Dillon State Park

A photo of the Dillon Reservoir which the park surrounds.

Dillon State Park is located in Nashport, Ohio. It spans 2,285 acres along the Licking River. The park's features include the wooded hills and scenic valleys. One of the attractions of Dillon State Park is Dillon Lake, which covers 1,560 acres and offers a wide range of activities including boating and fishing.

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

Due to the influence of the Black Hand Sandstone in Dillon State Park, the park has a wide variety of natural features. This sand from the eastern mountains eroded and assembled around the ancient sea of this region hundreds of millions years ago. Subsequently, this eroded bedrock formed a sheer cliff.

History

Dillon State Park was named after Moses Dillon, who is known for constructing the original Y-Bridge in Zanesville. He purchased the land where the park now stands in 1803.

Between the years 1811 and 1834, the National Road was constructed which passed near the Dillon region. This 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. Due to the growing amount of people traveling along this road, 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 instance, 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 accommodation not too far from the park. These include cabins and hotels in the nearby cities and towns. In addition, there is housing available inside of the park upon request, and campground facilities.

The park is free to visitors.

Campgrounds

The campground includes a family campground, equestrian campsites and vacation cabins. Dillon State Park has 195 campsites and 29 cabins in total. The regular campground sites and equestrian camp cost between $25 and $32 while the cabins cost $120. In addition, the campground has facilities such as a camp-store and a playground, but the camp-store is closed until May 2024 for renovations.

Activities and attractions

Dillon State Park has boating experiences on the lake, with four boat ramps and seventy docks for rent. There are also hiking trails across many different terrains. The trails are between three-quarters of a mile and six miles in length.

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, horseshoes, paddleball, volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard and even a playground.

Flora and fauna

The park includes a wide variety of plant and animal species. White-tailed deer and wild turkey can be spotted long the park's trails, while the migration of a variety of ducks, geese, and swans can be seen on Dillon Lake. Bald eagle sightings have also been reported by visitors. Inside the lake, there are populations of bluegill, catfish, hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, saugeye, and crappie for fishing. The park's plants include a variety of hardwood trees like oak and maple. Shield lichen can also be found around the park growing on trees.