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State Park Overview |
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Originally constructed as a feeder reservoir for the
Miami-Erie Canal, Grand Lake St. Marys was for many
years recognized as the largest man-made reservoir in the
world. This large lake is the gateway to swimming, boating,
camping and fishing in one of Ohios oldest state parks
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Nature of the Area |
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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.
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Camping |
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The campground contains 216 sites of which 135 are equipped with electricity. Facilities include flush toilets, laundry,
showers and a dump station. Pets are permitted. The campground also offers a ?camper?s only? swimming beach, boat
launch and boat docks/tie-ups. Tow Rent-A-Camps and tow Rent-A-Tepees with camping gear may be rented
May-October. Two spacious Cedar Cabins with all the amenities of a fully-equipped RV are also available for daily or
weekly rental. A seasonal naturalist holds scheduled programs, including movies, Thursday through Saturday night.
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Picnicking |
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Picnic areas with tables and grills are located in scenic areas around the lake. Some picnic shelters are on a reservation
basis. Contact the park office for details.
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Swimming |
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The park offers four public swimming beaches as well as other swimming areas provided for boaters. Lifeguard coverage
is limited to weekends and holidays. |
Fishing and Hunting |
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Fishing is great year-round and anglers will enjoy excellent catches of crappie, bass and bluegill in the spring as well as
record catches of yellow perch in the winter. Bait vending machines are available at the park. Hunting is permitted in
designated areas. There are 90 seasonal duck blinds available by a lottery administered by ODNR Division of Wildlife. A
valid Ohio hunting and waterfowl stamp is required.
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History of the Area |
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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 during the War of 1812, and some of his 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. |
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More Info | |
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Open Roads ForumFamily Campingsober camping. Displaying 3133 of 33. ( Page 4 of 4 ) 1 2 3 4. Author. Topic sober camping. slemaster26 New Member Geneva, Indiana USA. Date Posted May 11,... | |
Statewide Ohio bird sightings in October 2000. | |
Enter Search Term CURRENT DIVISION OF WATER PUBLICATIONS 1997. [ Online Publications ][ Complete Listing of Division Publications ] [ Home ][ About the Division ][ Programs & Services ][ Index... | |
... Buckeye Trail, begins at Lake Loramie and passes within a mile and a half of Grand Lake State Park. The Miami-Erie Trail terminates at Delphos, approximately 22 miles north of St. Marys. State ... |
Area Attractions |
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Lake Loramie State Park, southeast of Grand Lake St. Marys, offers fishing, boating, swimming and camping. The
Miami-Erie Trail, a 47-mile portion of the statewide Buckeye Trail, begins at Lake Loramie and passes within a mile
and a half of Grand Lake St. Marys State Park. The Miami-Erie Trail terminates at Delphos, approximately 22 miles
north of St. Marys.
St. Marys Fish Hatchery, located on the lakes eastern shore is operated by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. The hatchery
raises saugeye, walleye, channel catfish and bass for distribution in the public fishing waters of the state.
The Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum is located in Wapakoneta, Armstrongs boyhood home. |
Area Campgrounds | | Hickory Hill Lakes
7101 State Route 66
Fort Loramie, OH
(937) 295-3820
| River Trail Campground
7712 Deepcut Rd
Mendon, OH
(419) 795-1400
| K O A Campgrounds
14719 Cemetery Rd
Wapakoneta, OH
(419) 738-6016
| Twin Lakes Vacation Resort Inc
14296 Cemetery Rd
Wapakoneta, OH
(419) 738-5000
| Rustic Haven Campgrounds
0935 Koehn Rd
Saint Marys, OH
(419) 394-8089
| Lake Amanda
9139 Place Rd
Wapakoneta, OH
(419) 657-2395
| Glacier Hill Lakes
11675 Wapakoneta Freyburg Rd
Wapakoneta, OH
(419) 738-3005
| KOA Campgrounds
14719 Cemetery Rd
Wapakoneta, OH
(419) 738-6016
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Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Brands Lake Fishing Club
909 County Road 25A
Wapakoneta, OH
(419) 738-6612
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Area Resorts and Lodging | | Hide-A-Way Hills Club Inc
Route 1
Bremen, OH
(614) 837-3866
| Hide-A-Way Hills Lodge
Bremen, OH
(740) 569-4136
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