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 Dum-Ford
House Bed & Breakfast
Need Pampering? Or just need a quiet place to get away? The Dum-Ford
House is just for you. Located in a quaint village midway between
Lancaster and Circleville on Zane's Trace (now US 22). A circa 1845 brick
federal home with original floors and woodwork, it is filled with antiques
and family treasures. Thirty minutes from Columbus, Chillicothe, or
Hocking Hills. |
A.W. Marion State Park
c/o Deer Creek State Park
20635 Waterloo Road
Mt. Sterling, OH 43143
Deer Creek Park Office (740) 869-3124
Park
Map
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|
| Activity |
Facilities |
Quantity |
Fees |
| Resource |
Land, acres |
307 |
 |
|
Water, acres |
145 |
|
| Activities |
Fishing |
yes |
|
|
Hunting |
yes |
|
|
Hiking Trail,
miles |
6 |
|
|
Picnicking |
yes |
|
|
Picnic Shelter, # |
1 |
|
|
Summer Nature
Program |
yes |
|
| Boating |
Boat Rental |
yes |
|
|
Boating Limits |
EMO |
|
|
Seasonal Dock
Rental |
20 |
|
|
Launch Ramps |
1 |
|
| Winter Rec |
Sledding |
yes |
|
|
Ice Skating |
yes |
|
|
Ice Fishing |
yes |
|
| Camping |
Campsites, # |
59 |
|
|
Campsites with
Elec., # |
29 |
|
|
Pets Permitted |
yes |
|
|
Dumpstation |
yes |
|
|
Youth Group Camp |
yes |
|
The rolling woodlands and quiet waters of A.W. Marion
State Park offer visitors a welcome escape from the rigors of everyday
life. This small but unique park offers a variety of recreational
activities while maintaining a quiet atmosphere of natural serenity.
Nature of the Area
A. W. Marion State Park, located in Pickaway County,
can attribute its natural wonders to glaciation that occurred more than
12,000 years ago. As glaciers advanced over more than two-thirds of Ohio,
vast amounts of rock and soil (or till) were deposited over the landscape.
This till had a direct effect on the natural vegetation that occurs at A.
W. Marion. The surface of the park is fairly level and the soil very
fertile. The area is diverse with woodlands, plains and prairie. Ohio's
prairies, products of an ancient dry climate, are really small versions of
the more extensive grasslands in the western United States. This eastern
portion extends into Ohio and is part of the prairie-forest border or
tension zone. Within this zone, the grasslands increased in size during
droughts, only to be reinvaded by forests during wet periods. Before
settlement began, scrub oak barrens, dense thickets formed by this shrub,
were common in the region but have since been cleared for raising crops.
The nearby floodplains of the Scioto River are adorned with a variety of
wildflowers. Wildlife indigenous to the area includes fox squirrel,
ring-necked pheasant, a variety of songbirds, red fox and white-tailed
deer.
History of the Area
Long before A.W. Marion became a state park, this area
had developed an amazing history. Due largely to the fertile soils of the
Pickaway Plains, which are said to contain the richest land in Ohio, early
inhabitants were attracted here. The Adena culture were among the first to
settle the area 2,000 years ago. An ancient circular earthworks on the
site of what is now the city of Circleville (hence the name) gave evidence
to their presence. In more recent times the villages of Chief Cornstalk of
the Shawnee nation were located on these plains. These same villages were
the object of attention of Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, who in 1774
marched his army within striking distance of the Indians. His intention
was to destroy the villages and end the uprising that had resulted in the
Battle of Point Pleasant days earlier. At the request of the Indians, a
peace settlement was agreed upon before any more fighting occurred.
In 1948, construction began on the dam for Hargus Creek Lake. By 1950, the
area became part of the newly created Division of Parks and Recreation. In
1962, the park was renamed the A.W. Marion State Park in honor of the
first director of the Department of Natural Resources, a Pickaway County
native.
Camping
A wooded camp area with sixty sites is available
year-round for tent and trailer camping. A youth camp is also available by
reservation for organized groups. Pit latrines and drinking water are
available.
Boating
Hargus Lake provides 145 acres of water, boat launching
ramps and public docks. Rentals are available from the concession on the
northwest side of the lake. Electric motors only are permitted.
Fishing and Hunting
In the late 1980s, Hargus Lake was drained, habitat
improvements were made and it was restocked with largemouth bass,
muskellunge, bluegill and channel catfish. Anglers can now enjoy some of
central Ohio's finest fishing. A valid Ohio fishing license is required.
In the fall, the mature woodlands offer excellent squirrel hunting in
designated areas. A valid Ohio hunting license is required.
Trails
The Hargus Lake Trail offers five miles of scenic
pleasure, providing access to the entire shoreline of the lake. Beginning
at the campground, the Squawroot Nature Trail offers the hiking enthusiast
one mile of scenic terrain. The trail is self-guided with directional
signs and takes visitors to fourteen points of interest. These scenic
trails are open for year-round use.
Picnicking
Picnic tables and grill sites are located in scenic areas throughout the
park. A concession stand offers limited picnic supplies. Fires are
permitted only in the grills provided.
Area Attractions
Limitless opportunities abound within a short distance
of the park. A monument marking the location of the Logan
Elm, where Chief Logan delivered his eloquent speech can be reached
south of Circleville, one mile east of U.S. 23 on State Route 361. Two
state nature preserves operated by the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and
Preserves are located near the park: Shallenberger
Preserve, east of the park off State Route 22, and Stage's
Pond, north of the park on Haggerty Road. Deer
Creek State Park is also located in Pickaway County and offers
camping, fishing, boating and picnicking.
Near Marcy, Ohio, off State Route 674, visitors can catch a glimpse of
1880 farm life by traveling to Slate Run Living Historical Farm.
Horse-drawn machinery, woodstove cooking, canning and milking are a few of
the activities that can be enjoyed. Traveling south on State Route 159,
one can witness the life story of the great Shawnee Chief, Tecumseh. This
outdoor drama is enacted from Memorial Day to Labor Day at the Sugarloaf
Mountain Amphitheater. For additional information on local attractions,
call the Office of Travel and
Tourism at 1-800-BUCKEYE.
Directions
From Cleveland, Ohio:
I-71 South, 270 East around Columbus, 23 South to Circleville, State Route
22 East 4 miles, follow signs.
From Columbus, Ohio:
State Route 23 South to Circleville, State Route 22 East 4 miles, follow
signs.
From Cincinnati, Ohio:
North on I-71 to State Route 35, East on 35 past Washington Courthouse,
North on 138 to State Route 22 East, then go 4 miles past Circleville.
From Toledo, Ohio:
I-75 to Findley, Route 68 to Kenton, Route 31 to Marysville, 33 South to
I-270 East, I-270 to 33 South to Lancaster then 188 South to A.W. Marion.
From Circleville, Ohio:
State Route 22 East 4 miles, turn left on Bolander-Pontious Rd for day
use, left on Ringold for camping.
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