Lake Hope State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Hope State Park
Lake Hope
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Location	Vinton County, Ohio, United States
Nearest town	Zaleski, Ohio
Area	Land: 2,983 acres (1,207 ha) Water: 120 acres (49 ha)
Elevation	915 feet (279 m)
Established	1937 (renamed in 1949)
Administered by	Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Designation	Ohio state park
Website	Lake Hope State Park

Lake Hope State Park is a fun public area in Ohio. It covers almost 3,000 acres of land. This park is inside the Zaleski State Forest. It's about five miles northeast of Zaleski in Vinton County. The park's main feature is Lake Hope, a 120-acre lake. It's a great place for outdoor adventures!

Park's Past

The park and its lake are named after an old mining town. This town was called Hope. The original town of Hope is now under the waters of Lake Hope! The lake flooded up to a cliff. This cliff is now used as the park's swimming area.

One old building from the town still stands nearby. It's the old one-room Hope School. This school is in the state forest. It has been fixed up and is now used for community meetings. The Moonville Rail-Trail also passes close to the park.

Inside the park, you can find the old Hope Furnace. This furnace was used long ago. It melted iron ore that was dug from the hills. This was an important part of the area's history.

Lake Hope Forest Park started in 1937. It became a state park in 1949. This happened when the Division of Parks and Recreation was created. A new park lodge opened in 2013. The first lodge burned down in 2006.

Things to Do

Lake Hope State Park offers many fun activities. You can go boating on the lake. Fishing is also a popular pastime here. There is a special swimming area for visitors.

The park has many trails for hiking. You can also go mountain biking. If you want to stay overnight, there are cottages and a campground. A modern lodge is also available for guests.