Coolidge State Park

Last updated
Coolidge State Park
CoolidgeStatePark BlueberryLeanto.jpg
A typical lean-to available for camping at the park
Coolidge State Park
Type State park
Location855 Coolidge State Park Rd.
Plymouth, Vermont, USA
Coordinates Coordinates: 43°33′11″N72°42′01″W / 43.55306°N 72.70028°W / 43.55306; -72.70028
Area1,300 acres (530 ha)
Operated byVermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation
OpenSummer season
Website https://vtstateparks.com/coolidge.html
Coolidge State Park
USA Vermont location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
MPS Historic Park Landscapes in National and State Parks MPS
NRHP reference No. 02000281
Added to NRHPMarch 29, 2002

Coolidge State Park is a Vermont State Park located in Plymouth, Vermont, United States. [1] The park is named after Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, who was born and raised in Plymouth and is buried there as well. It is the primary recreational center for Calvin Coolidge State Forest, the largest state forest in Vermont. The park's facilities, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Contents

Activities in the park include camping, hiking, picnicking, mountain biking, stream fishing, wildlife watching and winter sports. [2]

Geography and landscape

Coolidge State Park is located in Windsor County, Vermont, in central Vermont, and consists of two land areas, one on each side of Vermont Route 100A, about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Plymouth Notch, the birthplace of Calvin Coolidge. The park's total area is 1,300 acres (530 ha), and it is flanked in part by eastern sections of the 21,000-acre (8,500 ha) Calvin Coolidge State Forest. The western section, or Pinney Hollow block, is 800 acres (320 ha) in size, and houses the park maintenance facilities, located at the site of the CCC camp where workers who built the park lived. The eastern section, or Bradley Hill block, is a large wooded parcel on the western slope of Slack Hill (which has a 2174-foot summit). The park contact station, campground, and picnic areas are located in this section. The terrain is generally steep, but there is a level area where the contact station and main parking area are located. [3]

Facilities

Ranger station and other administrative buildings CoolidgeStatePark RangerStation.jpg
Ranger station and other administrative buildings

Near the park access road on VT 100A is a small parking and picnic area. The main access road climbs steeply to the contact station, from which a camping loop composed entirely of leantos branches off. This loop road roughly follows the contours of the hill, and the leantos are placed to provide views of the surrounding countryside. Continuing down the main access road, there is a second wooded camping loop for the use of tent campers and recreational vehicles; there are no sanitary or electrical connections here, but a dump station is located near the contact station. Beyond the tent loop is a larger picnic area with CCC-built pavilions. [1] [3]

History

Prior to the establishment of the state forest and state park, land that makes up the park saw a variety of agricultural and light industrial uses. In the 1920s, the state began purchasing land for the state forest, and considered the area north of Plymouth Notch a good candidate for a campground and other recreational amenities. With federal funding made available for CCC works in 1933, work on the park facilities began. The main access road was cut, and the leanto camping loop was built, as were the picnic and maintenance facilities, and the contact station. Areas that had formerly been in agricultural use were planted with trees, and the CCC crews also cut some of the area's hiking trails. They also built a small swimming hole just west of VT 100A by damming Pinney Hollow Brook; this site is no longer in use. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

Conecuh National Forest

The Conecuh National Forest in southern Alabama covers 83,000 acres (340 km2), along the Alabama - Florida line in Covington and Escambia counties. Topography is level to moderately sloping, broad ridges with stream terraces and broad floodplains.

Bewabic State Park Park in Michigan, USA

Bewabic State Park is a public recreation area covering 315 acres (127 ha) on the shore of Fortune Lake, four miles (6.4 km) west of Crystal Falls in Iron County, Michigan. The state park's rich Civilian Conservation Corps history is evidenced by the CCC structures still in use. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its CCC-related architecture in 2016.

Wilgus State Park

Wilgus State Park is a state park in Ascutney, Vermont. The park offers canoeing along the Connecticut River and hiking up the Pinnacle Trail. The park has tent and lean-to sites and is quite close to Mount Ascutney and the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. The park was originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and is now administered by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation as part of the Vermont state park system. It is named after William J. Wilgus, who donated the land for the park in 1933. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its well-preserved CCC infrastructure.

Promised Land State Park State park in Pennsylvania, United States

Promised Land State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Blooming Grove, Greene and Palmyra Townships, Pike County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The approximately 3,000-acre (1,214 ha) park is mostly surrounded by Delaware State Forest. It is in the Poconos and sits at an elevation of 1,800 feet (549 m). The second growth forests in Promised Land State Park are made up of beech, maple, oak and hemlock trees. There are two lakes within the boundaries of the park. Promised Land State Park is 10 miles (16 km) north of Canadensis on Pennsylvania Route 390.

Hyner Run State Park State Park in Pennsylvania, United States

Hyner Run State Park is a 180-acre (73 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Chapman Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Renovo and 3 miles (5 km) north of Hyner on Pennsylvania Route 120. Hyner Run State Park is surrounded by Sproul State Forest.

Poe Valley State Park

Poe Valley State Park is a 620-acre (251 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Penn Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is surrounded by Bald Eagle State Forest. Poe Paddy State Park is 4 miles (6.4 km) to the east. The forests of the park surround the 25-acre (10 ha) Poe Lake. Poe Valley State Park is in isolated Poe Valley which lies between Potters Mills on U.S. Route 322 and Millheim on Pennsylvania Route 45. The park was closed during the 2008 and 2009 season while the lake was drained for dam repairs and the park facilities were upgraded.

Backbone State Park state park in Iowa

Backbone State Park is Iowa's oldest state park, dedicated in 1919. Located in the valley of the Maquoketa River, it is approximately three miles (5 km) south of Strawberry Point in Delaware County. It is named for a narrow and steep ridge of bedrock carved by a loop of the Maquoketa River originally known as the Devil's Backbone. The initial 1,200 acres (490 ha) were donated by E.M. Carr of Lamont, Iowa. Backbone Lake Dam, a relatively low dam built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, created Backbone Lake. The CCC constructed a majority of trails and buildings which make up the park.

Elmore State Park State park in Lamoille County, Vermont

Elmore State Park is a state park located in Elmore, Vermont, United States. It includes Lake Elmore and Elmore Mountain, and has day-use facilities for picnicking, hiking, and water-based activities, and a 59-site campground. Some of its facilities were developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps; for these, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. The park is open seasonally between Memorial Day and Columbus Day; fees are charged for day use and camping.

Shady Lake Recreation Area United States historic place

Shady Lake Recreation Area is a campground and public recreation area in southwestern Ouachita National Forest, southwest of Mena, Arkansas and west of Glenwood, Arkansas. The area is oriented around Shady Lake, a body of water on the South Fork Saline River impounded by a dam built c. 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The area is administered by the United States Forest Service (USFS).

Townshend State Park United States historic place

Townshend State Park is a state park in Townshend, Vermont. Embedded within Townshend State Forest, the park provides a camping facility and hiking trails for accessing Bald Mountain. The park's facilities were developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places for their well-preserved state.

Gifford Woods State Park United States historic place

Gifford Woods State Park is a state park located at the base of Pico Peak in Killington, Vermont. The wooded park provides camping, picnic, and fishing facilities, and has hiking trails, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail. It preserves an area of old-growth forest that has been designated a National Natural Landmark, and is accessible via an interpretive trail. The park was established in 1931. Part of it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, for facilities developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

Allis State Park State park in Orange County, Vermont

Allis State Park is a state park in Brookfield, Vermont. Established in 1928, Allis State Park was the second state park to be created in Vermont. It is named for Wallace Allis, who willed his Bear Mountain Farm to the State of Vermont to be developed as a campground and recreational area. The park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) beginning in 1932, which built the access roads, constructed a picnic shelter, picnic grounds and a campground. There is a fire/lookout tower on Bear Hill. Limited trash service, hot showers and running water are available. There are picnic tables, grills and fireplaces.

Stillwater State Park State park in Caledonia County, Vermont

Stillwater State Park is a state park located on Lake Groton in Groton, Vermont. The park is located in Groton State Forest close to the Groton Nature Center, Boulder Beach State Park and Big Deer State Park. The park offers camping, picnicking, and access to water-related activities on Lake Groton. The park was developed in the 1930s by crews of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It is open to the public between Memorial Day weekend and Columbus Day weekend; fees are charged for day use and camping.

New Discovery State Park State park in Caledonia County, Vermont

New Discovery State Park is a state park near Marshfield, Vermont in the United States. It is one of seven state parks located in Groton State Forest. The park is on Vermont Route 232, offering camping, picnicking, and access to forest trails. The park was developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps; its major CCC-built facilities, located mainly in western Peacham, were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Ricker Pond State Park State park in Caledonia County, Vermont

Ricker Pond State Park is a state park in Groton, Vermont in the United States. It is one of seven state parks located in Groton State Forest. The park is just off Vermont Route 232. The park provides public access to Ricker Pond, a 95-acre (38 ha) lake in central Groton, and was developed in the 1930s by crews of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Activities includes camping, motor boating, waterskiing, fishing, swimming, paddling, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The park is open between the Memorial Day and Columbus Day weekends; fees are charged for day use and camping.

Underhill State Park State park in Chittenden County, Vermont

Underhill State Park is a state park in Underhill, Vermont. It is situated on the west slope of 4,300 feet Mount Mansfield, in the 39,837-acre Mount Mansfield State Forest. Activities includes hiking, camping, mountain biking, stream fishing, wildlife watching, and picnicking. Facilities include group and individual camping areas, a picnic shelter, and hiking trails. The park is formally open between Memorial Day weekend and Columbus Day weekend, but is accessible for periods outside those times; fees are charged. Much of the park's infrastructure was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s; these facilities were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Thetford Hill State Park

Thetford Hill State Park is a state park in Thetford, Vermont. It is a day-use park within the southern tract of Thetford Hill State Forest. The park includes paths for hiking and the 5-km Woods Hill Trail, a world-class cross-country running and skiing trail. Activities includes hiking, cross-country running and cross-country skiing. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 for its historic facilities, some of which were developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is currently under the care of Thetford Academy.

Maidstone State Park State park in Essex County, Vermont

Maidstone State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Vermont. The park is located in the town of Maidstone in Essex County in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. One of the state's most remote parks, it provides public access to the 796-acre (322 ha) glacial Maidstone Lake in Maidstone State Forest. The park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and opened in 1938. Activities include fishing, hiking, camping, boating, wildlife watching, and picnicking. The park is open from Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend; fees are charged for day use and camping.

Mount Ascutney State Park State park in Windsor County, Vermont

Mount Ascutney State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Vermont. The park entrance is located along Vermont Route 44-A near the town of Windsor in Windsor County. Operated by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, a significant portion of the park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Calvin Coolidge State Forest, also known as Coolidge State Forest, covers 22,564 acres (91.31 km2) in two parts in Rutland and Windsor Counties in Vermont. The West portion cover 17,259 acres (69.84 km2) in Killington, Mendon, Plymouth and Shrewsbury in both counties. The East portion cover 5,305 acres (21.47 km2) in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Reading, and Woodstock in Windsor County.

References

  1. 1 2 "Coolidge State Park". Vermont State Parks. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
  2. "Coolidge State Park". Oh Ranger. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Amy Lord (2002). "NRHP nomination for Coolidge State Park". National Park Service . Retrieved 2016-06-19. with photos from 2002