Hueston Woods State Park

Hueston Woods State Park is a state park located in Butler and Preble counties of the U.S. state of Ohio, about five miles (8 km) northeast of Oxford in the southwestern part of the state. The park lies in Oxford Township, Butler County, and Israel Township, Preble County. It has nearly 3,000 acres (1,200 ha), including a man-made lake of 625 acres (253 ha).[4] The park's beech-maple climax forest has been designated a National Natural Landmark.[5]

Hueston Woods State Park
Hueston Woods Covered Bridge
Hueston Woods State Park
Location in Ohio
LocationButler and Preble counties, Ohio, United States
Coordinates39°34′21″N 84°44′29″W[1]
Area2,936 acres (1,188 ha)[2]
Elevation938 ft (286 m)[1]
Established1957
Administered byOhio Department of Natural Resources
DesignationOhio state park
WebsiteHueston Woods State Park
Acton Lake
Acton Lake
Acton Lake
LocationSouthwestern Ohio
Coordinates39°34′19″N 84°44′53″W[3]
Lake typeReservoir
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length2.3 mi (3.7 km)
Max. width0.5 mi (0.80 km)
Surface area625 acres (253 ha)[4]
Surface elevation860 ft (260 m)[3]

History

The state bought the land in 1941, but the park did not open until 1957. The state used the land initially as a prison camp. In 1956, Four Mile Creek was dammed to form Acton Lake, named for Clyde Acton, the member of the Ohio General Assembly who persuaded the legislature to buy the property.[4] Hueston Woods was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1967.[5]

Features

"The limestone and shale bedrock of the Hueston Woods area provides evidence of the ancient shallow sea that once covered Ohio. Fossilized remains of ancient marine animals are so abundant that visitors from around the world are drawn to Hueston Woods to collect them."[4] Fossils found at this State Park include:

The Hueston Woods Covered Bridge in Preble County was completed and opened for traffic in June 2012. The $2.0 million Burr arch truss structure spans 108 feet over Four Mile Creek north and west of the park. The structure supports 40 ton tractor trailer traffic and has a life expectancy of over 100 years.[8]

The Doty Homestead is a mid 19th-century brick farmhouse that is operated by the Oxford Museum Association as a historic house museum. It is open on Sunday afternoons in the summer season.[9]

Mammals that call the park home include beaver, mink, white-tail deer, foxes, eastern coyotes, bobcats, opossums, muskrats, cottontail rabbits, skunks, and more.[10]

Activities and amenities

The park offers boating, camping, fishing, swimming, 12 miles (19 km) of hiking trails, 18 miles (29 km) of bridal trails, 20 miles (32 km) of mountain biking trails, cabins, 96-room lodge, and golf course.[4]

References
  1. "Hueston Woods State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "Hueston Woods State Park". Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on December 31, 2008.
  3. "Acton Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  4. "Hueston Woods State Park". Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  5. "Hueston Woods". National Natural Landmarks. National Park Service. Retrieved June 6, 2019. ...a noteworthy example of beech-maple climax forest that has never been cut.
  6. "The Fossils of Hueston Woods" (PDF). Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 1 January 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2019. Portions adapted from "Ohio Fossils," Bulletin 54, by permission of the Division of the Geological Survey, Ohio Department of natural Resources
  7. La Rocque, Aurèle; Marple, Mildred Fisher; Ohio. Division of Geological Survey (1955). Ohio Fossils. University of Connecticut Libraries. Columbus : Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey.
  8. "Hueston Woods Covered Bridge" (PDF) (Press release). Hueston Woods Lodge.
  9. "Doty Homestead". Oxford Museum Association. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  10. "Division of Wildlife". Retrieved Aug 26, 2020.
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