Codorus State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Codorus State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Lake Marburg and Codorus State Park in autumn
Codorus State Park Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Codorus State Park Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	York County
Nearest town	Hanover, Pennsylvania
Area	3,500 acres (14 km2)
Designated	December 1966 (1966-12)
Operator	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Type	State Park
Etymology	Nearby Codorus Creek
Status	Open all year
Camp sites	193 sites (open April–November) [map]
Hiking trails	4 trails, approx. 19 miles (31 km) total [map]

Codorus State Park is a huge state park in Pennsylvania, covering about 3,500 acres. It's located in southwestern York County. The park is built around Lake Marburg, a large artificial lake that covers 1,275 acres. The park and lake are named after Codorus Creek, which flows into the lake. You can find Codorus State Park on Pennsylvania Route 216, just 3 miles from the town of Hanover. It's a great place for outdoor fun and learning about history!

Park History

Early Days

Long ago, the land where Codorus State Park now sits was home to the Susquehannock people. They were a strong Native American tribe living near the Susquehanna River. Over time, wars and new settlers, mostly German farmers, changed the area.

In 1762, an important place called Mary Ann Furnace was built here. It was likely the first charcoal furnace west of the Susquehanna River. This furnace made cannonballs and grapeshot for the American army during the American Revolutionary War. They even used prisoners from Germany to help run the ironworks! Today, nothing is left of the furnace, but its history lives on.

Some very important people who helped start the United States were involved with Mary Ann Furnace:

• George Stevenson helped supply wagons and goods for the army during the French and Indian War. Later, during the American Revolution, he managed supplies for George Washington.
• George Ross was a lawyer who signed the Declaration of Independence. He was also the person who introduced George Washington to Betsy Ross, who is famous for making the American flag.
• William Thompson was a brave officer in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. He became a general but was captured during a battle in Canada and held prisoner for four years.
• Mark Bird was an ironmaster who used his own money and ironworks to provide cannons and weapons for the American Revolution. He helped the country a lot, but sadly, he lost all his money after the war.

How the Park Was Created

Codorus State Park exists thanks to a team effort between a private company and the government. The town of Spring Grove and the P.H. Glatfelter Company (a paper company) worked together to build a dam on Codorus Creek. This dam created Lake Marburg.

The dam was built for two main reasons:

• To provide drinking water for Spring Grove.
• To supply water for the paper plant owned by the P.H. Glatfelter Company.

Building this dam also created a wonderful opportunity for the people of Pennsylvania. A state park was then created along the shores of the new Lake Marburg.

Lake Marburg is named after a small community called Marburg that was flooded when the dam was built in December 1966. The dam is very big: 109 feet high, 1,690 feet wide, and 750 feet thick! The P.H. Glatfelter Company still owns the dam.

The land for the park was bought in 1964, and Codorus State Park officially opened in 1970. It was first called "Codorus Creek State Park."

Lake Marburg

The P.H. Glatfelter Company needed a lot of water for its paper-making business. They built Lake Lehman in 1942 and Lake PaHaGaCo in 1955 to help. But a big drought in 1963 showed that even more water was needed.

This drought also made Pennsylvania officials realize they needed more reservoirs. This idea fit perfectly with plans to build a new state park on the west branch of Codorus Creek.

Lake Marburg has 26 miles of shoreline, which is a lot of space to explore! The lake is home to many different kinds of fish. If you like fishing, you might catch largemouth bass, yellow perch, crappie, muskellunge, catfish, northern pike, and bluegill in the lake's warm waters.

In the east branch of Codorus Creek, you can find cold-water fish like rainbow trout and brown trout. These fish are put there by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for sport fishing.

You can use canoes, kayaks, sailboats, and motor boats (up to 20 horsepower) on Lake Marburg. Just make sure they are properly registered with the state!

Kayaking at Codorus State Park

Fun Activities at the Park

Codorus State Park is a fantastic place for outdoor activities!

• Fishing and Boating: As mentioned, Lake Marburg is great for fishing and boating.
• Swimming: The park has a swimming pool where you can cool off on a hot day.
• Disc Golf: If you like disc golf, you're in luck! The park has a huge 54-hole disc golf course. There are two 18-hole courses (blue and red), two 9-hole extra courses, and even a 9-hole mini course.
• Camping: You can stay overnight at the park! There are 198 campsites for RVs and tents. Some sites have electricity or are made for campers with disabilities. There are also 13 walk-in campsites if you prefer tent camping.
• Picnics: You'll find picnic tables all over the park. There are also two pavilions you can reserve for larger groups or parties.
• Hiking: Codorus State Park has 5 miles of hiking trails.
  • The Mary Ann Furnace trail is 3.5 miles long. It winds through pine trees, hardwood forests, and wet areas.
  • The LaHo trail is 1.5 miles long and follows the lake's edge through forests and wetlands.
  • You can also hike on the 7-mile horse trail on the park's west side.

The marina at Codorus State Park

• Hunting: Hunting is allowed in certain areas of Codorus State Park. Common animals hunted here include ruffed grouse, eastern gray squirrel, wild turkey, and white-tailed deer. Hunters must follow the rules set by the Pennsylvania State Game Commission. Only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and bows are allowed.
• Winter Fun: Codorus State Park is open all year, even in winter! When the weather is right, you can enjoy snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, sledding, ice skating, ice fishing, and ice sailing.

Nearby State Parks

Here are some other state parks within 30 miles of Codorus State Park:

• Cunningham Falls State Park (Maryland)
• Gifford Pinchot State Park (York County)
• Gunpowder Falls State Park (Maryland)
• Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center (Cumberland County)
• Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Cumberland County)
• Rocks State Park (Maryland)
• Samuel S. Lewis State Park (York County)