McCalls Dam State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids McCalls Dam State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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White Deer Creek in McCalls Dam State Park
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 McCalls Dam State Park
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Miles, Centre, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 8 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,388 ft (423 m) |
| Established | 1933 |
| Named for | Johnny McCall |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | McCalls Dam State Park |
McCalls Dam State Park is a small state park in Pennsylvania. It covers about 8 acres (3.2 hectares) of land. The park is located in Miles Township, which is in Centre County.
This park is in a very quiet and remote area. It's found on a gravel road between R. B. Winter State Park and Eastville. In the winter, the only way to reach McCalls Dam State Park is by snowmobiling or cross-country skiing.
What You Can Do at the Park
McCalls Dam State Park is a great place for a quiet visit. It has a small area for camping. There is also a picnic area where you can enjoy a meal outdoors. This area has a few tables and charcoal grills for cooking.
It's important to know that the park does not have modern restrooms. Also, visitors are asked to take all their trash with them when they leave. This helps keep the park clean and beautiful for everyone.
History of the Park
The park is named after a special type of dam called a splash dam. A man named Johnny McCall built this splash dam on White Deer Creek in 1850. He used the water from the dam to power a sawmill. Sawmills are places where logs are cut into lumber.
Sixteen years later, the dam was rebuilt. This new dam helped create a series of splash dams. These dams were used to float large white pine logs down the creek. The logs traveled all the way to sawmills on the West Branch Susquehanna River at Watsontown.
The buildings and areas you see at the park today were first built in 1933. They were constructed by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that put young men to work on conservation projects. Even though the original mill and dam are no longer there, they are remembered in the park's name, honoring Johnny McCall and his work.
Nearby State Parks
If you enjoy visiting state parks, there are several others within 30 miles (48 km) of McCalls Dam State Park:
- Bald Eagle State Park (Centre County)
- Bucktail State Park Natural Area (Cameron and Clinton Counties)
- Little Pine State Park (Lycoming County)
- Milton State Park (Northumberland County)
- Poe Paddy State Park (Centre County)
- Poe Valley State Park (Centre County)
- Ravensburg State Park (Clinton County)
- R. B. Winter State Park (Union County)
- Reeds Gap State Park (Mifflin County)
- Sand Bridge State Park (Union County)
- Shikellamy State Park (Northumberland and Union Counties)
- Susquehanna State Park (Lycoming County)
- Upper Pine Bottom State Park (Lycoming County)
