Wills Mountain State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wills Mountain State Park |
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Cumberland Narrows seen
from the Wills Mountain side of the gap |
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 Wills Mountain State Park
Location in Maryland
Wills Mountain State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cumberland, Maryland, United States |
| Area | 357 acres (144 ha) |
| Elevation | 804 ft (245 m) |
| Designation | Maryland state park |
| Established | 1998 |
| Administrator | Maryland Department of Natural Resources |
Wills Mountain State Park is a special natural area in Allegany County, Maryland. It's a place where you can enjoy the outdoors. The park sits on Wills Mountain and looks out over a famous spot called the Cumberland Narrows.
This park is located near the city of Cumberland. It covers about 357 acres of land. The park is managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Contents
History of Wills Mountain Park
Wills Mountain has an interesting past. Before it became a park, it was home to a large building.
Early Days and the Inn
From 1899 to 1930, a big mansion called the Wills Mountain Inn stood here. It was a very fancy place. The inn had 46 bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. It also had a huge ballroom.
At first, the inn was used as a club for groups and a country club. In 1902, a doctor bought the property. He wanted to turn it into a special hospital for people to recover. Sadly, the building burned down in 1930.
Becoming a State Park
In 1952, people started thinking about making Wills Mountain a park. The Maryland State Planning Commission suggested buying 400 acres. They wanted to fix up a road to the top. Their goal was to create places for picnics and sightseeing. This would let people enjoy the beautiful views.
The park was officially created in 1998. The state bought 350 acres from Carl G. Valentine. George and Joan Henderson also gave 51 acres as a gift.
Future Plans for Access
For a while, the park was hard to reach. In 2009, a state plan described it as "virtually inaccessible." This meant there were no easy ways for people to visit. There were no official paths or trails.
Since 2017, the state has been buying more land next to the park. The goal is to create public access. This will make it easier for everyone to visit and enjoy Wills Mountain State Park.
