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Grand Lake St. Marys 834 Edgewater Drive Originally constructed as a feeder reservoir for the Miami-Erie Canal, Grand Lake St. Marys was for many years recognized as the largest man-made reservoir in the world. This large lake is the gateway to swimming, boating, camping and fishing in one of Ohio's oldest state parks. Nature of the Area 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. The rich soils of Ohio's till plains were the cause of the eventual demise of the forest. One early land agent wrote, "...in short it wants nothing but cultivation to make it a most delightful country." 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, cormorants and ospreys. Many ducks, geese and heron also nest here. A nearby heron rookery once had 175 nests in only 39 trees. Bald eagles also nested near this reservoir by the hundreds before 1900. This magnificent bird is now only rarely sighted in the area. Other animals of the park include fox squirrel, mink, raccoon, beaver, coyote, white-tailed deer and many others. History of the Area 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 to feed the Miami-Erie Canal. Feeder lakes were necessary to maintain the canal's five foot water depth. Grand Lake St. Marys, covering 13,500 acres, at its completion in 1845 was the largest man-made lake in the world. German laborers worked on it for thirty cents a day and a jigger of whiskey. The lake was connected to the canal by a three-mile feeder. In May of 1843, angry farmers who had not been paid for lands claimed by the reservoir, and residents who complained of the stench of decaying vegetation, tore a ditch through the embankment. It cost the state $17,000 to repair the damage. 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. Camping The campground contains 216 sites of which 135 are equipped with electricity. Facilities include flush toilets, showers and a dump station. A group camp can accommodate organized groups of 150 people on a reservation basis. A "camper's only" swimming beach and boat tie-ups are available as well as horseshoe pits and a sand volleyball court. Two Rent-A-Camp units consisting of a tent, dining canopy, cooler, cookstove and other equipment can be rented from May through September. Boating Boats with unlimited 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. Fishing and Hunting Anglers will enjoy excellent catches of crappie, catfish, bass and bluegill as well as yellow perch in the winter. Hunting is permitted in designated areas. There are 90 seasonal duck blinds available by a lottery administered by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. Contact the Mercer County Wildlife Refuge at (419) 268-2020 for more information. A valid Ohio hunting and/or fishing license is required. Swimming The park is equipped with four public swimming beaches as well as other swimming areas provided for boaters. Picnicking Picnic areas with tables and grills are located in scenic areas around the lake. Some picnic shelters are on a reservation basis, contact park office for details. Area Attractions Lake 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. |
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