Penn-Roosevelt State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Penn-Roosevelt State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
The spillway and dam at Penn-Roosevelt State Park
Penn-Roosevelt State Park Location in Pennsylvania
Location	Harris, Centre, Pennsylvania, United States
Area	41 acres (17 ha)
Elevation	1,631 ft (497 m)
Established	1983
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Penn-Roosevelt State Park

Penn-Roosevelt State Park is a 41-acre state park in Pennsylvania, United States. It's located in Harris Township, Centre County. The park is completely surrounded by the large Rothrock State Forest. You can find Penn-Roosevelt State Park about 6 miles from U.S. Route 322. It can be reached by Crowfield Road or Stone Creek Road.

Park History

Early Settlers

Long ago, the southern parts of Centre County were home to the Juniata tribe. Their name meant "The People of the Standing Stone." This was because of a tall stone monument that once stood in their village. This village was near where the town of Huntingdon is today.

By the time William Penn started the colony of Pennsylvania, the Juniata tribe had moved away. Penn bought the land from the Iroquois tribe. Other tribes, like the Tuscarora and Shawnee, had settled in central Pennsylvania. But they were soon asked to move again. By the late 1700s, many European settlers came to the area. Most were farmers from Scotland and Ireland. There were also many Amish and Mennonite Germans. They had left their homes in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to escape religious persecution.

The Lumber Era

In the mid-1800s, there was a big need for wood. This led to logging in southern Centre County. The mountainsides were covered with tall white pine and hemlock trees. The Reichley Brothers were the main logging company in this area. Besides cutting down trees, they also ran a special train in the summer. This train would leave Milroy and travel up into the mountains. It went through places like Poe Mills and Thickhead Mountain. Then it would return to Milroy along Laurel Creek.

But this time of logging did not last forever. Soon, almost all the trees were gone. When the trees disappeared, many people also left. The loggers left behind land that was bare and damaged. It suffered from erosion and many wildfires. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania then bought these thousands of acres of deforested and burned land. The state started a huge project to plant new trees and regrow the forests.

Building the Park with the Civilian Conservation Corps

Penn-Roosevelt State Park was built during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people did not have jobs. The park was constructed by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). A CCC camp, called Camp S-62, was set up in a place called Stone Creek Kettle. This camp was special because all its members were African-American men. It was one of only 12 such CCC camps in Pennsylvania.

The men of Camp S-62 built many of the things you can still see at Penn-Roosevelt State Park today. They built a dam using logs, which was later covered with stone. They also built many of the roads and trails in the nearby Rothrock State Forest. If you explore the woods of Penn-Roosevelt State Park, you can still see parts of the old camp. These include two stone fireplaces and a stone oven.

Fun Activities

Penn-Roosevelt State Park offers many fun things to do. You can enjoy picnics with your family and friends. There are also places for camping, but only for tents. No RVs or campers are allowed. The campsites are "rustic," meaning they don't have modern restrooms.

You can go hiking on the park's trails. If you like horses, you can also go horseback riding. In winter, the park is great for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

There's a small, man-made lake that is about 3.5 acres. It's where Sassafras Run and Standing Stone Creek meet. This lake is home to native brook trout. The stream below the dam is also stocked with trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

You cannot hunt or trap animals inside Penn-Roosevelt State Park. However, hunters can use the park to get to the surrounding state forest lands. The park is also a starting point for many trails that cross Pennsylvania. The long Mid State Trail goes right through the middle of the park.

Wildlife in the Park

Many different animals live in Penn-Roosevelt State Park. You might see white-tailed deer walking through the woods. Black bears also live here, so be sure to keep your distance! Other animals include wild turkeys, raccoons, skunks, and muskrats. You can also spot birds like ducks, geese, and even bald eagles flying overhead.

Nearby Parks

Here are some other state parks close to Penn-Roosevelt State Park (within 30 miles):

• Bald Eagle State Park (Centre County)
• Black Moshannon State Park (Centre County)
• Greenwood Furnace State Park (Huntingdon County)
• Poe Paddy State Park (Centre County)
• Poe Valley State Park (Centre County)
• Reeds Gap State Park (Mifflin County)
• Whipple Dam State Park (Huntingdon County)