Mohican Home | Nature of
Area | History of Area | Area
Attractions
Lodge, Cabins and Camping | Picnicking & Swimming
Hunting, Fishing and Boating | Canoeing
History of the Area
The Mohican State Park area was once the hunting grounds of the
Delaware Indians, whose more famous warriors included Janacake, Bill Montour, Thomas Lyon
(reportedly the ugliest man alive!) and James Smith, who was the first white man to come
to this area. Smith was captured by the Indians and later adopted into their tribe.
Several Delaware villages were located in the Mohican vicinity. Settlement by non-Indians
began at the turn of the nineteenth century, but settlement did not increase until the
Indians were driven from the area during the War of 1812. John Chapman, immortalized as
Johnny Appleseed, frequented the region during the 1800's, caring for his apple tree
nurseries. His name and the date, carved in the wall of Lyons Falls, were an attraction
for years. Unfortunately, the etchings have been obliterated with the passage of time.
Prior to 1949, most of the area that comprises the present Mohican
State Park was part of the Mohican State Forest (also known as Mohican State Forest Park).
The forest lands were administered by the Ohio Division of Forestry. In 1949, when the
Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created, Mohican and several other state parks
were developed from existing state forests. The new park was named Clear Fork State Park.
Years later in 1966, the name was changed to Mohican State Park in order to alleviate
confusion between Mansfield's Clearfork Reservoir and the state park. Even before this
official move, visitors referred to the area as Mohican.
Mohican Home | Nature of
Area | History of Area | Area
Attractions
Lodge, Cabins and Camping | Picnicking & Swimming
Hunting, Fishing and Boating | Canoeing
