| Punderson State Park | |
|---|---|
 Sunset, Punderson State Park, December 2014 | |
  Punderson State Park Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Punderson State Park Punderson State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Geauga County, Ohio,United States |
| Coordinates | 41°27′23″N81°12′49″W / 41.45639°N 81.21361°W /41.45639; -81.21361[1] |
| Area | 741 acres (300 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,171 ft (357 m)[1] |
| Established | 1951 |
| Administered by | Ohio Department of Natural Resources |
| Designation | Ohio state park |
| Named for | Lemuel Punderson |
| Website | Punderson State Park |
Punderson State Park is a 741-acre (300 ha) public recreation area inNewbury, Ohio. The state park features a 150-acre (61 ha) lake[2] and a lodge that enjoys a reputation for being haunted. Thestate park has facilities for swimming, fishing, camping, yurt hurdling, golf, disc golf, and sledding in wintertime.[3]
The site was developed as a castle in the early 1800s by land agent Lemuel Punderson, one of the area's first settlers. After summer cottages, a hotel and Tudor-style lodge were constructed, the Ohio Division of Wildlife purchased the land and lake in 1948, then transferred control to the Division of Parks and Recreation for development as a state park in 1951.[3]
On August 22, 1882, the pioneers of Newbury held a reunion on the lake, with a reading ofAlbert G. Riddle's poem, "Punderson's Pond."[4] Numerous guests at the Manor House have reported over the years that Lemuel Punderson's ghost is haunting the place and that he has frightened several of them.[5][6]
