|
| |
|
| Activity |
Facilities |
Quantity |
| Resource |
Land,
acres |
1450 |
 |
Water,
acres |
L.
Erie |
|
Inland
Lake, acres |
100 |
| Day-Use
Activities |
Fishing |
yes |
|
Hunting |
yes |
|
Hiking
Trail, miles |
10 |
|
Picnicking |
yes |
|
Swimming
Beaches |
2 |
|
Beach
Concession |
yes |
|
Nature
Center and Programs |
yes |
|
Nature
Program |
yes |
|
Marina/Boat
Rental |
yes |
| Boating |
Boat
Slips |
32 |
|
Boating
Limits |
EMO |
| Winter
Recreation |
Sledding |
yes |
|
Ice
Skating |
yes |
|
Cross-Country
Skiing |
yes |
| Resort
Facilities |
Resort
Cottages |
24 |
|
Lodge
Rooms, # |
120 |
|
Restaurant |
yes |
|
Golf
Course, # holes |
18 |
|
Tennis |
yes |
|
Game
Room |
yes |
|
Indoor
& Outdoor Pools |
yes |
| Camping |
Campsites,
# |
256 |
|
Campsites
with Elec., # |
256 |
|
Pet
Area |
yes |
|
Showers |
yes |
|
Flush
Toilets |
yes |
|
Dump
Station |
yes |
|
Renta-A-Camp
Sites, # |
3 |
|
Rent-A-Yurt,
# |
1 |
Maumee Bay State Park offers not only the finest of
recreational facilities in the Midwest, but also a unique natural
environment created by the convergence of the land and Lake Erie. The
lodge, cottages and golf course are nestled among the scenic meadows, wet
woods and lush marshes teeming with wildlife. The balance of recreational
facilities with the natural world gives visitors a diverse experience in a
coastal environment.
Nature of the Area
Maumee Bay State Park is a tribute to Lake Erie. This precious gift is one
of the largest bodies of fresh water in the world and it reflects the
diverse natural heritage of Ohio.
The history of Lake Erie began with the glacial period known as the
Pleistocene. Massive sheets of ice gouged and scoured the bedrock of Ohio.
Testimony of the ice's force is found throughout the lake area. Small
scratches in the rock surface known as glacial striations are common,
while major grooves are rare but awesome.
The wetlands of the Maumee Bay area offer a vivid array of natural
wonders. Wetlands contain more species of wildlife than any other habitat
type, including: fox snake, northern water snake, painted turtle, chorus
frog, green frog, spotted salamander, raccoon, muskrat, dragonfly, caddis
fly, and water striders. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded with
shorebirds such as snipe, great blue heron, common gallinule and
ring-billed gulls residing with waterfowl including Canada geese,
pintails, redheads, and ruddy ducks. Songbirds include the red-winged
blackbird, yellow warbler, killdeer and swamp sparrow. Spring migration
brings many others including the colorful warblers. The plant life is
diverse as well. Cattails, buttonbush, phragmites, bur-reed, cottonwood
and black willow are just a few examples of the marsh plants at the park.
Several prairies exist in the park that offer interpretive experiences for
those visitors interested in the various species and ecosystems found
there. Ring-necked pheasants densely populate the meadow areas of the
park.
The Lake Erie shoreline sets the stage for the comeback of the bald eagle
in Ohio. Nesting pairs have been reported recently in Ohio with the
majority being in the western basin of Lake Erie.
History of the Area
Thirteen thousand years ago, Lake Erie was much larger than it is today --
stretching from western New York to Fort Wayne, Indiana. As the lake
receded to its present size, a great flat plain was formed (120 miles long
and 30-40 miles wide). This area became known as the Great Black Swamp due
to the color of the soil and dark shade beneath the trees. The Indians
settled only near the well-drained lands beside the Maumee River and its
tributaries.
For many years, the swamp was a tremendous barrier to western settlement.
Most settlers traveled by boat on Lake Erie to reach southern Michigan.
Major cities of the area circled the perimeter of the swamp; none lay
within it except Bowling Green. In 1859, a law was passed providing for a
system of public ditches to drain the land. By 1870, the swamp was still
only half cleared. Eventually, after a period of intense lumbering and
draining, the swamp had nearly vanished and the area became a major
agricultural region.
 Acquisition
of park lands began in 1974 with matching funds from the Land and Water
Conservation Fund. Maumee Bay officially became a state park in 1975.
Resort Lodge
Ohio's newest state park lodge opened in May of 1991. Quilter Lodge
overlooking the Maumee Bay of Lake Erie offers 120 guest rooms each with
balcony. Lodge features include racquetball courts, game room, saunas,
whirlpools, indoor and outdoor pools, conference and meeting rooms, dining
room and lounge, and a snack bar.
Resort cottages
The deluxe cottages at the park are nestled among scenic wetlands and a
picturesque golf course. The cottages are equipped with a gas fireplace,
heating and air conditioning, fully equipped kitchen, living area, two
bedrooms with a loft, or four bedrooms. Cottage guests may use all lodge
facilities.
Camping
The park boasts a modern family campground with 256 sites. The campground
is equipped with showerhouses, flush toilets, electricity and playground
equipment. The campsites are open and spacious and border natural meadows
and ponds which are open to fishing for campers only. Pet camping is also
permitted. Rent-A-Camp units consisting of a tent, dining fly, cooler,
cook stove and other equipment can be rented during the summer months.
Five miles of asphalt "bicycle/pedestrian" trails provide access
to most of the day-use areas.
Sponsor:
Indian Creek Camping
Resort
Tents to BIG RIGS welcome - stay by the day, week, month or year.
Ultra modern restrooms and showers. Security gates, coin-op
laundries and heated pools. Adult and Family Heated Pools. Farones
Restaurant and Step Above Lounge Full Service Bar with
entertainment and more Geneva on the Lake, OHIO
Ratings and Affiliations: Woodall's 5W / 5W Trailer Life 9 / 10 / 10
Wheeler's ***** / Ohio Campground Owners - National ARVC Year Round
Dates of operation |
Trails
Developed hiking trails in the park include the Mouse Trail, a 3-mile
diverse trail winding through meadows and young woodlands, and several
miles of paved combination trails for bicycling and cross-country skiing.
Hikers will discover acres of meadow, marshland and woodland. A 2-mile
boardwalk traversing swamp and marsh wetlands has interpretive signs, an
observation blind and tower, and wheelchair accessible loop.
Picnicking
Picnic areas with tables and grills can be found adjacent to the beach
areas.
Fishing and Hunting
Lake Erie known as the "walleye capital of the world" offers
some of the best fishing opportunities in the midwest. Great catches of
walleye, channel catfish, freshwater drum, smallmouth bass and yellow
perch delight the fisherman. The man-made inland lake near the lodge
offers good pan fishing opportunities. Hunting is permitted in adjacent
Mallard Club Marsh Wildlife Area. A valid Ohio fishing and/or hunting
license is required. All wildlife regulations apply.
Winter Sports
This park invites you to the thrills and spills of winter activity.
Cross-country skiing, winter nature walks, ice skating and sledding on the
area's top rated sledding hill await you.
Boating
Lake Erie offers unlimited opportunities for boaters. A 57-acre inland
lake in the park is suitable for sailing, canoeing and other non-motorized
boat use. Canoes, paddle boats and row boats are available for rent.
Waverunners can be rented on the Lake Erie beach.
Swimming
In addition to the lodge's pools (for lodge and cottage guests), the park
boasts two sand beaches. One beach is located on the Lake Erie shore while
the other lines the park's inland lake. A concession area and changing
booths are provided. A large lakeside amphitheater lies between the two
beaches.
Golfing
Maumee Bay's unique 18-hole "Scottish Links" style golf course
has low, rolling mounds, bent grass fairways, greens and tees, numerous
sand bunkers and ponds. A golf pro-shop is in operation with a PGA
certified professional on staff. Lessons and golf outings can be arranged.
Nature Center
A state-of-the-art nature center staffed by a year-round naturalist is
located in the park. The Trautman Nature Center is equipped with
inter-active displays, a programming auditorium, research laboratory and
viewing windows. In addition, a remote video monitoring system transmits
wetland activity back to the center so that persons of all abilities can
experience a wetland. A boardwalk trail is adjacent to the nature center.
Area Attractions
Three national wildlife refuges exist in Ohio and they are all within a
short distance of the park. Information on Cedar Point, West Sister and
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuges may be obtained by calling (419)
898-0014.
Crane Creek Wildlife Experiment Station and Magee Marsh State Wildlife
Area are located 15 miles east of Maumee Bay.
Adjacent to the wildlife area is Crane Creek State Park boasting one of
the state's largest beaches and day-use facilities. Two state nature
preserves, Louis W. Campbell and Irwin Prairie, are operated by ODNR's
Division of Natural Areas and Preserves and are located within an hour
drive of the park. |
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