Laurel Mountain State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laurel Mountain State Park |
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Near the entrance to the ski area
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 Laurel Mountain State Park
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 493 acres (200 ha) |
| Elevation | 2,723 ft (830 m) |
| Established | 1964 |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Laurel Mountain State Park |
Laurel Mountain State Park is a cool place to visit in Pennsylvania! It's a state park that covers 493 acres of land. You can find it in two different counties: Westmoreland County and Somerset County.
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Where is Laurel Mountain State Park?
This park is about 2 miles south of U.S. Route 30. It's located close to a town called Jennerstown. High up on Laurel Mountain, you might see tall towers. These towers help with communication and broadcasting for places like Pittsburgh and Johnstown.
The Park's History
Laurel Mountain State Park started out as a private ski area. It opened in 1939. A person named General Richard K. Mellon and the Rolling Rock brewery helped create it. This was one of the very first places to ski in Pennsylvania!
The ski resort had to close for a short time during World War II. But after the war, it became super popular. People even called it the "Ski Capital of Pennsylvania."
In 1963, General Mellon let the state use the land. Then, in 1964, he gave the land to the state. That's when it officially became "Laurel Mountain State Park."
Reopening the Ski Slopes
The ski resort at the park closed in 2005. But don't worry, it wasn't closed for good! In 2008, another company called Seven Springs Mountain Resort bought the ski parts of the park. They wanted to open the slopes again.
In 2009, Seven Springs signed a 10-year agreement with the state. This allowed them to start fixing up the ski slopes. They worked hard to get everything ready to welcome skiers back to Laurel Mountain.
Nearby Parks to Explore
If you love state parks, there are many others close to Laurel Mountain State Park. Here are some you can visit within 30 miles:
- Blue Knob State Park (in Bedford County)
- Keystone State Park (in Westmoreland County)
- Kooser State Park (in Somerset County)
- Laurel Hill State Park (in Somerset County)
- Laurel Ridge State Park (in Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties)
- Laurel Summit State Park (in Westmoreland County)
- Linn Run State Park (in Westmoreland County)
- Ohiopyle State Park (in Fayette County)
- Shawnee State Park (in Bedford County)
- Yellow Creek State Park (in Indiana County)
