Dillon State Park

Dillon State Park encompasses 2,285 acres along the Licking River in Nashport, Ohio. Black Hand Sandstone in Dillon State Park has resulted in the park having a wide variety of natural features, including wooded hills and scenic valleys. One of the attractions in 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 used for sight-seeing due to its wildlife.

A photo of the Dillon Reservoir which the park surrounds.

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 1811 and 1834, the National Road was constructed, which passed near the Dillon region. The road connected central Ohio to the east coast, extending from Maryland to Illinois. The road passed through Zanesville, the town directly next to Dillon State Park. Furthermore, the road significantly boosted local economic activity as traffic increased. As the traffic along the route grew, Zanesville became a major stopover along this road.

In 1961, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers initiated flood control projects across Ohio. The project created the Dillon Dam, designed to control and manage the waters of the Licking and Muskingum Rivers, which had caused major floods in the past. This flood control reservoir ultimately resulted in the creation of Dillon Lake, which the park now surrounds. The addition of the dam and the creation of the lake transformed the area's landscape, necessitating the construction of new roads to provide people with access to 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. The sand from the eastern mountains eroded and collected around the ancient sea of this region hundreds of millions of years ago. The Black Hand Sandstone in the park 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. 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.

Flora and fauna

The park includes a wide variety of plant and animal species. White-tailed deer and Wild turkey can be spotted along the park's trails, while the migration of ducks, geese, and swans can be observed 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.

Activities and attractions

Dillon State Park offers boat and dock rentals. The park also provides hiking and mountain biking trails across many different terrains. The trails are between half a mile and 18 miles in length.

An accessible swimming beach is also available at this park. The facilities located nearby include showers, lockers, a snack bar, a bathhouse, and a wading pool for children. For entertainment, there are various games and activities for residents to enjoy, such as: tennis, horseshoes, paddleball, volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard and a playground.

The Park has 195 campsites and 29 cabins in total. The campground includes a family campground, equestrian campsites and vacation cabins.