|
Van Buren P.O. Box 117 Van Buren State Park offers a quiet retreat with fishing and picnicking opportunities. The woodlands are a small but valued refuge in the rich agricultural land of northwestern Ohio. Nature of the Area Van Buren State Park lies in the rich agricultural plains of northwest Ohio. The plains, referred to as till plains, receive their name from the glacial debris, or till, which covers preglacial hills and valleys. The till plains are the result of the deposition and smoothing action of the glaciers. Most hills in these areas are mounds of boulders and soil left by the retreating Wisconsinan glacier. Beneath the almost continuous cover of glacial deposits lies sedimentary bedrock which, in this region, is mostly limestone with a little shale. Much of this limestone is the magnesium-bearing form called dolomite. The original vegetation of the area, before settlement, was mostly woodland. Today, much of the vegetation consists of farm crops such as corn, soybeans and wheat. Locally, a small but valuable remnant of the original woodland remains. Beech and sugar maple occupy a large portion of the wooded area in Van Buren State Park. Mammals found in the area include red fox, red squirrel, white-tailed deer, raccoon, skunk and opossum. Other animals found are the eastern garter snake, spring peeper, eastern bluebird, eastern meadowlark, cowbird, woodcock and short-eared owl. Wildflowers abound in the fields and woodlands of the area. Dutchman's breeches, spring beauty, thimbleweed, daisy fleabane and chicory are commonly found around the park. History of the Area The Van Buren State Park region was originally inhabited by the Shawnee Indians. Banished from their homeland in south-central Ohio, this was the last stronghold of the tribe before they eventually departed for lands west of the Mississippi River. Indian artifacts and relics can still be found on what used to be Indian Island, located in the northwest section of the lake. Van Buren is located just north of the town of Findlay which was founded in 1821. The development of the town was quite slow until the discovery of natural gas in the 1880s. A German physician named Charles Osterlen became convinced that an enormous reservoir of natural gas lay beneath the town of Findlay. He told of his belief and was scoffed at and regarded as a vain dreamer. But his patience and perseverance prevailed as he succeeded in organizing a stock company to drill for gas. The well was successful and spawned the growth of a great industry in Findlay. At one time, Findlay claimed the largest gas well in the world, with an output of 20 million cubic feet daily. The land comprising Van Buren State Park was originally set aside as a wildlife preserve. In 1939, a dam was constructed over Rocky Ford Creek to provide additional fish and wildlife resources. In 1950, the area was turned over to the newly created Division of Parks and Recreation. It has been maintained as a state park ever since. The park was named for Martin Van Buren--eighth President of the United States. Camping Van Buren offers a campground with 40 non-electric sites. Tables, pit latrines and a dump station are provided. A primitive, walk-in, youth-group camping area is located in the southeast section of the park and is available by reservation. Pet camping is permitted on designated sites. Fishing and Hunting Good fishing is available at Van Buren Lake. Catches of largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bullhead, bluegill and carp await the skilled angler. Park property east of TR 229 is designated for hunting in accordance with state laws. A valid Ohio fishing and/or hunting license is required. Boating Van Buren Lake provides excellent boating opportunities for rowboats, canoes and boats with electric motors only. Trails Several hiking trails are provided on the south side of the lake. A scenic two-mile trail traverses the perimeter of the lake. Picnicking Three picnic areas are situated in scenic locations throughout the park. Three shelterhouses are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Area Attractions Springville Marsh, a state nature preserve, is located east of Van Buren in Seneca County on Township Road 24. The preserve is one of the largest interior wetlands in the till plains of western Ohio. The Old Mill Stream Parkway off State Route 37 stretches 23 miles from Riverbend Recreation Area to the restored Blanchard River Village in Gilboa. Canoe access, heritage trail, boat livery and bikeways are offered along this scenic route. The North Country Bikeway passes through the park. Picnic areas, restrooms and parking are provided along the bikeway. The Hancock County Courthouse located in Findlay is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1833 and restored in 1976, the building now serves as headquarters for the Hancock County Park District. For additional information on local attractions, contact the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism at 1-800-BUCKEYE. |
| ||||||
