Deer Creek State Park (Ohio)

Deer Creek State Park
Harding Cabin
Deer Creek State Park Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Deer Creek State Park Deer Creek State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Fayette County and Pickaway County, Ohio, United States
Coordinates	39°38′46″N83°15′03″W / 39.6460757°N 83.2509498°W / 39.6460757; -83.2509498
Established	1974
Administered by	Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Designation	Ohio state park
Website	Official website

Deer Creek State Park is a state park located south of Mount Sterling in Fayette and Pickaway counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The park opened in 1974 and includes a resort, golf course, and reservoir. It is also home to the Harding Cabin, a log cabin owned by President Warren Harding's attorney general Harry M. Daugherty. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources manages the park.

Attractions

The park features a resort with over 100 guest rooms and 25 vacation cabins. The resort includes swimming pools, conference rooms, and common areas with fireplaces. A campground with 232 campsites is also available. An 18-hole golf course is located next to the resort, and a disc golf course is near the campground. ^[1]

The park's Deer Creek Lake allows boating and has a marina with services and rental facilities. Fishing is permitted on the lake, and commonly caught species include saugeye, catfish, crappie, and largemouth bass. The lake also features a swimming beach. Other park amenities include a nature center, sports courts, and hiking and equestrian trails. ^[1]

History

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created Deer Creek Lake in 1968 by building a dam on Deer Creek. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources established a park on the lake in 1974 and built a new campground for visitors. ^[2] The park's marina opened in 1978, and its lodge opened in 1981. ^{[3] [4]}

The park's Harding Cabin, also known as The Shack, was built in 1918^{[ citation needed ]} by Harry M. Daugherty, President Harding's attorney general. Harding himself visited the cabin on several occasions, and local rumors suggest that his Ohio Gang conducted business dealings there. ^[5]

References

1. "Deer Creek State Park". Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
2. "Deer Creek Park development continues". Record Herald . June 5, 1974. p. 14. Retrieved September 28, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
3. Swope, Roberta T. (July 19, 1978). "Marina Area Opens At Deer Creek State Park". The Circleville Herald . p. 16. Retrieved September 28, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Deer Creek Lodge Units Opened By Gov. Rhodes". Springfield News-Sun . May 17, 1981. p. 8D. Retrieved September 28, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Harding Cabin". Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 28, 2025.

External links

• Deer Creek State Park at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
• Deer Creek State Park map