Deer Creek State Park, an Ohio State Park near Chillicothe, Circleville, Lancaster, Orient, Washington Court

USA

Ohio

Deer Creek State Park

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Facilities and Activities:

General Land, acres 2337
Water, acres 1277
Nearby Wildlife Area, acres 3710
Day-Use Fishing yes
Hunting yes
Hiking Trail, miles 9
Picnicking yes
Swimming Beach, feet 1400
Mountain Bike Trails, miles 1
Bridle Trails, miles 18
Beach Concession yes
Nature Center yes
Nature Programs yes
Boating Boat Rental yes
Boating Limits -2
Seasonal Dock Rental 152
Launch Ramps, # 2
Fuel For Sale yes
Camping Electric Sites, # 227
Pets Permitted yes
Flush Toilets yes
Dumpstation yes
Showers yes
Rent-A-Camp Sites, # 3
Group Camp, capacity 60
Youth Group Camp, capacity 200
Horsemen Campsites, # 3
Winter Snowmobiling yes
Ice Skating yes
Ice Fishing yes
Accommodations Lodge Rooms, # 110
Family Cottages, # 26
Game Room yes
Indoor Swimming Pool yes
Tennis yes
Outdoor Swimming Pool yes
Golf Course yes
Restaurant yes

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State Park Link:
Deer Creek State Park

Nearby Parks:
Logan Elm State Memorial
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
Great Seal State Park

State Park Contact Information:
	Deer Creek State Park 20635 Waterloo Road Mt Sterling, Ohio 43143-9501 Phone: 740-869-3124 Reservations: 866-644-6727
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State Park Overview:

Located in the heart of Ohio's agricultural country, Deer Creek State Park is central Ohio's vacation showplace. A collage of meadows and woodlands surround the scenic reservoir. This resort park features a modern lodge, cottages, campground, golf course, swimming beach and boating for outdoor enthusiasts.

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.

Reviews By Park Visitors:

visitor rating:

(1 vote) |Post Your Own Review

very good fishi;ng and nice picnic area

Very clean, and employees are helpful. nice picnic area and good fishing

Written by Terri 13-May-2008

Camping:

The campground at Deer Creek has 232 sites. All have electricity. The campground features showers, flush toilets and a dump station. Pets are permitted on designated sites. Four Rent-A-Camp units consisting of a tent, dining fly, cooler, cook stove and other equipment can be rented during the summer months by reservation. A group camp is also available by reservation. A horsemen's camp provides primitive overnight facilities for riders and a primitive group camp offers an area for groups.

Trails:

Seven miles of hiking trails take the visitor through meadows and scattered woodlands. Fourteen miles of bridle trails can accommodate riders with their own horses. A fitness trail near the lodge offers an opportunity for exercise in a wooded setting.

Picnicking:

Several picnic areas are situated in scenic locations around the park.

Boating:

Unlimited horsepower boating is permitted on the 1,277-acre Deer Creek reservoir. Two launch ramps provide access to the lake. A fully equipped marina offers fuel, boat rental and seasonal dock rentals.

Swimming:

A spacious 1,700-foot swimming beach graces the shores of Deer Creek State Park. A concession area and changing booths are special features at the beach.

Fishing and Hunting:

The lake at Deer Creek is famous for its early spring saugeye fishing below the dam. Excellent catches of catfish, largemouth bass and crappie also entice the angler.

The lake provides excellent waterfowl hunting. Twelve hunting blinds are issued each season on a lottery basis. Hunting is permitted in the state wildlife area adjacent to the park for pheasant, rabbit, squirrel and deer.

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.

Lodge:

The lodge at Deer Creek has 110 guest rooms, many with a panoramic view of the lake. Lodge features include indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, whirlpool and exercise room. A restaurant, lounge and meeting rooms provide additional accommodations.

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