Ryerson Station State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ryerson Station State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
A stream passing through Ryerson Station State Park
Ryerson Station State Park Location in Pennsylvania
Location	Richhill Township, Greene, Pennsylvania, United States
Area	1,164 acres (4.71 km2)
Elevation	1,197 ft (365 m)
Established	1967
Named for	Fort Ryerson
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Ryerson Station State Park

Ryerson Station State Park is a large park in Pennsylvania, covering about 1,164 acres. It is located in Richhill Township, Greene County, close to the West Virginia state line. The park is about 3 miles from Wind Ridge, right off Pennsylvania Route 21.

This park used to have a 52-acre artificial lake called Ronald J. Duke Lake. The lake was built in 1960 on the North Fork of the Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek. However, the lake was drained in 2005 because there were problems with the dam's structure.

History of Ryerson Station State Park

The park gets its name from Fort Ryerson. This fort was built in 1792 by the Commonwealth of Virginia. It was created to protect settlers from raids by local Native American groups. These groups were fighting against new settlements in the Ohio River Valley. At that time, different groups, including Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Native Americans, all claimed ownership of this land.

The state of Pennsylvania bought the land for the park in 1958. The dam for Duke Lake was finished in 1960, creating the lake. Finally, Ryerson Station State Park officially opened to the public in 1967.

Why Duke Lake Was Drained

Duke Lake was drained in July 2005 because experts were worried about the dam's safety. Cracks in the dam were believed to be caused by a type of coal mining called longwall mining. This mining method can cause the ground to shift.

There were plans to rebuild the dam by 2017. This was part of a deal with a company called Consol Energy. The deal allowed the company to continue mining and drilling for natural gas under the park. However, the ground was still unstable from mining. Because of this, the plan to rebuild the dam was canceled in 2015.

Fun Things to Do at Ryerson Station State Park

Ryerson Station State Park offers many activities for visitors. You can enjoy camping, picnicking, hiking, and even some winter sports.

Camping and Picnics

The park has a camping area located on a ridge that looks over the park. There are 48 spots for tents and travel trailers. These campsites do not have flush toilets or showers. There is also a large area for group tent camping.

You can rent two wooden cottages at the park. These cottages have electric lights and outlets. They also have double and single bunk beds that can sleep up to five people. Each cottage has wooden floors, windows, skylights, a porch, a fire ring, and a picnic table.

The park has more than 275 picnic tables for visitors to use. There are also five pavilions available. A small playground is located in the main picnic area for younger visitors.

Hunting and Wildlife

Hunting is allowed in about 1,000 acres of Ryerson Station State Park. Hunters must follow the rules set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Some common animals you might find here include ruffed grouse, eastern gray squirrels, wild turkey, and white-tailed deer. However, hunting groundhogs is not allowed.

Hiking Trails

Ryerson Station State Park has about 11 miles of hiking trails. These trails go through different types of natural areas. You will see mature forests, evergreen tree farms, wet valley bottoms, and open fields. It is a great way to explore the park's natural beauty.

Swimming and Winter Sports

The park has a swimming pool that is open during the summer. It usually opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes on Labor Day weekend. The pool is open from 11:00 AM until 7:00 PM.

When there is enough snow, the park's slopes are open for sledding and tobogganing. If Duke Lake freezes over, you can go ice fishing and ice skating. However, you should be careful, as the park staff does not check how thick the ice is. Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are also allowed on some of the hiking trails during winter.

Nearby State Parks

If you are looking for other parks to visit, here are some nearby options:

• Prickett's Fort State Park in West Virginia is about 32 miles away.
• The closest Pennsylvania state park is Hillman State Park. It is about 38 miles away in Washington County.

Images for kids

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  A stream passing through Ryerson Station State Park