Although hard to imagine, at one time the Grand Lake St. Marys region was part of a vast forest wilderness that stretched from the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania to the prairies of Illinois. Today, in place of this forest are fields of corn, soybeans and wheat.

In addition to forests, pre-settlement Ohio contained large prairies and wetlands. The land which now lies beneath St. Marys reservoir was once a vast wet prairie. Today, the park contains varying habitats including woodlands, wetlands, and prairies in addition to the surrounding croplands.

Grand Lake St. Marys lies along one of the country’s major migration routes. Water birds using the lake as a resting stop include Canada geese, ducks, grebes, swans, egrets, loons, herons, cormorants and ospreys. Many ducks, geese and heron also nest here. Bald eagles, magnificent birds long absent from the area, have again nested on the southwest corner of the lake at the wildlife refuge. Other animals of the park include fox squirrel, mink, raccoon, beaver, coyote, white-tailed deer and many others.

The area in and around Grand lake St. Marys State Park played an important part in the development of the Northwest territory. The St. Marys River served as a vital link between the Great Lakes and the Ohio River. Because of this heavy water traffic, the renegades Simon and James Girty established a trading post, which eventually evolved into the town of St. Marys. General “Mad” Anthony Wayne passed through the area during the War of 1812, and some of his men returned here to make their homes.

In 1837, work commenced on a reservoir for the Miami-Erie canal to maintain the canal’s five-foot water depth. Workers using hand tools were paid 35 cents a day and a jigger of whiskey to keep malaria away. At its completion in 1845, 13,500-acre Grand Lake was the largest man-made lake in the world. The lake was connected to the canal by a three-mile feeder.
The canal prospered until the coming of the railroads in the 1870s. The area experienced another boom in the late 1890s when oil was discovered. For a time the lake was dotted with oil derricks. Today a pile of rocks near the center of the lake marks the spot of the last producing well.

Grand Lake St. Marys and other canal feeder lakes in the state were the first areas to be dedicated as Ohio state parks in 1949.

The campground contains 216 sites of which 135 are equipped with electricity. Facilities include flush toilets, laundry, showers and a dump station. Pets are permitted. The campground also offers a “camper’s only” swimming beach, boat launch and boat docks/tie-ups. Tow Rent-A-Camps and tow Rent-A-Tepees with camping gear may be rented May-October. Two spacious Cedar Cabins with all the amenities of a fully-equipped RV are also available for daily or weekly rental. A seasonal naturalist holds scheduled programs, including movies, Thursday through Saturday night.

Boats with no limits on horsepower are permitted on the lake. Five state operated launch ramps provide access to the lake. Several private launch ramps also exist along the shallow shoreline. Fuel, boat rentals and seasonal dock rentals are available. A 300’ no wake szone has been established and is enforced around the lake’s 52 miles of shoreline. The state wildlife refuge, located on the southwest corner is off limits to boats at all times.

Fishing is great year-round and anglers will enjoy excellent catches of crappie, bass and bluegill in the spring as well as record catches of yellow perch in the winter. Bait vending machines are available at the park. Hunting is permitted in designated areas. There are 90 seasonal duck blinds available by a lottery administered by ODNR Division of Wildlife. A valid Ohio hunting and waterfowl stamp is required.

The park offers four public swimming beaches as well as other swimming areas provided for boaters. Lifeguard coverage is limited to weekends and holidays.

Picnic areas with tables and grills are located in scenic areas around the lake. Some picnic shelters are on a reservation basis. Contact the park office for details.

The full-service camp store loans games, fishing and sporting equipment to registered campers. Bike rentals are also available at the campground. Campers can also enjoy a miniature golf course, along with basketball and volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and playground equipment.

The weekend after Labor Day the campground hosts the annual Grand Fall Festival featuring crafts, food, fireworks, and entertainment.

Area AttractionsLake Loramie State Park, southeast of Grand Lake St. Marys, offers fishing, boating, swimming and camping. The Miami-Erie Trail, a 47-mile portion of the statewide Buckeye Trail, begins at Lake Loramie and passes within a mile and a half of Grand Lake St. Marys State Park. The Miami-Erie Trail terminates at Delphos, approximately 22 miles north of St. Marys.

St. Marys Fish Hatchery, located on the lake's eastern shore is operated by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. The hatchery raises saugeye, walleye, channel catfish and bass for distribution in the public fishing waters of the state.

The Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum is located in Wapakoneta, Armstrong's boyhood home.

The Auglaize-Mercer County convention/Visitors Bureau is located next to the park office. For more information on area attractions, stop by or call 1-800-860-4726.