 Photo Courtesy Eric Hoffman
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Facilities and Activities:
| General | Land, acres | 309 | | | Water, acres | 145 | | Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hunting | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | 6 | | | Picnicking | yes | | | Picnic Shelters, # | 2 | | | Nature Programs | yes | | Boating | Boat Rental | yes | | | Boating Limits | -1 | | | Seasonal Dock Rental | 14 | | | Launch Ramps, # | 1 | | Camping | Primative, # | 29 | | | Electric Sites, # | 29 | | | Pets Permitted | yes | | | Dumpstation | yes | | | Youth Group Camp, capacity | yes | | Winter | Sledding | yes | | | Ice Skating | yes | | | Ice Fishing | yes |
State Park Location Maps:
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State Park Photo Gallery:
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 Photo Courtesy David Swain
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State Park Link:
A W Marion State Park
Nearby Parks:
Tarlton State Park
Logan Elm State Memorial
Rock Mill Dam State Wildlife Area
Shallenberger State Nature Reserve
Sherman House State Memorial
Hocking Hills State Park
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| State Park Overview: |
 | The rolling woodlands and quiet waters of A.W. Marion State Park offer visitors a welcome escape from the rigors of everyday life. This small but unique park offers a variety of recreational activities while maintaining a quiet atmosphere of natural serenity. |
| 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. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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Absolutely awesome!
The lake is just beautiful and the hiking trail is wonderful to follow around the lake! Great place to kayak!
Written by cmorriso
25-Aug-2008
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GREAT
This is a fun, awesome park to hang out with friends and familey
Written by crappie master
15-Apr-2009
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| Camping: |
| A wooded camp area with sixty sites is available year-round for tent and trailer camping. A youth camp is also available by reservation for organized groups. Pit latrines and drinking water are available. |
| Trails: |
| The Hargus Lake Trail offers five miles of scenic pleasure, providing access to the entire shoreline of the lake. Beginning at the campground, the Squawroot Nature Trail offers the hiking enthusiast one mile of scenic terrain. The trail is self-guided with directional signs and takes visitors to fourteen points of interest. These scenic trails are open for year-round use. |
| Picnicking: |
| Picnic tables and grill sites are located in scenic areas throughout the park. A concession stand offers limited picnic supplies. Fires are permitted only in the grills provided. |
| Boating: |
| Hargus Lake provides 145 acres of water, boat launching ramps and public docks. Rentals are available from the concession on the northwest side of the lake. Electric motors only are permitted. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| In the late 1980s, Hargus Lake was drained, habitat improvements were made and it was restocked with largemouth bass, muskellunge, bluegill and channel catfish. Anglers can now enjoy some of central Ohio's finest fishing. A valid Ohio fishing license is required.
In the fall, the mature woodlands offer excellent squirrel hunting in designated areas. A valid Ohio hunting license is required. |
| 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. |
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| Area Accommodations |
| Cottages and Cabins | | | |  | Tranquil Retreat Cabins - South Bloomingville, OH
Let nature entertain you! Whether you are sitting in the Hot Tub, OR relaxing on one of our log beds, OR just listening to the rippling stream, Or exploring the small cave on the property, NATURE SURROUNDS YOU!
Web Site: http://www.tranquilretreatcabins.com |
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| | B&Bs / Inns | |  | A Georgian Manner Bed and Breakfast - Logan, OH
Overlooking Lake Logan in the heart of the Hocking Hills. We are the perfect location for romantic getaways, honeymoons, anniversaries, Ohio elopements and weddings. The Ohio Honeymoon Suite with 2-person heart shaped jacuzzi is the favorite choice.
Web Site: http://www.georgianmanner.com/ |
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| | Cottages and Cabins | |  | Hocking Hills Dreamscape Hideaway - Logan, OH
This is not your typical cabin in the woods and you ain?t gonna be roughing it. It?s a log home lovingly furnished to make you feel spoiled. From the moment you enter, you?ll realize that you?ve found your dreamscape. Beautiful, tranquil music playing the background (feel free to take the CD home with you), luxurious amenities all around you, a soothing, private hot tub overlooking the forest and a bottle of champagne chilling next to the flick-of-a-switch gas fireplace. Oh yes, you have arrived! And we promise you?ll wish you never had to leave.
Web Site: http://www.dreamscapehideaway.com/ |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Local Visitor Information Web Sites |
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| Related Links: |
| COP Boating Schedule - COP Home Page. COP Boating Page. Boating Schedule From the June 2002 Newsletter. RAFTING PROGRAM. This deserves a special section of its own. Ann Gerckens and Barbie Demmy worked hard last year... | | Ohio - State Search List: AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HA ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY. Ohio. ... | | Circleville Campgrounds and RV Services - Circleville Campgrounds and RV Services. Select the desired Campground or RV Service located in Circleville, Ohio. Campgrounds: A W Marion State Park (614) 474-3386. RV Services: None. Home. ... |
| Area Attractions: |
| Limitless opportunities abound within a short distance of the park. A monument marking the location of the Logan Elm, where Chief Logan delivered his eloquent speech can be reached south of Circleville, one mile east of U.S. 23 on State Route 361. Two state nature preserves operated by the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves are located near the park: Shallenberger Preserve, east of the park off State Route 22, and Stage's Pond, north of the park on Haggerty Road. Deer Creek State Park is also located in Pickaway County and offers camping, fishing, boating and picnicking.
Near Marcy, Ohio, off State Route 674, visitors can catch a glimpse of 1880 farm life by traveling to Slate Run Living Historical Farm. Horse-drawn machinery, woodstove cooking, canning and milking are a few of the activities that can be enjoyed. Traveling south on State Route 159, one can witness the life story of the great Shawnee Chief, Tecumseh. This outdoor drama is enacted from Memorial Day to Labor Day at the Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheater. |
| Area Campgrounds | | | | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Scott's Bait & Tackel
1030 S Court St
Circleville, OH
(740) 474-8898
| J & R Live Bait & Guns
1815 Cedar Hill Rd
Lancaster, OH
(740) 653-5308
| Mad River Outfitters
813 Bethel Rd
Columbus, OH
(614) 451-0363
| R & R Sports Headquarters: Bait Tackle & Archery Dept
781 S Front St
Columbus, OH
(614) 443-4954
| Gander Mountain
5388 Westpointe Plaza Dr
Columbus, OH
(614) 921-2223
| Fisherman's West Bait & Tackle
5327 W Broad St
Columbus, OH
(614) 878-2505
| Fish-Ins Inc
1565 E Dublin Granville Rd
Columbus, OH
(614) 841-1224
| Uncle Bug Tackle Mfg
894 Kingland Dr
Columbus, OH
(614) 491-6817
| Columbus Wholesale Fish Bait
4037 Lockbourne Rd
Columbus, OH
(614) 491-0152
| Fisherman's Warehouse
1125 Williams Rd
Columbus, OH
(614) 491-8383
| Hunting & Fishing Ctr
193 Hawkes Ave
Columbus, OH
(614) 228-8185
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| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | Paniccia Real Estate Services
29043 Hide Away Hills Rd
Sugar Grove, OH
(740) 746-9999
| Hide-A-Way Hills Club Inc
29042 Hide Away Hills Rd
Sugar Grove, OH
(740) 746-9589
| Deer Creek Resort Conference
2355 E Livingston Ave
Columbus, OH
(740) 869-2020
| Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
350 North High Street
Columbus, OH
(614) 463-1234
| Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
75 East State Street
Columbus, OH
(614) 228-1234
| Marriott Hotels & Resorts: Columbus Marriott North
6500 Doubletree Ave
Columbus, OH
(614) 885-1885
| Marriott Hotels & Resorts
1375 N Cassady Ave
Columbus, OH
(614) 475-7551
| Fairfield Inn
3031 Olentangy River Rd
Columbus, OH
(614) 267-1111
| The Columbus Renaissance Hotel
50 N 3rd St
Columbus, OH
(614) 228-5050
| Airport Golf Course
900 N Hamilton Rd
Columbus, OH
(614) 645-3127
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