Whipple Dam State Park

Whipple Dam State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on 256 acres (104 ha) in Jackson Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Whipple Lake is a man-made lake on 22 acres (8.9 ha) that was originally built during the height of the lumber era that swept through Pennsylvania in the late 19th and early 20th century to supply power for a sawmill. Whipple Dam State Park is 12 miles (19 km) south of State College, just east of Pennsylvania Route 26.

Whipple Dam State Park
Whipple Lake
Map showing the location of Whipple Dam State Park
Map showing the location of Whipple Dam State Park
Location of Whipple Dam State Park in Pennsylvania
Map showing the location of Whipple Dam State Park
Map showing the location of Whipple Dam State Park
Whipple Dam State Park (the United States)
LocationJackson, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates40.6869°N 77.8636°W / 40.6869; -77.8636
Area256 acres (104 ha)[1]
Elevation984 ft (300 m)[2]
Established1928[1]
Named forOsgood M. Whipple's Dam
Governing bodyPennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Official website Edit this at Wikidata

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, as well as the mining of iron ore. Remnants of the iron mines can be seen today at the park.[1]

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 lake formed by the dam he also constructed. Mr. Whipple left the lumber business in 1897, but the lake remained and has been used for recreation ever since (and is today known as Whipple Lake). The state of Pennsylvania purchased the land on January 15, 1904, from the Linden Hall Lumber Company, which was owned by William Whitmer and his sons. The dam was rebuilt in 1928 by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, a forerunner of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The land was used recreationally by the 1920s. A camp for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Campfire Girls was built on the north side of the lake in 1928 and was used until 1941.[1]

The Great Depression of the 1930s was a boom time for the construction of state park facilities all over Pennsylvania and Whipple Dam was no exception. Unemployed young men were put to work by the Civilian Conservation Corps and 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. In 1935, they dismantled the 1928 dam and built a new one. They also built pavilions, restrooms, roads and the beach. Their work was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.[1]

  • Dam spillway
    Dam spillway
  • Ranger headquarters
    Ranger headquarters

Recreation
Boat tied to a dock on the lake

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 opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes Labor Day weekend. There is no lifeguard stationed at the beach.[3] 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.[1]

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.[1]

Hunting

Hunting is permitted within certain parts of Whipple Dam State Park. Hunting is not permitted in the day use area. 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.[1]

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Whipple Dam State Park:[4][5][6]

References
  1. "Whipple Dam State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on November 6, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2006.
  2. "Whipple Dam State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. August 2, 1979. Retrieved December 13, 2007.
  3. "Pa. state parks going without life guards at beaches in 2008". Times Leader. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
  4. 2007 General Highway Map Huntingdon County Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). 1:65,000. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. Retrieved July 27, 2007. Note: shows Whipple Dam State Park
  5. "Find a Park by Region (interactive map)". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  6. Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
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