

Pike Lake region is located in the unglaciated portion of the Appalachian plateau in Ohio. As the Appalachian Mountains were uplifted, this plateau was created west of the new mountain range. The plateau marks the boundary between the hilly eastern section of Ohio and the flatter western portions. Just thirty miles west of Pike Lake, the terrain changes dramatically from forested hills to rolling farmland.

The landscape of Pike Lake is characterized by dense forests of oak, hickory, tulip, ash and other hardwoods. Several outcroppings of the sandstone bedrock have been exposed in the park.

The dense forest and remote location of Pike Lake create excellent habitat for Ohio's forest game animals. White-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, gray squirrel, rabbit and the elusive wild turkey are abundant. Other mammals in the park include skunk, opossum, raccoon and red fox. Reptiles include the box turtle, black snake, five-lined skink and the endangered timber rattlesnake.

The forest is known for its variety of ferns, mosses, lichens and fungi. The wildflowers are diverse, creating spectacular displays--spring through autumn.

History of the Area

Pike County is located in an area that has many earthworks constructed by Ohio's prehistoric people. These "first citizens" of Ohio lived in the Scioto River Valley and its tributaries, appearing here sometime around 800 B.C. The Moundbuilders eventually gave rise to the woodland Indian cultures--the first white settlers encountered. One tribe, the Shawnee, made this area their home and hunting grounds. They were fiercely protective of their land.

Nearby Chillicothe, the first capital of Ohio, spurred early settlement in the area. Some of the early, historic buildings still stand. Just south of the park is "Eagers Inn" built in 1797. The inn was constructed on a trace that ran from Limestone, Kentucky to Chillicothe. Limestone (now called Maysville) was an important crossing on the Ohio River. Many settlers from Kentucky followed this passage on their way to the frontier.

During the Civil War, only one advance was ever made by the Confederate Army into Ohio. General John H. Morgan crossed the Ohio River into Indiana, then rode with his cavalry into Ohio north of Cincinnati. "Morgan's Raiders" traversed the southern portion of the state, passing near present-day Pike Lake State Park. Eventually, he and many of his men were captured in southwestern Columbiana County near Salineville. Less than five months later, General John Morgan and six of his men escaped from the Ohio Penitentiary and returned to the Confederacy.

Also during this historic period, the family who farmed this valley found a wounded soldier collapsed in their field. The unconscious union soldier never revived. His name, unit or hometown were never known. Today, a solitary headstone below the dam at the base of a large oak tree marks the grave of this casualty from a tragic war.

The present park first began to take shape during the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) days of the 1930s. One of the Ohio camps was established near the future site of Pike Lake at Morgantown. Corpsmembers dug the lake by hand, built two or three fire towers in the area, constructed the roads to make them accessible and planted hundreds of pine trees. Pike Lake was originally a state forest park, but with the formation of the Division of Parks and Recreation in 1949, it became an official state park that year.

Portage Lakes

Nature of the Area

Although early Ohio offered the Indians and settlers vast water resources through Lake Erie and its major river systems, there were very few natural lakes or ponds in the state. Those that existed, including several of the Portage Lakes, were the direct result of glacial activity. These bodies of water were formed by huge chunks of ice which broke off the retreating glacier and melted in depressions forming kettle lakes. Many of the natural lakes in Ohio have aged into bogs or marshes.

Unique plants associated with these boggy areas can be found in the park. Tamarack trees, more common in northern boreal forests, are scattered through the park with patches of skunk cabbage and cranberry also present. Nice stands of beech-maple forest provide refuge for skunk, raccoon, white-tailed deer and many other animals. The wetlands of the park attract thousands of geese and waterfowl during spring and fall migration periods. Mallards, wood ducks and Canada geese nest in the wetlands each year. In addition, woodcock, heron, hawks, owls, red fox, beaver and muskrat are often sighted.

History of the Area

Portage Lakes is named after the old Indian portage path which connected the Cuyahoga River flowing north to Lake Erie and the Tuscarawas River which through the Muskingum, flows south to the Ohio River. This proved advantageous for the Indians and early settlers as navigation from Lake Erie to the Ohio was possible with only one eight-mile portage overland. Portage Lakes State Park lies at one of the highest points of the state and on a major watershed divide in Ohio. Some water from the lakes reaches Lake Erie and some flows to the Ohio River.

The area became an important trading post for settlers and Indians. It was a recognized landmark during the War of 1812, serving as a rendezvous point of American troops. The old Indian portage path was part of the ancient boundary between the Six Nations and the Western Indians.

The city of Akron was laid out in 1825 and was first settled by Irish laborers and others working on the Ohio Canal. Once the canal was completed, the town flourished. Several important industries brought prosperity to the area including stoneware potteries, sewer pipe manufacturing, the match industry and, most recently, the tire and rubber industry. At one time, the Blue Diamond Match Company in Akron used three million board-feet of white pine lumber per year for the manufacture of its matches.

Several of the Portage Lakes were built as feeder reservoirs for the canals to maintain the required depth of four feet. The lakes were used for this purpose until the canals were abandoned in 1913. The lakes were then used to meet the water needs of the local industries. Some portions of the remnant canals in the Akron area can still be boated.

The Ohio Department of Public Works maintained the canal lands for recreational purposes until 1949 when the Portage Lakes were transferred to the newly formed Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation.

Punderson

Nature of the Area

Punderson State Park is located in the glaciated plateau region of Ohio. During the Ice Age, this area was buried under glacial ice. The last glacier to enter Ohio's boundaries, the Wisconsinan, receded about 12,000 years ago. Punderson Lake, one of Ohio's few natural lakes, owes its origin to this massive ice sheet. It is a kettle lake which was formed when a large block of ice broke off the glacier creating a depression which filled with meltwater. Punderson is the largest and deepest kettle lake in Ohio.

The aquatic environment of the lake combined with the surrounding woodlands give Punderson a diverse array of natural wonders. The lake is home to a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl including great blue herons, Canada geese and wood ducks. Ohio's largest rodent, the beaver, can also be spotted around the lake. Great horned owls, white-tailed deer, opossum and raccoons can be found within the park boundaries.

In the park, the vegetation is as diverse as the animal population. Wild geranium, buttercup, blue-eyed grass and pennywort are just a few of the wildflowers that inhabit the area.

History of the Area

Both the park and the lake take their names from Lemuel Punderson, a young enterprising land agent who became Newbury Township's first permanent settler in 1808. Punderson constructed a small dam on the south side of the "big pond," as he called it, and used the outflowing water as the power source for a grist mill. The Punderson family developed a small estate on the edge of the sparkling blue lake, and their home became a popular gathering place for family and friends.

The area surrounding Punderson Lake developed into a quiet resort providing a get-away from the bustling Cleveland setting. Summer cottages and even a small hotel were built on the hills surrounding the lake. In 1929, construction began on the English-tudor manor house, but the facility was not completed until 1948. That year, the ODNR Division of Wildlife purchased the land and lake for hunting and fishing. In 1951, the area was transferred to the Division of Parks and Recreation for development as a state park. The manor house was completely remodeled and opened to the public on November 15, 1956. A structural renovation was completed in 1982.

Pymatuning

Nature of the Area

Northeastern Ohio's "snow belt" region is the setting for spacious Pymatuning State Park • Located on the western shore of Pymatuning Reservoir, the park provides a wide variety of facilities for those who enjoy outdoor recreation

The countryside around Pymatuning State Park was shaped by the action of the glaciers that covered the area more than 14,000 years ago • As the last ice melted away, a rolling terrain dotted with dozens of kettle lakes was revealed • Gradually, a great swamp forest developed, punctuated by bogs and wetlands and supporting stands of towering white pines • The rich wetland habitat was home to a great number of wild animals including bears and wolves • It was this abundance of resources that attracted Indians to the area; the word Pymatuning is taken from an Indian term translated as "the crooked-mouthed man's dwelling place"

The remaining ponds and marshes are a good food source for many types of animals, including the magnificent bald eagle • Several pairs of eagles nest on the Pennsylvania side of the reservoir, and a patient observer may spot one of these rare birds of prey in flight • In addition to eagles, the reservoir serves as a resting spot for numerous migrating waterfowl

History of the Area

Settlement of the area by white immigrants from the east was slow to occur • The vast Pymatuning swamp and nearly impenetrable forest made travel difficult • The earliest Europeans to reside here were trappers in search of valuable beaver pelts • Later, the lush forest attracted lumbermen who especially prized the strong, straight trunks of the white pines that were used to construct masts for sailing ships • As more and more settlers came into northern Ohio, much of the wilderness character of the Pymatuning region was lost • Remnants of the original swamp still remain today, coaxing the modern day naturalist to explore this unique habitat

In 1933, the dam which impounded Pymatuning Reservoir was constructed to regulate the flow of the Shenango and Beaver rivers • Land on the western shore of the reservoir was acquired by the state of Ohio in 1935, and in 1950 the Division of Parks and Recreation began developing Pymatuning State Park

Quail Hollow

Nature of the Area

The rolling fields, stately woodlands and moist wetlands of Quail Hollow are evidence of the effects of glaciation which occurred over 12,000 years ago • Glaciers have had a profound effect on the drainage system, topography and soil/mineral composition of the area • Natural lakes are a feature of the glaciated landscape • These bodies of water were formed when large pieces of ice broke off the glacier and melted in depressions forming these kettle lakes • Most are small, old and more properly classified as bogs or marshes • Nearby Congress Lake is one of Ohio's natural lakes

Quail Hollow's habitat diversity allows for an abundance of plant and wildlife populations • A tall-grass prairie supports blazing star, sneezeweed and other prairie plants • The woodland swamp is home to spring peepers, chorus and green frogs while the deciduous and coniferous forests provide shelter for the red fox, raccoon, white-tailed deer and wild turkey

History of the Area

The turn of the 19th century witnessed the coming of frontiersmen to northeastern Ohio. Although the land was still wilderness, the American Indians were already being forced westward • Tribes native to what is now Stark County, principally the Delawares, were virtually gone by 1810

One of the earliest settlers to enter the region was Conrad Brumbaugh • His first home on the new property was built around 1820 on land that was to become the park

Acquisition of the Brumbaugh homestead and other properties, ultimately totaling 720 acres, was begun in 1914 by Harry Bartlett Stewart • The Stewart's original tract, adjacent to the Brumbaugh homestead, was called the Minnie Taylor Farm after Harry Stewart's wife

The small farm house on the Minnie Taylor Farm was built in 1838 • During the first few years the Stewards owned it, the home was used mainly on weekends during the autumn hunting season • By 1929, additions to the farm house and construction of its two neighboring structures were completed and the home became the permanent residence of the Stewart family • The main house, the adjacent servant's cottage and the garage appeared as they do today, reflecting strong Greek Revival and Federal architectural influences

The Stewart's son, Harry Bartlett Stewart, Jr. and his wife Catherine moved into the manor in 1937 • Mr. Stewart, like his father, was chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad

The Stewart family resided in their home until 1975 when they offered the acreage and building to the state for one-half the appraised valuation • The U.S. Department of Interior provided funds for the state to acquire Quail Hollow State Park • On May 15, 1975, Quail Hollow came under the administration and management of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation

Rocky Fork

Nature of the Area

Rocky Fork State Park nestled in Highland County derives its name from the stream flowing through the park. This stream, winding over dolomite limestone, has eroded spectacular gorges and caves which we can enjoy today.

Present-day Rocky Fork Creek flows through an ancient valley. Blocked by glacial ice more than 12,000 years ago, the stream reversed direction and rapidly cut the 75-foot gorge seen today. Caves in the region formed as rainwater, trickling through the limestone, dissolved the bedrock. Dolomite limestone is particularly vulnerable to this type of weathering. Sullivantia, extremely rare in Ohio, blooms in the gorge. The small white flowers can be seen from the moist cliff face in mid-summer. Other wildflowers include wild geranium, jewelweed, yarrow and Queen Anne's lace.

Rocky Fork provides habitat for numerous waterfowl, songbirds, raccoons, skunk, red fox and white-tailed deer. The wetlands in the park are home to the green frog, bullfrog, opossum and muskrat.

History of the Area

Rocky Fork State Park is an area steeped in the rich Indian history of Ohio. The land provided abundant game and a ready transportation system in the nearby creeks and rivers. These same streams provided access to the Rocky Fork area for the first settlers.

Plentiful water attracted a number of millwrights to the Highland County region. During the 1800s and the early 1900s, at least six different mill sites were established along Rocky Fork's banks. These mills not only ground flour, but also cut lumber, carded wool and even wove blankets. Water-powered industry was instrumental in the early development of the locale.

In 1897, surveyors for a proposed railroad came to the countryside that would one day be the park. Local people had high hopes that the new "Black Diamond" rail line would bring prosperity to the area. The addition of rail transportation would enable the local mills to ship flour and other mill industry goods all over the country. There was to be a depot built in Rainsboro with a stockyard and telegraph office. Meetings were held by railroad officials to secure a right-of-way from nearby landowners. A town was planned near McCoppin's (at that time Costello's) Mill. Unfortunately, the "Black Diamond" never got past the planning stages, and the new town of Lodore never came to be.

The eastern part of Highland County has been a resort location for many years. The "Seven Caves" and nearby Rocky Fork gorge attracted visitors even in the mid 1800s. At the turn of the century, Colonel Walter H. Hutchins, a regular visitor to the area from Cincinnati, first dreamed of building a dam near McCoppin's Mill. He was the lake's biggest promoter and saw construction begin in 1949.

Rocky Fork became a state park in 1950 and the first water spilled over the dam in April 1953. Since that summer, thousands of people have visited Rocky Fork State Park. The lake has become a favorite of fishermen and water sports enthusiasts.

Salt Fork

Nature of the Area

Before settlement, Ohio lay in the heart of a vast forest wilderness stretching from the Appalachian Mountains to the Great Plains. None of the world's hardwood forests surpassed this one in variety and size of trees. Ohio's forest was a magnificent sight and an enormous challenge for settlers determined to clear and till the land. Towering oaks, hickories, beeches, maples, walnuts, ashes and chestnuts, some over 150 feet tall, rose from the rich fertile soil below. By 1900, most of Ohio's original forest was decimated. In its place stood wheat, corn, oats, hay and thriving cities.

Through conservation efforts over the past few decades, a magnificent regrowth has occurred. Today, nearly 30 percent of the state is once again supporting a thriving forest. This is most evident in the rugged, unglaciated hill region of southeastern Ohio including Salt Fork State Park. Salt Fork contains a blend of rich woodlands and rolling meadows. The park contains diverse populations of plant and animal life. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, red fox, gray squirrels and barred owls are well established within Salt Fork. Songbirds such as the scarlet tanager, cardinal, goldfinch, Kentucky warbler and others provide delight for birdwatchers.

Spectacular wildflowers such as wild geranium, large-flowered trillium, violets, asters and goldenrod line the forest floor and meadows. In spring, the melody of wood frogs, chorus frogs and spring peepers echo through the park.

Salt Fork is said to have derived its name from a salt well used by Native Americans which was located near the southeastern corner of the park. Salt Fork lies in the unglaciated portion of the state. Throughout the area, thick-bedded, erosion resistant sandstone or conglomerate overlays more erosive siltstone, shale, coal and limestone layers, resulting in shelter caves, such as Hosak's Cave, along with small waterfalls in the secondary drainages. Other interesting geologic features around the park are massive blocks of sandstone that have become detached due to the differential weathering, and toppled down slope. Click here for a complete description of Salt Fork's geology compiled by the Division of Geological Survey.

History of the Area

Historically, this part of southeastern Ohio was one of the first areas of the state to be settled by the pioneers emigrating westward from the crowded eastern seaboard. Some of these settlers may have followed Zane's Trace into the Ohio wilderness -- a route that led a few families into the Guernsey County area. From Zanesville east to the Ohio River, the Trace became part of the National Road, a major east-west transportation route constructed in 1811. Today, the old National Road is known as U.S. Route 40 and passes near Salt Fork State Park.

One of the early residents of Guernsey County, David B. Kennedy, constructed a beautiful stone house overlooking Sugar Tree Fork in 1837. Built from locally-quarried stone cut into 3' x 1' x 1' blocks, the Kennedy Stone House is a sturdy reminder of bygone days. Because of its unique and enduring construction, the house is listed in the National Register of Historic places and can be visited throughout the year.

While the southeastern U.S. was the most important staging area for many Civil War battles, southeastern Ohio saw a few skirmishes, too. Morgan's Raiders, a small group of Confederate soldiers, made excursions into the Salt Fork area under constant pursuit from Union Troops led by General Shakelford.

As the 19th Century progressed, industry continued to develop in Ohio, and many of the southeastern Ohio counties came into prominence as coal-producing areas. Responding to the demand for this important fuel source, Guernsey County became one of Ohio's leading coal producers. Abundant reserves of clay allowed the development of a thriving pottery industry in the county as well. The present impoundment at Salt Fork dates back to 1956 when planning for the lake was begun. The reservoir was originally slated to become a water source for the city of Cambridge, but the potential for the area to become a major recreation area in the state was so great that, in 1960, land acquisition was begun to create a state park. The earthen dam was completed in 1967, and construction of recreational facilities began in mid 1968. The spacious Salt Fork Lodge was opened in May 1972.

Scioto Trail

Nature of the Area

Located in the Appalachian foothills bordering the Scioto River, the park's rugged ridgetops and wooded valleys support a host of natural wonders. This densely forested hill country is reminiscent of the southern Appalachians supporting a magnificent stand of oak and hickory. In spring, the forest trails are lined with flowering dogwood and redbud trees. The forest floor displays woodland wildflowers including spring beauties, Dutchman's breeches, wild blue phlox and wild geranium. Ferns, mosses and lichens coat the sandstone outcroppings. Mushroom hunters delight in the abundance of the delicious morel mushroom.

The remoteness of the area and dense forest provides excellent habitat for some of Ohio's most elusive wildlife. Wild turkey populations are thriving in this region along with ruffed grouse and white-tailed deer. Small mammals of Scioto Trail include red fox, skunk, opossum, gray squirrel and raccoon among many others. Rare sightings of bobcat and black bear have been reported. Many reptiles and amphibians find the woodlands and streams of the area desirable.

History of the Area

Scioto Trail State Park is nestled in an area rich with reminders of Ohio's prehistoric peoples. These Mound Builders left extensive earthworks throughout the Scioto River Valley and its tributaries. Serpent Mound, in northeastern Adams County, is a 1,000-foot snake effigy mound built by the Adenas. Other smaller Adena mounds exist in Ross County. The Adena culture is named after the estate of early Ohio statesman Thomas Worthington. Adena, near Chillicothe, was the site of the first mound excavation attributed to these prehistoric people.

Other extensive earthworks exist north of Chillicothe on the Scioto floodplain. Mound City is attributed to a more advanced culture called the Hopewells. Other Hopewell mounds in the Scioto Trail region are Seip Mound, Spruce Hill and Fort Hill. The importance of the Scioto River to the early development of Ohio carried through from these prehistoric peoples to the Shawnee and first pioneer settlers.

The Shawnee utilized the river as their primary means of transportation from one village to another. The Scioto Trail was an Indian trail that followed the Scioto River from northern Ohio to the Kentucky hunting grounds. The trail was later used by settlers who came upriver from Portsmouth to the first capital of Ohio--Chillicothe. There is a replica of the first church in the area, Chillicothe's First Presbyterian, in Caldwell Lake Hollow. This plain log structure gives testimony to the simple lifestyle of early Ohioans.

The first European settlers came to the area in the 1790s. In 1796, General Nathaniel Massie and a small group of settlers started the town of Chillicothe. Many of these first Ohioans were veterans of the Revolutionary War. The land west of the Scioto River and east of the Little Miami River was set aside for Virginia veterans of the Revolution. Land allotments were based on time served and rank of these soldiers.

Initial purchases of land for the park and forest began in 1922. Most of the major development took place in the 1930s during the original Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) days. They constructed most of the roads, lakes and the original recreational facilities.

A monument erected in 1842 stood at the entrance of Scioto Trail State Forest to commemorate William Hewitt. As a hermit, he lived for fourteen years in a cave near what is now the park and surrounding forest. Hewitt died in 1838 at the age of seventy after becoming a local legend. Eventually, the cave was whittled away by highway development and the monument was moved 1,000 feet north of its original site. The monument has been relocated beside the log church at the Scioto Trail campground.

Shawnee

Nature of the Area

Several hundred million years ago, a general upheaval of eastern North America made changes in the terrain that are evident in Ohio today • South and east of Ohio, the layers of bedrock folded and buckled, giving rise to the Appalachian Mountains • The forested hills of Shawnee are a part of the Appalachian Plateau • Here, the bedrock layers were uplifted but no real distortion occurred; for this reason, Shawnee never had true "mountains" • In fact, all of Ohio's hill country is a feature of stream erosion on this prehistoric raised plain and is often referred to as the foothills of the Appalachians

The hills of Shawnee have also been dubbed "Ohio's Little Smokies" • Looking toward the Ohio River, one can certainly see how the region acquired such a nickname • From the highest points in the forest, ridge after ridge appears to roll away toward the horizon in a gentle blue haze • This distinctive color comes from moisture in the air which is generated by the thousands of acres of forest

The hardwood forest is host to a variety of flora and fauna • Wildflowers are abundant including several rare types of orchids such as the tiny whorled pogonia and the showy orchis • Forest wildlife includes white-tailed deer, wild turkey, raccoon, various songbirds and rare sightings of bobcat and black bear

History of the Area

The 63,000 acres of Shawnee State Forest and Shawnee State Park encompass a part of the former hunting grounds of the Shawnee Indians • Historians note that the Shawnee name means "those who have silver," as the tribe conducted considerable trade in this precious metal • A major Shawnee village, known as Lower Town, was located near the confluence of the Ohio and Scioto rivers • The Scioto River provided access to the heart of the Shawnee country in central and southern Ohio

The Ohio River was the gateway to frontier settlement in the Ohio region as well as for Indiana and Illinois • This expansive waterway, the Spaylawitheepi in Indian tongue, was the site of many confrontations between incoming pioneers and the Native Americans • The Shawnees monitored the influx of the white settlers from the line of ridges that overlooked the mighty Ohio River

During the 1700s, the Shawnee Indians were gradually displaced as the settlers continued to build their cabins and clear land in this new and fertile country • The face of the region changed a great deal in the years to come, but through effective timber management practices by the state's Division of Forestry, Shawnee State Forest has regained much of its original appearance • Similarly, resource conservation programs coupled with wise land use practices at Shawnee State Park have assured that this 1,168-acre recreational facility will continue to maintain its natural beauty

Lands were acquired for the park in 1922 and it was first operated as Theodore Roosevelt State Game Preserve • In the 1930s, six Civilian Conservation Corps camps were located in the area • It was at this time that many of the roads and lakes of the area were constructed • In 1949, with the creation of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Division of Parks and Recreation, the area became a state park and forest • The name was changed to Portsmouth State Park in the early 1970s, but has since been changed back to Shawnee State Park

South Bass Island

Nature of the Area

Several parks comprise the Lake Erie Island group. The islands were formed during the glacial period when massive ice sheets entered Ohio. Glaciers gouged and scoured the bedrock; their tremendous weight left deep depressions which filled with meltwater, forming the Great Lakes.

Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes --allowing for violent storms with high waves. The lake is divided into three basins. The western basin has an average depth of 25 to 30 feet; the central basin averages 61 feet; and the eastern basin shows an average depth of 120 feet.

Lake Erie has high nutrient levels and warm temperatures which produce greater numbers and varieties of fish than any other Great Lake. Annual catches nearly equal the combined catch of all other Great Lakes. Yellow perch, smallmouth bass, white bass, channel catfish and walleye are dominant species.

The islands are composed of limestone bedrock. Small scratches in the rock surface known as glacial striations are common while major grooves such as those found at Kelleys Island are rare but awesome.

Vast stands of red cedar and the presence of underground caverns, both associated with limestone are found here. The islands and shoreline support a variety of reptiles including the state's highest concentration of the harmless fox snake. The timber rattlesnake was at one time quite prevalent on the islands but is now gone from the area. Rattlesnake Island was so named due to the presence of this reptile years ago.

Migrating songbirds rest here before winging across the lake. Hundreds of different species have been identified, making this one of the best birdwatching areas in the country. Several nesting pairs of the magnificent bald eagle are located in the area.

History of the Area

Prior to the War of 1812, the Lake Erie Island region had been occupied by Ottawa and Huron (Wyandot) Indian tribes at different times throughout the years. A testimony to their existence on the islands is carved in Inscription Rock on Kelleys Island. Pictographic writings over 500 years old are etched in this massive limestone boulder.The Ottawa and Huron were eventually moved out by European settlers. The War of 1812 ended the last Indian threat to the European settlement of Ohio. One decisive naval battle of that war was fought in Put-In-Bay, off the shores of South Bass Island. Oliver Hazard Perry with an inferior fleet defeated the British making famous his saying, "We have met the enemy and they are ours." The victory gave the Americans control of Lake Erie and led to the ultimate defeat of the British in that war.

The islands remained sparsely settled until 1854 when J.D. Rivers purchased five of the islands. At first he turned Put-In-Bay into a sheep ranch, having at one time a herd of 2,000, but eventually he converted the island into a fruit farm. Despite the extreme northern location, the islands have the longest frost-free period of any area in Ohio due to the stabilizing effect of the lake.

It soon became apparent to islanders that the cultivation of grapes was very profitable. The grape culture has had a dramatic influence on the islands, sometimes called the "Wine Islands." By 1887, more than one-third of the grape product and nearly one-half of the wine product of the entire state was credited to this area. Wines from these islands were once pronounced by the best judges as being comparable to the best productions of France. Several island wineries still exist today.

In addition to raising fruits, the islands supported other profitable industries. Logging of red cedar, quarrying for limestone and the propagation of fish provided additional means of support.

For over a century, South Bass Island has been famous as a summer resort. Ruins of the Victory Hotel, destroyed by fire in 1919, are still evident. Tourism thrives today making the islands one of the most popular vacation spots in the state. The five areas comprising Lake Erie Island state parks were added to the state park system in the early 1950s.

Stonelick

Nature of the Area

By studying the bedrock layers in Ohio, we can find clues that reveal ancient seas, marshes or swamps covered all or portions of the state at various times in the past. Remains of plants and animals that lived in those waters littered the sea's floor and became entombed as lime precipitated to the bottom. Eventually, the lime and other sediments solidified into stone and uplifted forming dry land.

An arch formed in Ohio, during the time the Appalachian Mountains were formed, known as the Cincinnati Arch. This dome-like feature of uplifted bedrock passes through Stonelick. Several areas of the arch have been exposed from erosion uncovering some of the oldest rocks (350-500 million years old) in Ohio. The once entombed fossils are now exposed giving Stonelick one of the richest fossil records in the state. The rocks of the arch contain so many fossils of such diverse species that they have become very famous and have attracted people from all over the world since the early 1800s. Trilobite, brachiopods and cephalopods provide excellent finds for fossil hunters.

Another interesting feature of the Stonelick landscape is the significant stand of sweet gum trees. Normally, sweet gum is a subordinate tree but co-dominates the woodlands of Stonelick with beech and maple. Substantial colonies of dense flying star, purple fringeless orchid and Virginia mountain mint--all uncommon wildflowers in Ohio--can be found in the park.

History of the Area

Stonelick State Park lies within Clermont County, the eighth county established in the Northwest Territory. Settlement of the area began in 1798 when the towns of Bethel and Williamsburg were laid out. A considerable amount of the early settlers came from Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Several clashes between the settlers and Indians occurred here as the area was situated between the Kentucky settlements south of the Ohio River and the Indian villages along the Little Miami River. Legendary frontiersmen, Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton, were among those involved in the conflicts.

The town of nearby Milford was the site of the first Methodist church in Ohio. Francis McCormick, a pioneer Methodist preacher, organized the church in his cabin.

Clermont County was a vital link in the Underground Railroad as it was just across the river from the "slave owning" states of Kentucky and Virginia. The position of Clermont on the border made it the first place of refuge for fleeing slaves. The county was also the birthplace of Civil War General Ulysses S. Grant at Point Pleasant on the Ohio.

Land acquisition for Stonelick State Park began in 1948. A dam across Stonelick Creek was completed in 1950. This beautiful park was originally created to provide a wildlife area for Ohio's sportsmen. Now the area is operated by the ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation and offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities.

Strouds Run

Nature of the Area

Strouds Run State Park is located in the scenic forested hills of Athens County, in the midst of the unglaciated Appalachian Plateau. Although untouched by the vast ice sheets that moved across portions of the state over 12,000 years ago, the effects of the glaciers can be seen today in the deep ravines and high hills of Strouds Run. Stream valleys served as outlets for torrents of glacial meltwaters. The erosion power of these waters began carving valleys and hillsides into the familiar topography Ohioans know today. Large deposits of glacial outwash, primarily sand and gravel, were deposited along these streams and strongly affected the type of biological communities present today at the park.

Sandstone, the principal bedrock outcropping in the region, is very resistant to erosion and forms the uplands and steep sides of the valleys. Twisting roads and forest trails pass through these deep ravines and lead to dense stands of beech, hickory, oak, maple and tuliptree. Seasonal displays are offered by flowering dogwood, redbud and spring wildflowers--with fall presenting a pageant of colorful foliage. These woods are home to white-tailed deer, fox, raccoon, opossum, squirrel, wild turkey and a variety of songbirds. Woodthrush, white-breasted nuthatch, scarlet tanager, pileated woodpecker and the rufous-sided towhee inhabit the forest canopy. These rugged hills and woodlands are truly reminiscent of the wilderness that characterized the Ohio country in the days of early settlers.

History of the Area

Several mounds and ancient fortifications were found in this area by early settlers telling us that the Adena Indians once lived here. In more recent history, this was home to the powerful Shawnee Nation until the Treaty of Greenville forced them to abandon their lands in southern Ohio.

The first settlers arrived in the Athens County region in 1796. Two townships of land in the area had been apportioned by the Ohio Company in 1795 for the benefit of a university. Settlers were encouraged to settle on these college lands so as to make them attractive, productive and to form a fund for the institution.

This venture led to the founding of the town of Athens and Ohio University, the first college in the Northwest Territory. Settlers came by way of flatboats from Marietta down the Ohio and up the Hocking River to an attractive bluff where the town of Athens is now located.

With the discovery of rich coal fields in the area, Athens County soon developed into one of the leading coal producers in the state. The Hocking Canal and railroads provided easy means for shipping coal to distant markets. Clay tile, brick and salt were other industries that brought prosperity to the area.

The park derives its name from the Strouds family who settled in the area in the early 1800s. The land was purchased by the state for forest conservation purposes from 1948 to 1953. The dam creating Dow Lake was completed in 1960. The lake bears the name of C.L. Dow of Ohio University who was instrumental in initiating the project.

Sycamore

Nature of the Area

Sycamore State Park lies in the vast fertile till plains of western Ohio in the Wolf Creek Valley. The original forest contained magnificent oaks, walnut, maple, ash, wild cherry and many other tree species. The forest abounded with wild turkey, deer, elk and bison. Long before any permanent settlement was made in the area, its beauty and fertility were well known in the Kentucky settlements and to the people east of the Alleghenies.

Settlement and development of the valley soon brought an end to the forest and game. Farm production in the area was greater than anywhere else in Ohio by 1880. Today, through conservation efforts, the rich fertile farmlands are now yielding to second growth forests. The huge sycamores lining the banks of Wolf Creek give the park its name. The increasing wildlife population includes red fox, deer, woodchuck, raccoon, coyote in addition to a variety of songbirds and waterfowl. The woodlots and meadows harbor diverse colonies of wildflowers including spring beauties, wild blue phlox, ironweed and goldenrod.

History of the Area

The first inhabitants of the area were the Adena Indians who resided in Ohio around 800 B.C. to 700 A.D. Evidence of their presence can be seen at the ceremonial mound found in the park. In the mid to late 1700s, the area became a stronghold of the Miami and Shawnee tribes. After General Anthony Wayne's defeat of the Indians at the battle of Fallen Timbers, the Greenville Treaty of 1795 stripped the Indians of their lands. In less than a year following the signing of the treaty, the first settlers arrived.

Settlers were attracted to this area because of the fertile soil. When the Miami-Erie Canal was completed in 1829, the area became quite prosperous. Underlying the rich fertile soils were vast beds of gravel and sand providing excellent materials for road making. Hundreds of miles of roads were built in the county with these materials making it one of the most accessible during the state's infancy.

At one time, the land comprising Sycamore State Park was purchased by a development corporation to build a housing project. When the corporation was unable to complete the construction, the lands were offered to the state of Ohio. Sycamore was dedicated as a state park in November 1979.

Tar Hollow

Nature of the Area

At one time, Ohio was covered by a warm, shallow sea. As land rose to the east, sand and gravel were washed westward into Ohio's waters. Southeastern Ohio's sandstone was formed from this sediment. These sandstone hills are covered with a rich, diverse forest. Oak and hickory prefer the dry ridge tops of the area, while sycamore, black willow, buckeye and silver maple line the stream valleys. The forest not only supports a variety of hardwoods but also contains a vast array of ferns, mosses, mushrooms and wildflowers. Bloodroot, wild geranium, cardinal flower and Solomon's seal are typical wildflowers found in the forest.

Surrounded by the rugged foothills of the Appalachian Plateau, Tar Hollow State Park and surrounding state forest are characteristic of the wilderness that blanketed Ohio in the days of early settlers. It is a stronghold for many exciting species of wildlife. Numerous reptiles and amphibians, colorful game birds, songbirds and secretive mammals can be found here. The timber rattlesnake, dwindling in Ohio due to deforestation, holds on in Tar Hollow's forest. The five-lined skink, distinguished by its brilliant blue tail, is found in the area along with the elusive fence lizard. Painted turtles can be seen along the shores of Pine Lake while the lumbering box turtle inhabits the dry land. Salamanders such as the red-backed, dusky, long-tailed and northern two-lined thrive on the cool, moist forest floor. In spring, the wooded hollows echo with the gobbling of wild turkey and the drumming of the ruffed grouse. Rare sightings of bobcat have been reported in this unique, wild region.

History of the Area

This region was wilderness to early man. Indians and settlers both found the land, especially in the valleys, to be rich and fertile. Many different Indian tribes contributed to its history. From about 200 B.C. to 500 A.D., the Hopewell inhabited the area. This culture left burial mounds that can still be seen. Later both the Shawnee and Mingo claimed the area as hunting grounds.

In 1796, Nathaniel Massie platted a town on the Scioto River just north of the mouth of Paint Creek which he named Chillicothe. One hundred of the first lots were offered free to the first settlers. Farm lots in the area were sold for one or two dollars an acre, in 100- to 200-acre tracts. The area attracted many Kentuckians and Virginians. In 1803, Chillicothe became the state capital.

For a time, the ridges to the east of Chillicothe remained wilderness because the hills were too steep to farm. But as the pressure for land and lumber increased, the hills of Tar Hollow were gradually cleared and inhabited by marginal farms. Life was difficult and settlers took advantage of every resource available. The region derives its name from pine tar, an essential commodity in early Ohio households. It was taken from the knots and heartwood of the native Pitch Pine tree to be used in the home manufacture of balms, animal liniments, and lubricants for pioneer wagons and equipment.

In the 1930s, the Tar Hollow region was purchased for conservation purposes under a New Deal program, the Ross-Hocking Land Utilization Project. People were given a new financial start in life and were encouraged to move to the cities. Most, however, bought more poor ground outside the park and continued to live as they always had.

During the Depression years, recreation facilities including the 15-acre Pine Lake and group camp were built by the WPA and NYA programs. In 1939, the Ohio Division of Forestry accepted operational control of the land which was then known as Tar Hollow Forest-Park.

When the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created in 1949, the Division of Parks and Recreation accepted land of several state agencies including the old Division of Forestry. Tar Hollow State Park was developed from the earlier forest. The park, today, is bordered by Tar Hollow State Forest -- Ohio's third largest state forest.

Tinker's Creek

Nature of the Area

The majority of Tinker's Creek State Park is maintained in its original state as a swamp and marshland. These wetlands owe their existence to the glaciers that invaded Ohio during the Pleistocene Ice Age. Glacial features include moraines, kames and eskers. Moraines were formed when a glacier remained stationary for a long period of time leaving hills of boulders, sand and gravel. Kames are deposits of sand and gravel that fell through holes in the ice leaving circular hills. Eskers are deposits of sand and gravel that dropped through ice tunnels leaving long serpentine mounds. Many fine examples of these glacial features are found in the region.

This part of Ohio is known for the number of naturally occurring lakes. Huge blocks of ice broke free from the glaciers creating depressions which filled as the ice blocks melted. These are known as kettle lakes. Over the ensuing 10,000 years, these lakes have partially filled with sediment leaving boggy wetlands with unique assemblages of plants. Buttonbush, alder and swamp white oak are predominate.

During the spring and fall migration periods, the marsh provides food and shelter for thousands of waterfowl. Mallards, wood ducks and Canada geese nest in the marshlands each year. In addition, woodcock, rail, gallinule, snipe, heron and bittern are often sighted. Beaver and muskrat are common residents.

History of the Area

The region of Tinker's Creek before European settlement was extremely valuable to Native Americans. This area is one of the highest points of the state and lies near the watershed divide in Ohio. The nearby Cuyahoga River flows north to Lake Erie, while the Tuscarawas (through the Muskingum) drains to the Ohio River. This proved advantageous as transportation by canoe from Lake Erie to the Ohio River was possible with only one 8-mile overland portage. The old Indian portage path traveled from the Cuyahoga to the Tuscarawas. This area became an important trade center for both pioneers and Indians. Cheesemaking was one of the early industries of the area (which was often referred to as Cheesedom. Nearly as soon as the first settlers arrived did cheesemaking commence. By 1834, northeast Ohio cheese controlled the southern markets. Eventually, canal and rail transportation increased the area's importance.

In the years prior to the state's acquisition of the land, the area was a private park known as Colonial Spring Gardens. The park was situated around a 10-acre, man-made lake and offered recreational opportunities. The state of Ohio purchased the land in 1966, and in May 1973, Tinker's Creek was dedicated as a state park.

Van Buren

Nature of the Area

Van Buren State Park lies in the rich agricultural plains of northwest Ohio • The plains, referred to as till plains, receive their name from the glacial debris, or till, which covers preglacial hills and valleys • The till plains are the result of the deposition and smoothing action of the glaciers. Most hills in these areas are mounds of boulders and soil left by the retreating Wisconsinan glacier • Beneath the almost continuous cover of glacial deposits lies sedimentary bedrock which, in this region, is mostly limestone with a little shale • Much of this limestone is the magnesium-bearing form called dolomite

The original vegetation of the area, before settlement, was mostly woodland • Today, much of the vegetation consists of farm crops such as corn, soybeans and wheat • Locally, a small but valuable remnant of the original woodland remains • Beech and sugar maple occupy a large portion of the wooded area in Van Buren State Park. Mammals found in the area include red fox, red squirrel, white-tailed deer, raccoon, skunk and opossum • Other animals found are the eastern garter snake, spring peeper, eastern bluebird, eastern meadowlark, cowbird, woodcock and short-eared owl • Wildflowers abound in the fields and woodlands of the area • Dutchman's breeches, spring beauty, thimbleweed, daisy fleabane and chicory are commonly found around the park

History of the Area

The Van Buren State Park region was originally inhabited by the Shawnee Indians • Banished from their homeland in south-central Ohio, this was the last stronghold of the tribe before they eventually departed for lands west of the Mississippi River • Indian artifacts and relics can still be found on what used to be Indian Island, located in the northwest section of the lake

Van Buren is located just north of the town of Findlay which was founded in 1821 • The development of the town was quite slow until the discovery of natural gas in the 1880s • A German physician named Charles Osterlen became convinced that an enormous reservoir of natural gas lay beneath the town of Findlay • He told of his belief and was scoffed at and regarded as a vain dreamer • But his patience and perseverance prevailed as he succeeded in organizing a stock company to drill for gas • The well was successful and spawned the growth of a great industry in Findlay • At one time, Findlay claimed the largest gas well in the world, with an output of 20 million cubic feet daily

The land comprising Van Buren State Park was originally set aside as a wildlife preserve • In 1939, a dam was constructed over Rocky Ford Creek to provide additional fish and wildlife resources • In 1950, the area was turned over to the newly created Division of Parks and Recreation • It has been maintained as a state park ever since • The park was named for Martin Van Buren--eighth President of the United States.

West Branch

Nature of the Area

West Branch State Park in Portage County is situated on the glaciated plateau of northeastern Ohio • Although the land was uplifted as part of the Appalachian Mountain building process, the glaciers were able to override the gentle hills of the plateau • Huge ice blocks broke free from the glaciers and kettle lakes formed as the blocks melted • Eventually, these lakes filled with sediment leaving boggy wetlands with unique assemblages of plants • The West Branch area contains numerous bogs filled with buttonbush, alder, skunk cabbage and swamp white oak.

Another natural feature of the park is the stand of beech-maple forest. In pioneer times, the beech-maple belt in Ohio was very extensive and stretched across the plateau from Mansfield to Pennsylvania • These woodlands harbor a variety of plant and animal life • Woodland wildflowers such as Dutchman's breeches, bloodroot and trillium are found here • Red fox, skunk, opossum and raccoon find the park's habitat suitable • Songbirds occupy the leafy canopy of the woodlands while waterfowl and shorebirds dabble in the reservoir

History of the Area

West Branch State Park is located on the west branch of the Mahoning River in Portage County • The river was named for the Delaware Indian word mahonink meaning "at the salt lick" • In early days, a salt works was located southeast of present-day Warren along the river • The salt, which attracted a variety of wildlife, was harvested by Indians and early settlers

At the west end of the park is a crossroads known as Campbellsport, named for Captain John Campbell who mustered militia for the War of 1812 at the site and then marched them on Cleveland • Captain Campbell originally came to the area in 1805 as a surveyor and land agent for proprietor Samuel Hinckley • Captain Campbell also served as Portage County sheriff from 1810 to 1813 • He constructed what is said to be the oldest brick land-office building in Ohio (circa 1810) • Prior to the flooding of the reservoir, this building was moved to a site at the Portage County Historical Society where it has been preserved and restored

In 1965, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of the Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir • The reservoir was developed for flood control, water supply, recreation and fish and wildlife management • West Branch State Park was formally opened in 1966.

Wolf Run

Nature of the Area
Wolf Run State Park is nestled in the heart of the unglaciated Appalachian Plateau of southeastern Ohio. The hills in the park region remained untouched by the glacial advances that passed over much of the state more than 12,000 years ago. Nevertheless, meltwaters from the vast sheets of ice helped to permanently alter the topography of the area. Stream flow was greatly increased, hastening the cutting of valleys and creating the rugged terrain so prevalent today. The predominant bedrock in the Wolf Run region is sandstone deposited during the Pennsylvanian period, with alternating layers of coal.

The Wolf Run area has been dramatically changed since the settlement of man. The original forests soon fell to the ax and were replaced with farms and villages. Fortunately, much of the forest has regrown and now covers 70 percent of the region. This second growth forest is mixed mesophytic, meaning that dominance is shared by a large number of tree species. White and red oak, tuliptree, sugar maple, beech, wild black cherry and white ash are frequent members of this forest type. Mixed mesophytic forests are renowned for their plant diversity including ferns, clubmosses, mosses, algae, fungi and lichens. These forests are in some ways the most ecologically exciting in the state. Deer, gray squirrels, raccoons, skunks, weasels, bats, black rat snakes, box turtles, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and great horned owls are among the many animals that make this area their home.

History of the Area
Wolf Run State Park is located near the town of Caldwell in Noble County, the last of the 88 counties formed within Ohio. In 1795, the Treaty of Greenville was signed ending the Indian threat in this part of Ohio paving the way for settlement. The first settlers to the area were New Englanders travelling by way of Marietta, Ohio up the valley of Duck Creek from the Ohio River into what is now Noble County.

Agriculture, livestock and profitable industries born of the many mineral resources of the area provided a living for the settlers. Coal, iron ore, building stone, petroleum and salt were plentiful. Oil was accidently discovered near Caldwell in 1814 when Robert McKee began drilling a well to obtain brine. At the depth of 475 feet, a crevice was struck containing oil. At first considered a nuisance, the true value of the oil was eventually realized and derricks soon lined the valley of Duck Creek. Oil prices declined drastically during the Civil War bringing an end to major drilling efforts in the area.

Land acquisition for the park began in 1963. Construction of the dam and spillway for the lake was complete in 1966 as part of the West Fork Duck Creek Watershed Project. The 1,338-acre facility including the 220-acre lake was officially dedicated as a state park in 1968. The park received its name from the Wolf family, the first to settle in the area.