Little Buffalo State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little Buffalo State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Sunset over Holman Lake
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 Little Buffalo State Park
Location in Pennsylvania
Little Buffalo State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Perry, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 923 acres (374 ha) |
| Elevation | 643 ft (196 m) |
| Established | 1972 |
| Named for | Little Buffalo Creek |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Little Buffalo State Park |
Little Buffalo State Park is a fun place to visit in Perry County, Pennsylvania. This state park covers about 923 acres (3.7 km²) of land. It's a great spot for both history buffs and outdoor adventurers.
At the park, you can walk across an old covered bridge. You can also see a working grist mill that has been fixed up. The park is home to Holman Lake, which is a popular spot for fishing. Many acres of the park are also open for hunting. Little Buffalo State Park is located near Newport, just off Pennsylvania Route 34.
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Exploring Little Buffalo State Park's Past
Little Buffalo State Park gets its name from Little Buffalo Creek. This creek flows right through the park. The creek and nearby Buffalo Ridge were named after bison. People believe these large animals once roamed this part of Pennsylvania.
Humans have lived in Pennsylvania for a very long time, since at least 10,000 BC. The first people were Paleo-Indian hunters who moved around a lot. Later, during the Archaic period (7000 to 1000 BC), people used more advanced stone tools. The Woodland period (1000 BC to 1500 AD) saw people start to live in villages and grow plants.
Early Settlers and the Blue Ball Tavern
After the American Revolution, more people began to settle in this area. They cleared land to start farms. Many of these farms are still active today. John Koch, an early farmer, opened the Blue Ball Tavern in 1811. This tavern was a resting place for travelers on the Carlisle Pike. It offered food, drinks, and a place to sleep. It was also a popular spot for locals to share news.
The Blue Ball Tavern was important during the War of 1812. Messengers would stop there on their journeys. People even say that plans for creating Perry County were made at the tavern in 1821. The tavern closed in 1841. A farmhouse was built on its foundation in 1865. Some parts of the old tavern were used in the new farmhouse. Today, this farmhouse holds the Blue Ball Tavern Museum and a library. The Perry County Historical Society runs both.
The Charcoal Industry and Shoaff's Mill
In the early days, the Newport area was important for making charcoal. Before coal was discovered, charcoal was used to heat iron furnaces. A lot of charcoal was needed. One iron furnace could use up all the trees on an acre of land in just one day!
Large charcoal furnaces were built near Newport. Workers would stack timber around big hearths. A collier would then tend these fires for 10 to 14 days. This process turned the wood into charcoal. The charcoal was then sent to the Juniata Iron Works. This iron works operated until 1848. It closed because all the nearby wood had been used up. You can still see signs of the charcoal industry at Little Buffalo State Park today. There are large, mostly bare circular areas where the furnaces once stood. You can even find pieces of charcoal in the park's woods.
After the Juniata Iron Works closed, the land was still used. Farmers continued to work the land until the 1960s. In 1849, William Shoaff bought 63 acres (0.25 km²) and a gristmill from the iron works. Local farmers brought their crops to Shoaff's Mill until the 1940s. The mill has been restored and works again! Visitors can watch cornmeal being made, corn being cracked, and apples being ground for apple cider.
Little Buffalo State Park officially opened in 1972. Allan W. Holman Jr., a local politician, led the effort to create the park. Holman Lake is named in his honor.
Wildlife at Little Buffalo State Park
Little Buffalo Creek and Holman Lake are perfect homes for many wild animals. The warm waters of the creek and lake are great for fish like crappie, sunfish, and largemouth bass. Bass are hungry fish and will eat almost anything, including ducklings, crayfish, frogs, and other fish.
Holman Lake also has many yellow perch. To help manage the fish population, park staff have added walleye, muskellunge, and channel catfish to the lake. Because there are so many different kinds of fish, Holman Lake is a very popular spot for fishing. It's even a "Big Bass Lake." This means anglers can only keep bass that are at least 15 inches (38 cm) long. They can only keep four bass per day.
Birds and Mammals
The fish in Holman Lake attract many birds. You might see Bald eagles and osprey fishing in the lake. They don't nest here, but they do visit for food. Great blue herons and green herons wade in the shallow water. They look for fish, frogs, and crayfish. Wood ducks, mallards, and Canada geese also live at the lake.
The woods and fields around the lake are home to the bluebird. These beautiful birds were once rare because they lost their natural nesting spots in tree holes. People have helped bluebirds by building special birdhouses for them. These houses are like the woodpecker holes bluebirds would naturally use. You can also find turkeys and ruffed grouse thriving in the park's forests.
Along the streams and lakeshores, you might spot a mink. These animals hunt at night. Other woodland animals in the park include white-tailed deer, red and gray squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, and even black bears.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Little Buffalo State Park is also home to snakes and turtles. The red spotted newt lives near the lake. This small amphibian is about five inches (127 mm) long and is green with red spots. Many newts live here because fish don't eat them. Their skin makes a mild toxin that fish don't like.
Fun Activities at Little Buffalo State Park
Little Buffalo State Park offers many ways to have fun!
Picnic Areas
The park has two picnic areas, both with views of Holman Lake. They are shaded by oak, maple, and ash trees.
- The Main Picnic Area is near the swimming pool. It has a first-aid station, showers, and a food stand. There's also a playground, horseshoe pits, two pavilions, restrooms, picnic tables, grills, and a boat rental station.
- The East Picnic Area is close to the historical covered bridge and farmhouse. It has restrooms, picnic tables, grills, a horseshoe pit, a pavilion, and an environmental center. It also has the Moore Performing Arts Pavilion.
Swimming Pool Fun
The park has a swimming pool with two slides and a sprayground. It's a great place to cool off on a hot day!
Boating and Fishing on Holman Lake
Holman Lake is open all year for fishing and boating. Remember, it's a "Big Bass Lake," so bass must be 15 inches (38 cm) or longer to keep, with a limit of four per day. The lake has many largemouth bass, catfish, and panfish. It is also stocked with brook, brown, and rainbow trout. The park also adds muskellunge and walleye to help control the large population of yellow perch.
You can fish from the shore, from a boat, or even on the ice in winter. You can use electric-powered or non-powered boats on Holman Lake. Gas-powered boats are allowed, but you can't use the gas engine; you must use an electric motor or row. In winter, the lake is open for ice skating and ice fishing.
Hunting Opportunities
About 300 acres (1.2 km²) of Little Buffalo State Park are open for hunting. Hunters must follow the rules of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Common animals hunted here include ruffed grouse, eastern gray squirrel, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and rabbits. Hunting groundhogs is not allowed.
Hiking Trails for All Ages
Little Buffalo State Park has about 8 miles (13 km) of hiking trails. It even hosts a year-round Volksmarching event.
- Volksmarching is a traditional German activity. People walk a 6-mile (9.7 km) course marked with white arrows. It uses parts of the Mill Race, Fisherman's, Buffalo Ridge, Little Buffalo Creek, Middle Ridge, Little Buffalo State Park Road, and Exercise Trails.
- Little Buffalo Creek Trail is 1 mile (1.6 km) long and easy. It runs between the Main Picnic Area and the western end of the park.
- Exercise Trail is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long and has 18 exercise stations.
- Blue Ball Trail is 0.25 miles (0.4 km) long, paved, and easy to access for everyone. It goes from the Blue Ball Tavern to the East Picnic Area.
- Fisherman's Trail is 1 mile (1.6 km) long and goes through a cool hemlock forest. You'll see lots of ferns here. The eastern end of the trail overlooks Holman Lake.
- Mill Race Trail is an easy 0.5-mile (0.8 km) trail. It follows Furnace Run and the mill race that powers Shoaff's Mill. You can see how the mill race works up close.
- Middle Ridge Trail is a difficult 2.5-mile (4 km) trail. It has some short, steep climbs and passes through different habitats and by the lake.
- Buffalo Ridge Trail is a difficult 1.5-mile (2.4 km) trail. It climbs Buffalo Ridge and shows remains of old charcoal furnaces from the park's industrial past.
All hiking trails are also open for cross-country skiing in the winter.
Nearby State Parks to Explore
If you enjoy Little Buffalo State Park, you might like these other state parks nearby:
- Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area (Perry County)
- Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area (Dauphin County)
- Colonel Denning State Park (Cumberland County)
- Fowlers Hollow State Park (Perry County)
- Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area (Dauphin County)
- Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center (Cumberland County)
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Cumberland County)
- Reeds Gap State Park (Mifflin County)
