| Raccoon Creek State Park | |
|---|---|
 A waterfall at Raccoon Creek State Park | |
 Interactive map of Raccoon Creek State Park | |
| Location | Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 7,572 acres (30.64 km2)[1] |
| Elevation | 932 ft (284 m)[2] |
| Established | 1945[1] |
| Named for | Raccoon Creek |
| Visitors | 530,000[3] |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Raccoon Creek State Park |
Raccoon Creek RDA | |
 One of the cabins in the RDA | |
   | |
| Location | Route 18 inHanover Township |
| Coordinates | 40°30′42″N80°26′34″W / 40.51167°N 80.44278°W /40.51167; -80.44278 |
| Area | 812 acres (329 ha) |
| Built | 1935 |
| Architect | CCC Camps SP-6 and SP-16 |
| Architectural style | National Park Service Rustic |
| MPS | Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) Architecture in Pennsylvania State Parks: 1933-1942, TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000745[4] |
| Added to NRHP | May 18, 1987 |
Raccoon Creek State Park is a 7,572-acre (3,064 ha)Pennsylvania state park onRaccoon Creek inHanover andIndependence townships inBeaver County,Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is about 30 miles (48 km) from the city ofPittsburgh, nearHookstown. Raccoon Creek State Park is easily accessed fromPennsylvania Route 18 andU.S Routes 30 and22. The park offers numerous activities such as hiking, biking,cross-country skiing, camping, hunting, swimming,fishing, and boating, the last three at the 101-acre (41 ha) "Raccoon Lake."
Raccoon Creek State Park was chosen by thePennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and its Bureau of Parks as one of "25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks".[5]
Raccoon Creek State Park is located on the site of a formerVictorian erahealth resort. Frankfort Minerals Springs was the site of a naturalmineral spring. It was founded byEdward McGinnis in the mid-19th century. He believed that the mineral spring waters held curative powers. McGinnis built his resort atop a hill in what is now Raccoon Creek State Park. Visitors to the resort walked down steps to the springs. The resort was very prosperous. At one time it featured ahotel,dance hall,livery stable and numerous guest cottages. Frankfort Mineral Springs closed during the first part of the 20th century.[6]
Along with two other Pennsylvania state parks, Raccoon Creek State Park was established as aRecreational Demonstration Area during theGreat Depression. Its earliest buildings, constructed by theCivilian Conservation Corps in 1935, are split among four areas: three group camps and a headquarters/maintenance complex.[7]: 1, 2 Built in theNational Park Service Rustic style,[7]: 16 these buildings were added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 1987 as ahistoric district;[4] a total of 114buildings and structures qualified ascontributing properties.[4] The district was added to the Register for several significant reasons: besides their distinctive architecture and their role as parts of a recreational area, the buildings reflect the federal government's attempts to resolve the poverty of the Depression throughpolitical means.[7]: 16
Raccoon Creek State Park has continued to develop from its beginning in the 1930s to one of the largest state parks in Pennsylvania. Facilities at the park are a mix from the early camp to modern facilities. In addition to recreational areas, there are large tracts of undeveloped land.[8] Scenes for the filmThe Road were filmed at the park in the spring of 2008.[9]
The 314-acre Wildflower Reserve, located at the eastern section of Raccoon Creek State Park, contains one of the most diverse stands of wildflowers in western Pennsylvania. Over 700 species of plants have been identified in the Reserve .[10][11] Trails lead through a variety of habitats like oak-hickory forest, pine plantations, woodland meadows, and flood plain forest along Raccoon Creek. Wildflowers can be observed throughout the growing season with peak wildflower blooms occurring in late April and August. Because of its uniqueness and to preserve the many wildflower species, the Reserve is closed to all activities other than hiking on designated trails.
Raccoon Creek State Park lies within theAppalachian mixed mesophytic forestsecoregion.[12]
There are about 500picnic tables spread among 5 picnic areas at Raccoon Creek State Park. Fivepavilions are available to rent or if unrented are available on a first come, first served basis.[1]
Raccoon Lake is open for year-round fishing. The common game fish arebullhead catfish,bluegill,yellow perch,crappie,walleye,muskellunge, and bothlarge andsmallmouth bass. Raccoon Lake's feeder streams arestocked withbrook andrainbow trout by thePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. These fish can also be found in the lake.[1]
Hunting is permitted on over 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) of Raccoon Creek State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of thePennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species areruffed grouse,squirrels,turkey,pheasants,white-tailed deer, andrabbits. The hunting ofgroundhogs is forbidden.[1]
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Raccoon Creek State Park:[13][14][15]
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