Dillon State Park

Dillon State Park is located in Nashport, Ohio, and spans 2,285 acres. The park's distinguished features are its wooded hills and scenic valleys. One of the vital attractions is Dillon Lake, which covers 1,560 acres and offers a wide range of activities including boating and fishing. Therefore, Dillon State Park is a promising destination for a memorable bonding experience with family and friends.

In addition, the park has many trails suitable for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The park is also well known for people who love to observe nature due to its lively wildlife. It is the home to deer, wild turkeys, and many bird species.

Due to the unique influence of the Blackhand sandstone, Dillon State Park, Muskingum County, has a wide variety of natural features. To explain: this sand from the eastern mountains, eroded and assembled around the ancient sea of this region hundreds of millions years ago. Then, this eroded bedrock formed a sheer cliff.

History

Dillon State Park was named after Moses Dillon who purchased the land where the park is located in 1803. Moses Dillon is famously credited with the construction of the original Y-Bridge in Zanesville, Ohio, a significant historic landmark located near the Licking River.

Between the years 1811 and 1834, the National Road was constructed which passed near the Dillon region. The road connected the central Ohio region with the east coast, starting from Maryland through Ohio to Illinois. Passing through Zanesville, the town directly next to Dillon State Park, the road had a significant impact on the economy by increasing the number of people who passed by the town. Zanesville became a major stopover along this national road.

In 1961, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers became involved in flood control projects throughout areas of Ohio. The project created the Dillon Dam which aimed to manage the waters of the Licking and Muskingum Rivers, which had caused major floods in the past. This flood control reservoir resulted in the creation of Dillon Lake, which the park now surrounds.

The addition of the dam and the creation of the lake changed the landscape of the area and the construction of new roads became required, in order for people to access the park.

The park was officially established as a public recreation area in 1968 by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Since then the park has significantly developed to accommodate visitors by implementing various activities and multi-use trails.

Geology

Evidence of geological features that formed over millions of years ago can be found in the park today. For example, the Black Hand sandstone dates back to the Early Mississippian Period, around 300 to 350 million years ago when the area was a coastal plain and surrounded by shallow seas. Over time sand, eroded from nearby mountains to the east, compressed over millions of years to form this sandstone. Unique to the Ohio area, Black Hand sandstone is coarse, durable, and massive in nature.

Tourist Accommodations

Dillon State Park is connected to, or located near, many residential housing locations for any visitors who are interested in accommodations not too far from the park. Such as, cabins and hotels in the nearby cities and towns. In addition, there is housing available inside of the park upon request, and even campground abilities for those familiar and seeking the full, different experience.

Another feature of this park is that it is free to visitors who plan on exploring and desire a change in environment for a day or a few hours of discovery.

Campgrounds

One of the most notable features, campground, is welcoming you and providing diverse options of accommodations such as large family campground, equestrian campsites, and vacation cabins. In fact, Dillon State Park has 195 campsites and 29 cabins in order to bring out promising recreational experience. Regarding pricing, regular campground sites and equestrian camp required between $25 and $32 while that of cabins is much higher with $120. In addition, the campground has sufficient and convenient facilities: sanitation, camp-store, and playground, but the camp-store is closed until May 2024 for renovations.

Activities/Attractions

Dillon State Park is accompanied by a scenic view of nature, allowing customers to explore the outdoorsy routes in addition to the many pastimes offered at the park. From the unique boating experiences that can be provided on the lake to the trails that can be hiked. This location gives access to many different terrains unlike no other. The nature in the park is accompanied by, for example, the Black Head Sandstone, or eroded sand from many millions of years in the past. This natural occurrence is now in the shape of cliffs and holds together a natural, green forest. In addition, the wildlife that are inhabiting the park tie the adventure together. From white-tailed deer to the wild turkey and bald eagles, these friendly savages are a sight to behold.

Onto the living abilities of the park: There are 29 familial cottages available for space throughout the lakeshore. These cottages include things such as air conditioning, television, gas heat, two bedrooms, bath, a living room with sofa bed, an all-electric kitchen, dining space and a screened porch. Residents are also provided with furnished linens, towels and kitchen utensils.

An accessible swimming beach is also available at this park. The facilities located nearby include a bath house, showers, lockers, snack bar, and a wading pool for children. For entertainment, there are a myriad of games and activities for residents to enjoy, such as: tennis, horseshoe, paddleball, volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard and even a playground. The boating previously mentioned has four boat ramps for access to the lake. There is a boat concession that provides boat and motor rental possibilities, fuel, tools for fishing and boating and snacks. Additionally, there are indeed seventy docks that are accessible for rent on a seasonal basis.

Dillon State Park also holds many picnic tables with grills that overlook picturesque views. In fact, there are two shelters for bigger parties on a first-come, first-served basis. The range of trails that take an individual to these places go from three-fourths of a mile in length to anywhere about six miles in length.

Flora and Fauna

The park included a wide variety of plant and animal species. White-tailed deer and wild turkey can be spotted long the park's trails. And during migration a variety of ducks, geese, and swans can be seen visiting the Dillon waters. Bald eagle sightings have also been reported by visitors. Inside the lake, there are plentiful supplies of bluegill, catfish, hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, saugeye, and crappie for fishing. The park's plants included a variety of hardwood trees like oak, history, and maple which offer a vibrant and colorful sight in autumn. Shield lichen (or flavoparmelia caperata), which is a complex life form where two organisms, a fungus and an alga, live as one, can also be found around the park growing on trees. They are green and grow in round, shield-like shapes.