Rocky Gap State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rocky Gap State Park |
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Lake Habeeb
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 Rocky Gap State Park
Location in Maryland
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| Location | Allegany County, Maryland, United States |
| Nearest city | Cumberland, Maryland |
| Area | 3,119 acres (12.62 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,165 ft (355 m) |
| Designation | Maryland state park |
| Established | 1963 |
| Administrator | Maryland Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Rocky Gap State Park |
Rocky Gap State Park is a fun outdoor area in Allegany County, Maryland. It's about 7 miles (11 km) east of Cumberland. This park covers about 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares) and includes a beautiful lake called Lake Habeeb and a mountain called Evitts Mountain.
The park also has a special place called the Rocky Gap Casino Resort. This resort is owned and run by a private company. At Rocky Gap State Park, you can enjoy activities like swimming, boating, camping, and hiking on cool trails. The park itself is looked after by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The resort part is managed by a company called Golden Entertainment.
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History of Rocky Gap State Park
How the Park Started
Rocky Gap State Park began thanks to a gift of land from Edward Habeeb and others. They wanted to create a state park here. The state of Maryland started buying more land for the park in 1963. They continued buying land until 1966.
In 1970, the United States Army Corps of Engineers built a dam on Rocky Gap Run. This dam created the lovely Lake Habeeb that you see today. Finally, Rocky Gap State Park officially opened its doors to visitors in 1974.
The Rocky Gap Resort and Casino
Building the Resort
The Rocky Gap Resort and Golf Course was built in 1998. It was developed by a group called the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO). This group helps Maryland own or develop properties to help the state's economy. The resort opened in April 1998 and cost about $53.9 million to build.
Adding the Casino
In 2009, Maryland tried to open a casino at the resort. However, the first company that wanted to run it didn't pay the required fee. This was because Maryland had a very high tax on casinos back then.
To make it easier for a casino to open, lawmakers lowered the state's share of money from the slot machines in 2011. In April 2012, a new company was given the casino license. This company bought the resort, which included the hotel, the golf course, and other features. The new Rocky Gap Casino Resort opened on May 22, 2013. It had many slot machines and live table games.
In 2015, the casino resort became part of Golden Entertainment. Today, the casino has 665 gaming devices and 17 table games. The hotel has 198 rooms and suites for guests.
Fun Things to Do at Rocky Gap
Enjoying Lake Habeeb
Lake Habeeb is a man-made lake within the park. It covers about 243 acres (98 hectares) and has pretty white sand beaches. The lake sits below Evitts Mountain and gets its water from Rocky Gap Run.
You can use boats with electric motors on Lake Habeeb all day, every day. There is a small fee to use the lake. The park also lets you rent paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes. Many people enjoy fishing here. You might catch fish like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, and channel catfish.
Hiking Trails for Everyone
Rocky Gap State Park has several hiking trails for different skill levels.
- The Lakeside Trail is about 4 miles (6 km) long. It offers beautiful views as you walk around the lake.
- The Evitt's Homesite Trail is about 5 miles (8 km) long. This trail climbs up Evitts Mountain. Along the way, you'll see streams and plants like hemlock, mountain laurel, and rhododendron.
- The Touch of Nature Trail is a short, paved path. It's about a quarter-mile long and leads to a fishing dock that is easy for everyone to access.
The Park Amphitheater
The park has a large amphitheater with a concert stage. This outdoor venue can hold up to 3,000 people. The stage is quite big, measuring 42 feet (13 meters) by 60 feet (18 meters). You can rent this space for events. It was built to host a country bluegrass festival, but it was never used for those shows.
Images for kids
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Former entrance sign
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Lake Habeeb frozen over
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Casino entrance
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Ice fisherman on Lake Habeeb
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Aerial photo
