Buck Creek State Park
1901 Buck Creek Lane
Springfield, OH 45502
1-866-644-6727 for cottage
and camping reservationsBuck Creek State Park lies in a fertile agricultural
area, rich in Ohio's history. The park's recreational facilities center around
the 2,120-acre lake, offering endless water-related opportunities. Visitors
enjoy the many wetlands, broad meadows and wildlife at this diverse park.
 Cottages
There are 26 family cottages situated in a wooded area with several offering a
view of the lake. The cottages have two bedrooms, bath with a shower, living
room with a trundle bed, complete kitchen, dining area and screened porch, gas
log fireplaces, and air conditioning. One cottage is fully accessible.
Camping
This modern campground has 111 campsites of which 89 have electricity.
Campground facilities include showers, flush toilets and dump station. Campers
with pets may camp on designated sites. Boat camping is permitted in designated
areas.
Boating
Boating with unlimited horsepower is permitted on the 2,120-acre lake. A
four-lane launch ramp provides access to the lake. A marina provides fuel, snack
bar, bait shop and seasonal dock rental.
Hunting and Fishing
Fishermen enjoy fine catches of walleye, bass and pan fish. A fishing pier is
open to the public and is wheelchair accessible. Hunting is permitted in
designated areas. A valid Ohio hunting and/or fishing license is required.
Swimming
Sunbathers and swimmers enjoy the 2,400-foot sand beach. Vending machines are
located at the beach.
Picnicking
Picnic areas provide tables and grills in scenic locations. Two picnic shelters
may be reserved by calling the park office.
Trails
More than 7.5 miles of hiking trails offer opportunities for nature study, bird
watching and other wildlife observation. A scenic 7.5-mile bridle trail is also
open to snowmobiling, weather permitting.
 Expanded
Information
Buck Creek State Park is leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District at C.J. Brown Dam and Reservoir
provides plenty of information to make your visit more enjoyable.
More To Do
Bkie rentals are offered at the camp office, and the campground offers many
activities to campers, including a campers' beach. There are also volleyball and
basketball courts, tetherball and horseshoe pits. Shuffleboard is a favorite and
playground equipment is available for younger campers.
Nature of the Area
The natural features of Buck Creek State Park can be attributed to the
effects of glaciers which receded from Ohio over 12,000 years ago. Low hills
called moraines can be seen in the area where glaciers halted for extended
periods of time and left deposits of gravel and sand. Old river valleys were
filled by these deposits where numerous springs now well up through the sand and
gravel. The nearby city of Springfield is named for the many springs seeping up
from the broad meadows. The springs account for the many bogs and fens in Clark
and Champaign counties of which Cedar Bog is probably the best known.
These wet areas harbor an assortment of rare and unusual plants including
round-leaved sundew and horned bladderwort. The spotted turtle, a state
endangered animal, is found in the area. The northernmost region of the park is
an excellent area to observe waterfowl. The shallow waters provide a stopover
for thousands of migrating ducks. Relatively rare songbirds of open meadows are
also present including dickcissels, bobolinks and Henslow sparrows.
History of the Area
Buck Creek was home to Indians and pioneers. The land at the time of early
settlement was mostly forested by large trees with minimal undergrowth.
Occasionally, the forests were interrupted by prairie openings.
In 1780, George Rogers Clark, a Revolutionary war hero, led a band of nearly
1,000 Kentuckians in a raid against Ohio Indians. The Shawnee Indians abandoned
their camp which they called Old Chillicothe (near Xenia) and fled to Piqua, the
Shawnee capital, located west of the present site of Springfield. Clark pursued
the fleeing Indians, and the Shawnee were defeated at the Battle of Piqua. Most
of the Indians, however, had dispersed into the woodlands. One Indian hiding in
the woods was the young Tecumseh, who vowed to avenge the attack. Following the
battle, Clark's men retreated to their homes in Kentucky and the Indians moved
north. A new Piqua was erected on the banks of the Miami River. This battle put
a temporary end to Indian warfare.
 With the
decline of Indian threat, settlers moved into the area. In 1799, legendary
frontiersman Simon Kenton settled in the region with six other Kentucky
families. The group lived near the confluence of Buck Creek and Mad River. After
two years, the settlers moved to different areas. Kenton established a home
along Buck Creek about four miles north of present Springfield. Settlement
brought change to the area as trees were cut to construct buildings. Acres were
cleared and farm crops were planted. The settlers found the land extremely
fertile.
The community of Springfield was founded in 1801 and has served since then as
the county seat of Clark County. In 1838, the National Road (U.S. 40) reached
Springfield and this opened new markets for manufacturing and agriculture. Over
the years, Springfield's character changed from rural to industrial. By 1880,
the community led the nation in the manufacturing of agricultural implements.
In September 1966, work was started by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to
impound Buck Creek as a flood control project. In 1974, the Clarence J. Brown
Dam and Reservoir were dedicated and an agreement gave the Ohio Department of
Natural Resources the operation of much of the area. Buck Creek State Park was
officially opened in June 1975. |
