Lake Loramie State Park
4401 Ft. Loramie Swanders Road
Minster, Ohio 45865-9311
(937) 295-2011
1-866-644-6727 for camping
and getaway rental reservations
One of the original canal feeder lakes, Lake Loramie State Park offers visitors
a quiet retreat in rural Ohio.
Swim from the sandy beach, hike along the old
canal towpath, stay a night in a shaded campsite or
boat the lazy waters of Lake Loramie.
 Camping
The campground offers 161 campsites with electrical hookups, may of which are
staded waterfront sites. The campground features showers, flush toilets and a
dump station. Several sites are equipped with boat tie-ups. There are three
group camp areas available by reservation to organized groups. Four Rent-A-Camp
sites consisting of a tent, dining shelter, cookstove and other equipment can be
rented during summer months by reservation only.
Boating
Boating is a popular activity at Lake Loramie. Unlimited horsepower boat motors
are permitted. Dock rentals and launch ramps are provided. The entire lake is
classified as "no wake" with the exception of the designated "speed zone" in the
west end of the lake. Water skiing is prohibited.
Fishing and Hunting
Lake Loramie provides anglers with good catches of crappie, bluegill, channel
catfish, bullheads, carp and fair numbers of largemouth bass. Hunting is
permitted in designated areas when in season. A valid Ohio fishing and/or
hunting license is required.
 Picnicking
There are several picnic areas located around the lake. Grills, restrooms and
drinking water are provided. Three shelterhouses are available, for reservations
contact the park office.
Trails
The hiking opportunities at Lake Loramie include more than eight miles of trail.
A portion of the trail system follows the Miami-Erie Canal from the park to
Delphos. This route is also a part of the Buckeye Trail and the North Country
National Scenic Trail.
Swimming
Lake Loramie features a 600-foot sandy beach with adjacent picnic areas,
playground and shelterhouse.
Nature of the Area
Although difficult to imagine, Ohio at one time had more than two-thirds of its
surface covered by massive sheets of ice as much as a mile thick in places. At
least three great ice sheets invaded Ohio's boundaries in the geologic past. The
last one retreated 12,000 years ago.
These ice advances directly impacted the natural features now evident at Lake
Loramie State Park. Materials deposited by the glaciers included clay, sand,
gravel and boulders of various sizes.
 In the
western half of Ohio where the land is generally level, these deposits resulted
in some of the world's richest soils. A great forest emerged after the glacial
era, covering 95% of the state. In the vicinity of Lake Loramie, the vegetation
consisted of mainly beech forests which thrived in the moist, fertile soils of
the region.
Today, little can be seen of that mighty forest because development of the
land for agriculture and other purposes has drastically altered the original
vegetation. Small woodlots, grass plains, prairie and farmland are typical of
the area today.
The park's campground supports a colony of the unique bald cypress tree as
well as a plantation of sweet gum dating back to the early 1950s. Waterfowl,
including Canada geese, frequent the park along with various songbirds and small
mammals. Wildflowers flourish in the forests and fields.
On the lake, waterlily, cattail and a beautiful display of American lotus
enhance the view. A trail leading to Blackberry Island will treat visitors to
glimpses of nesting red-headed woodpeckers and barred owls. The park's meadows
support a large population of eastern bluebirds.
History of the Area
Preceding the French and Indian War of 1754-1763, the Miami village called
Pickawillany became prominent in this area. Over 400 Indian families lived here
and it became the principal headquarters of the Miami Confederacy before being
destroyed by the French in 1752 because the Miami Indians sided with the
British.
Lake Loramie derived its name from the famous French-Canadian trader, Peter
Loramie, who in 1769 established a trading post at the mouth of Loramie Creek
near the west end of what is now Loramie Reservoir. Loramie first came to the
area as a Jesuit priest to minister to the Wyandot and Shawnee Indians.
Loramie's store became the center of Indian mischief against the settlers, and
Loramie became a bitter enemy of the Americans. General George Rogers Clark
destroyed the post and a nearby Indian village in 1782 during an expedition in
the Miami valley. Loramie emigrated west with a band of Shawnee shortly
afterwards. In 1794, General "Mad" Anthony Wayne built a fort on the former
trading post site.
Lake Loramie was originally constructed in 1844-45 as a storage reservoir to
supply water for the Miami-Erie Canal system. A short feeder canal connected
Lake Loramie with the main canal which furnished transportation from the Ohio
River at Cincinnati north to Lake Erie. The canal system reached its peak of
economic importance in the mid-1800s. Eventually, the advent of the railroads
and destruction caused by the floods of 1913 forced the abandonment of the
canals in that year.
Since that time, Lake Loramie and other canal lands became recognized for their
potential to serve increasing outdoor recreational needs. In 1949, Lake Loramie
became the possession of the newly created Division of Parks and Recreation of
the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and has been maintained as a state park
since. |
