Whipple Dam State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Whipple Dam State Park, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | Northeast Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | State College, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 256 acres (0.32 km²) |
| Established: | 1930s |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Whipple Dam State Park is a 256 acre (0.32 km²) Pennsylvania State Park in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania in the United States. Whipple Lake is a 22 acre (0.09 km²) man made lake that was originally built during the height of the lumber era that swept through Pennsylvania in the late 1800 and early 1900s to supply power for a sawmill. Whipple Dam State Park is 12 miles south of State College just east of Pennsylvania Route 26.
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[edit] History
The land on which Whipple Dam State Park is located was purchased from the Iroquois Confederation in 1754 by the Proprietary Government of Pennsylvania. Eventually the Monroe Iron Works was built on the land and the production of charcoal took place and well as the mining of iron ore. Remnants of the iron mines can be seen today at the park. The demand for lumber reached northern Huntingdon County in the 1860s. The old growth forests of white pine and hemlock were harvested from the mountains. Osgood M. Whipple purchased a large tract of land on which he built a sawmill that was powered by the waters of the dam that he also constructed. This lake created by the dam is modern day Whipple Lake. Mr. Whipple left the lumber business in 1897 but the lake remained and has been used for recreation ever since. The dam was rebuilt in 1928 by the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters a forerunner of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
The Great Depression of the 1930s was a boom time for the construction of state park facilities all over Pennsylvania and Whipple Dam was on exception. Young men who were out of work were put to work by the Civilian Conservation Corps. They cleared streams of brush, planted many acres of trees in a reforestation effort, built bridges on state roads and cleared roads through the forests for fire prevention. The CCC also built the facilities that are still in use today at Whipple Dam State Park. They dismantled dam that was built in 1928 and built a new dam in 1935. They also built pavilions, restrooms, roads and the beach. There work was placed n the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
[edit] Recreation
[edit] Whipple Lake
Whipple Lake is open to fishing, ice fishing, boating, and swimming. The lake is stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission with trout. Gas powered boats are prohibited on Whipple Lake. Electric powered boats and non powered boats must have current registration with any state. The sand beach open Memorial Day weekend and closes Labor Day weekend. Lifeguards are on duty daily from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm. There is a beach volleyball court, bathhouse and snack bar at the beach. The lake provides a habitat for a wide variety of waterfowl as well as great blue heron, osprey, beavers and muskrats.
[edit] Picnics
There are three large pavilions that were built by Civilian Conservation Corps. These pavilions can be reserved up to 11 months in advance. Pavilions that are not reserved are available on a first come, first served basis. In addition to the pavilions there are many picnic tables in the forested picnic area that is near Whipple Lake.
[edit] Hunting
Hunting is permitted at Whipple Dam State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania State Game Commission. The common game species are ruffed grouse, squirrels, turkey, white-tailed deer, waterfowl, and black bears. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited.
[edit] Nearby state parks
[edit] References
- Whipple Dam State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
- Map reference shows Whipple Dam State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
- Latitude and Longitude from Topozone. Topozone.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
