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Geneva Padanarum Road Located on Ohio's northeastern shoreline, Geneva State Park reflects the character and charisma of Lake Erie. The shimmering expanse of the lake lures vacationers who enjoy fishing and boating. Swimmers rejoice in the beautiful sand beach while nature enthusiasts retreat to the park's freshwater marshes and estuaries associated with the lake. Nature of the Park Geneva State Park exhibits graphic evidence of the dynamic effects Lake Erie has on our changing landscape. The lake has been a dominant force shaping Ohio's natural and cultural development for thousands of years.
The lake's beginning can be traced to the glacial era of Ohio's geologic history when the state was covered by ice over a mile thick. During the Pleistocene (Ice Age), continental glaciers advanced and receded from Ohio at least four times. The scouring action of this ice sheet created the Lake Erie Basin which slowly filled as the ice melted northward to Canada. Initially, the newly formed lake drained to the southwest into the Mississippi River. When the glacier retreated from near present-day Buffalo, New York, a new outlet was exposed via the Niagara River. A flood of water escaped, draining the shallow western basin and much of the central basin. Twelve-thousand years ago, this outlet was 100 feet lower than it is today due to the great weight of the mile-thick ice depressing the land surface. The rebounding of this bedrock is reflected in the present lake level. Geneva offers the visitor a natural beach, several areas of freshwater marsh and beautiful mature woodlots. The middle and western beach areas contain plants that are rare in Ohio but characteristic of the Atlantic coast. Sea rocket, seaside spurge, beach pea and silverweed can be found on the Geneva beaches. Marshes located at the mouth of Cowles Creek, No Name Creek and Wheeler Creek contain swamp smartweed, leafy sedge and submerged aquatic vegetation. History of the Area Geneva State Park is situated along the Lake Erie shoreline. Erie, meaning wildcat or "it is long-tailed," is derived from the tribal name of Indians who inhabited the area until 1655. The lake was a principal avenue of transportation for Indians and frontiersmen alike. Overlooked by French settlers traveling west because of a shorter overland route linking Lake Ontario and the western Great Lakes, French trappers eventually established trade routes on Lake Erie in the mid 1600s. Since that time, the lake has figured prominently in Ohio's history and growth. By the mid 1800s, the state's canal system was open and goods could be shipped from Ohio's rural farms to populous eastern cities using well-developed inland canals. Ports were established at Toledo and Cleveland to accommodate the growing shipping industry. Freight from these ports was shipped east across the lake to New York. Today, the Saint Lawrence Seaway enables the Midwest to trade directly with many nations. Freighters of international registry carry corn, wheat, soybeans and other commodities from our region's diverse industries to many foreign markets. New trade avenues opened on Lake Erie contribute to the prosperity of Ohio's strong agricultural and industrial economies. Acquisition of land to create the park began in 1964 with the purchase of Chestnut Grove. Land acquisitions continued through 1972. The last parcels added were the cabin and campground areas. Picnicking The picnic areas at Geneva are especially inviting. Chestnut Grove is a relatively old woodlot comprised primarily of white oak. The Crabapple Picnic Area features two shelterhouses perfect for family reunions or other large gatherings. The shelterhouses are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping A full facility campground with electricity, showers and flush toilets offers shaded sites in a hardwood forest and sunny sites in open meadows. Three Rent-A-Camp units with a tent, dining fly, cooler, cookstove and other equipment can be rented during the summer months by reservation. Pet camping is available at designated sites.
Cabins Cabins offer living and kitchen areas with separate sleeping facilities. Kitchens are equipped with cooking utensils and dishes for six people. Each cabin has television with cable. Cabin reservations are accepted beginning in January on a first-come first-serve basis. Boating Lake Erie provides unlimited opportunities for boaters. A six-lane boat ramp provides easy access to Lake Erie's central basin. Geneva State Park Marina, completed in 1989, is a focal point of the park's facilities. The concession area which supplies gasoline, boating essentials and bait, also has restrooms and a canteen. Catches of walleye, Coho salmon and yellow perch are common. The marina features 383 docks and also rents bicycles and wave runners. Trails Three miles of multi-use trails traverse the park. They are used by hikers, cross-country skiers and hunters. Hunting and Fishing Lake Erie is known as the walleye capital of the world. In addition to great catches of walleye, the lake offers yellow perch, channel catfish and Coho salmon. Hunting is permitted in designated areas. A valid Ohio hunting and fishing license is required. Swimming A 300-foot guarded swimming beach adorns the shoreline of Lake Erie. The entire length of the park overlooks Lake Erie for approximately two miles with access to the lake provided at various points along the lakefront. The east breakwall of the marina is capped with a sidewalk. This provides park visitors with a scenic panorama of the Lake Erie shoreline. Golf There is a privately owned, public golf course within the park boundaries. Area Attractions Photographers will delight in the twelve covered bridges found in the county. History buffs will also want to visit the area museums: Conneaut Railroad Museum, Shandy Hall Museum in Unionville, and the Jenny Munger Memorial Museum at Geneva-On-The-Lake. Headlands Beach State Park and the adjacent Headlands Dunes Nature Preserve offer a different view of the Lake Erie shoreline. They are located west of Geneva in Lake County. |
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4710Lake
Road East - Exit 218 or 223 from 1-90 North, Geneva on the
Lake,Description: Tents to BIG RIGS welcome - stay by the day, week,
month or year.Ultra modern restrooms and showers. Security gates,
coin-op laundries and heatedpools. Farones Restaurant and Step Above
Lounge Full Service Bar withentertainment and more. Ratings and
Affiliations: Woodall's WWWWW/WWWWW, TrailerLife 9/10/10, Wheeler's
***** / Ohio Campground Owners - National ARVC. YearRound Dates of
operation.