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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. |
|
| Activity |
Facilities |
Quantity |
| Resource |
Land,
acres |
3617 |
 |
Water,
acres |
1277 |
|
Nearby
Wildlife Area, acres |
3710 |
| Day-Use
Activities |
Fishing |
yes |
|
Hunting |
yes |
|
Hiking
Trail, miles |
7 |
|
Bridle
Trails, miles |
14 |
|
Mountain
Bike Trail, miles |
1.2 |
|
Picnicking |
yes |
|
Swimming
Beach, feet |
1700 |
|
Beach
Concession |
yes |
|
Nature
Center |
yes |
|
Summer
Nature Programs |
yes |
| Boating |
Boat
Rental |
yes |
|
Boating
Limits |
UNL |
|
Fuel
For Sale |
yes |
|
Seasonal
Dock Rental, # |
152 |
|
Launch
Ramps, # |
2 |
| Winter
Recreation |
Snowmobiling |
yes |
|
Ice
Skating |
yes |
|
Cross-Country
Skiing |
yes |
|
Ice
Fishing |
yes |
| Resort
Facilities |
Family
Cottages, # |
25 |
|
Lodge
Rooms, # |
110 |
|
Restaurant |
yes |
|
Golf
Course, # holes |
18 |
|
Tennis |
yes |
|
Game
Room |
yes |
|
Indoor
Swimming Pool |
yes |
|
Outdoor
Swimming Pool |
yes |
| Camping |
Campsites,
# |
232 |
|
Campsites
with Elec., # |
232 |
|
Pets
Permitted |
yes |
|
Showers |
yes |
|
Flush
Toilets |
yes |
|
Dumpstation |
yes |
|
Group
Camp, capacity |
60 |
|
Horsemen
Campsites, # |
3 |
|
Rent-A-Campsites,
# |
5 |
Located in the heart of Ohio's agricultural country,
Deer Creek State Park is central Ohio's vacation showplace. A collage of
meadows and woodlands surround the scenic reservoir. This resort park
features a modern lodge, cottages, campground, golf course, swimming beach
and boating for outdoor enthusiasts.
Nature of the Area
Deer Creek State Park lies on the eastern edge of the
great till plains of Ohio. These plains receive their name from the
glacial debris, or till, which is a mixture of sand, silt and gravel that
was deposited by the glaciers. As glaciers advanced across the northern
two-thirds of Ohio, most hills and valleys were covered and filled in by
the till, leaving this part of Ohio relatively flat.
Today, these rich plains in the park's region support corn, soybeans and
wheat. The first settlers to the area did not find these open fields.
Except for a few small prairie openings, the region was covered by dense
woodlands. A regrowth of the original woodlands can be found scattered
along the ridge tops and creek bottoms of the park.
Wildflowers abound in the fields and woodlands of the till plains. In
spring, common flowers are Dutchman's breeches, rue anemone, trillium,
spring beauty and bloodroot. Summer months produce thimbleweed, wild
lettuce, jewelweed and daisy fleabane. In autumn, the most abundant
flowers are aster, goldenrod and chicory, whose roots were used by
settlers to make a coffee-like beverage.
The best known animals of the Deer Creek area include amphibians such as
the chorus frog, spring peeper and American toad. Reptiles include box and
painted turtles, black rat snake and eastern garter snake. Numerous
mammals inhabit the park. Most of them are small and include the red fox,
raccoon, opossum, woodchuck, skunk, rabbit, deer mouse and white-tailed
deer. Deer Creek is known for its population of ring-necked pheasant.
Other birds of the area include eastern meadowlark, song sparrow, cowbird,
eastern bluebird, barn swallow and woodcock.
History of the Area
On a long ridge that once overlooked Deer Creek and its
valley, researchers have discovered evidence of a camp of an ancient
Indian tribe. The nomads who camped here around 2,000 B.C. were hunters
and gatherers and used this camp periodically throughout the year. Since
agriculture was not practiced by the nomads, they moved on after they
depleted the plant or animal food supplies in a locale. Burial sites near
the camp indicate it was inhabited over a period of time.
In more recent years, a cottage owned by Harry M. Daugherty, the attorney
general under President Warren G. Harding, overlooked the valley. The
rustic one and one-half story cottage was built in 1918. The President was
said to have visited this cottage which now bears his name.
The completion of the dam in 1968 created the lake with the park
officially opening in 1974.
Lodge
The lodge at Deer Creek has 110 guest rooms, many with
a panoramic view of the lake. Lodge features include indoor and outdoor
pools, sauna, whirlpool and exercise room. A restaurant, lounge and
meeting rooms provide additional accommodations.
Cottages
Twenty-five cottages offer overnight accommodations.
The cottages have two bedrooms, bath with a shower, living room, complete
kitchen, dining area and screened porch. The cottages sleep six people.
The historic Harding Cabin offers a unique setting and sleeps 8.
Camping
The campground at Deer Creek has 232 sites. All have
electricity. The campground features showers, flush toilets and a dump
station. Pets are permitted on designated sites. Four Rent-A-Camp units
consisting of a tent, dining fly, cooler, cook stove and other equipment
can be rented during the summer months by reservation. A group camp is
also available by reservation. A horsemen's camp provides primitive
overnight facilities for riders and a primitive group camp offers an area
for groups.
Boating
Unlimited horsepower boating is permitted on the
1,277-acre Deer Creek reservoir. Two launch ramps provide access to the
lake. A fully equipped marina offers fuel, boat rental and seasonal dock
rentals.
Fishing and Hunting
The lake at Deer Creek is famous for its early spring
saugeye fishing below the dam. Excellent catches of catfish, largemouth
bass and crappie also entice the angler.
The lake provides excellent waterfowl hunting. Twelve hunting blinds are
issued each season on a lottery basis. Hunting is permitted in the state
wildlife area adjacent to the park for pheasant, rabbit, squirrel and
deer.
Swimming
A spacious 1,700-foot swimming beach graces the shores
of Deer Creek State Park. A concession area and changing booths are
special features at the beach.
Picnicking
Several picnic areas are situated in scenic locations
around the park.
Trails
Seven miles of hiking trails take the visitor through
meadows and scattered woodlands. Fourteen miles of bridle trails can
accommodate riders with their own horses. A fitness trail near the lodge
offers an opportunity for exercise in a wooded setting.
Golf
A 350-acre, 18-hole golf course near the lodge is a
challenge for golfers with its 10 ponds and 52 sand traps
Area Attractions
East of Deer Creek near Circleville is A.W. Marion
State Park which offers fishing, camping and picnicking. Stage's Pond, a
state nature preserve, is located five miles north of Circleville. This
178-acre glacial, kettle lake is a waterfowl refuge and a prime
observation area for birdlife. Deer Creek Wildlife Area which is adjacent
to the park is operated by the ODNR Division of Wildlife and managed for
upland game. In nearby Chillicothe, visitors can witness the living drama
of Tecumseh at the Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre.
Directions
From Cleveland, Ohio:
I-71 South to state Route 56 (Mt. Sterling Exit), take 56 into Mt.
Sterling, then 207 South 5 miles.
From Columbus, Ohio:
I-71 South to State Route 56 (Mt. Sterling Exit), take 56 into Mt,
Sterling, then 207 South 5 miles.
From Cincinnati, Ohio:
I-71 North to State Route 56 (Mt. Sterling Exit), take 56 into Mt.
Sterling, then 207 South 5 miles.
From Toledo, Ohio:
I-75 South to Findley, Route 68 to Kenton, Route 31 to Marysville, 33
South to I-270, I-270 South to I-71, I-71 South to State Route 56 (Mt.
Sterling Exit), 56 into Mt. Sterling, then 207 South 5 miles.
From Circleville, Ohio:
Take Highway 22 West eight miles to Keyes Road. Turn right on Keyes
to the stop sign. Turn right and then an immediate left onto
Yankeetown Pike. Follow for approximately nine miles to the park
entrance (on left).
Click here for expanded
information on this state park.
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(740) 869-3088 Golf Course