Pettigrew State Park

About Pettigrew State Park

Pettigrew State Park is an ideal blend of nature, history and recreation: take a fishing rod, explore a dugout as old as a pyramid, or hike into the woods for a picnic.

Take a journey through time to the grave of a great Confederate general, hug a tree as wide as an elephant, or enjoy the view of the Great Smoky Mountains from the top of Pettigrew.

Pettigrew exhibits his story in the midst of a picturesque natural landscape. Wildflowers and dashes of colour adorn the landscape, majestic cypresses towering high enough to provide perches for songbirds.

Butterflies, butterflies, birds of prey and other birds of prey flock to the park, as well as a variety of other bird species.

Traditionally, groups of hunters ventured to the shelter to hunt and search for farmland. The wilderness is so remote that the explorers refused to enter its borders, and legend has it that it is only accessible on horseback.

The area around Phelps Lake was developed by Josiah Collins, who immigrated from England to the United States. He is said to have called it "the first water" and claimed it as his home. Most of the men turned and turned back, but just as the remains were about to leave, Benjamin Tarkington climbed a tree and saw the lake. While he was in the tree, his companion Jos Isaiah Phelps ran into the water and ran after him.

Collins founded Somerset Place in 1787, named after his hometown in Somersetshire, England, and the partners of The Lake Company drained the swamp and transformed the land into productive agricultural fields and a thriving plantation.

Collins later developed locks to irrigate the area's corn and rice crops, and Phelps brought slaves from Africa to dig a six-mile canal that connected him to the Scuppernong River. The channel, a remarkable feat for its time, served as a major source of revenue for Phelps and his business partners, as well as the local community.

The Civil War ended the prosperity of Somerset Place, and the Collins family, unable to maintain the plantation, sold it to several owners until it was acquired by the Federal Farm Security Administration in 1937. Today, Somerset Place is a state-recognized historic site that spans more than 1,000 acres of land in Somerset County, New Jersey.

Forget a taste of the cultural life south of Foreland, visit historic Somerset Place to take a look at New Jersey's past, present and future. This website is managed by the Somerset County Historical Society, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization.

A mile east of Somerset, Civil War enthusiasts find themselves on the old carriageway. Gen. Pettigrew, after whom the park is named, has left an indelible mark on the state's history with his contributions to the fight against the Confederate Army of New Jersey.

He led his famous troops to Gettysburg, North Carolina, and died of the injuries he sustained during the Battle of Bulge, along with his brother-in-law, General Robert E. Lee.

Gen. Pettigrew's father and grandfather are buried in a shady cemetery, and the headstones tell of the triumphs and tragedies of this North Carolina family.

Next to Somerset Place is the former Pettigrew family farm in Bonarva, and only a few pieces of debris remain of the plantation his grandfather planted as a coach road in the 1790s, as well as several large trees planted by the family.

In the 1830s, Bonarva was recognized nationwide as a model for scientific agricultural management. Collins Country House and surrounding land were included in the Scuppernong Farms resettlement project through the purchase of the Federal Farm Security Administration. In 1939, Pettigrew became the sixth national park in North Carolina, and in 1946 the state gained control of the land under the National Park Service's Land and Water Conservation Act.

Thirteen campsites with picnic tables and barbecues are suitable for tents and trailers. The edge of the cypress and rubber forest offers shady places for some campsites, while others lie on open grass meadows. Family campsites near the park office at Somerset Place have picnic areas, picnic benches and a picnic table.

Water toilets and showers are nearby, as well as a picnic table, picnic tables and a water fountain at the entrance to the park.

In the beautiful forest there are primitive tents with pillows, barbecue places and toilets, and there are plenty of outdoor learning opportunities on group campsites. To ensure availability of your group's campsite, make a reservation in advance and park. The campsites are available on the "first come, first served" principle and there is no charge when you are served.

The lake offers many opportunities to sail in both flat and deep water boats and spend a fun day on the lake in a kayak, canoe or rowing boat, with plenty of room for Phelps.

The canoes start at Cypress Point and use the take-off and landing facilities in the park office.

The canoe trail winds through the nearby waterways and around the parks, offering paddlers the opportunity to get to know the area up close.

For larger maps, two pages of 8 x 5x11 paper can be used for printing, and a map of the route is also available at the park office.

The lake is teeming with perch, yellowfish and pumpkin, and Phelps is known for his perch and fishing trips to the east. Enjoy the challenge of catfish pimples, as the Algonquians did 10,000 years ago, or enjoy the challenges of catfish and pimples.

The large cypress groves provide plenty of shade for picnics, and Wade Fischer can enter Phelps Lake from Pocosin Overlook. Fishermen must have a fishing license and comply with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission's regulations. Try your luck in the deep waters of Phelps, one of North Carolina's most popular lakes, with catfish and pike.

The picnic area has barbecues, toilets and water are nearby, as well as picnic tables, picnic chairs, picnic tables and benches.

The grass picnic area offers a great playground for all ages and the picnic shelter provides the perfect setting for meetings. Individual picnic areas are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but the accommodations in the park office include eight tables. Accommodation at Cypress Pointoffer offers two, with picnic table, picnic chairs, benches, water, toilets and water for up to four people.

Use is free of charge, but reservations are required for the parking office and picnic area at Cypress Point, as well as other picnic areas and toilets.

Today, the bus route is part of the Bee Trail and the promenade runs along the east side of Cypress Point, north of Pinellas Park. During his days on the plantation, Collins' family enjoyed horseback riding, picnics, fishing and running along the promenades of Pigeon Point.

The 1.5 km section starts at the park office and runs south along the east side of Cypress Point, north of Pigeon Point and east of the bee trail.

The trail ends at the 400-metre-long promenade that leads through cypress swamp to the moccasin lookout. The trail leads through sweet rubber forest to a wooden platform with a view of the lake, where wintering waterfowl can be observed. From the park office, the "Moccasins Trail" leads to an outdoor picnic area with picnic tables and picnic tables. A short walk leads from the site of the Bonarva Canal to Pettigrew Cemetery and then along the east side of Cypress Point.

The view from Big Point is one of the most impressive views in the area and bikes are partially permitted. The Morotoc Trail leads from the observation deck to Cypress Point and then to the Pocosin Nature Reserve, which acts like a lookout tower.

Distances and difficulty levels can be found in the map below, where you will find a detailed description of the paths and their distances, as well as a map of each path.

Pettigrew State Park regularly hosts rangers' education and interpreting programs. Please contact the park office to arrange a special tour of Pettigsrew State Park for your group or class.

Educational materials at Pettigrew State Park are designed for grades 4-8 and are based on North Carolina's curriculum, which is provided by the State Department's National Park Service (NPS). The programme is accompanied by teacher's booklets and workshops, which are free of charge for teachers. Pettigsrew's programs introduce students to archaeological research, but also focus on other aspects of the park's history, such as its history as an archaeological site and its role in the development of human settlements in South Carolina.

Pettigrew State Park is located in the town of Creswell, South Carolina, about 30 miles north of Charlotte, North Carolina. In Greenville, take 6th Street and turn right onto Weston Road, then left onto Meadow Lane, which will take you to US-64, and then south onto US 64 until you pass the parking lot of the park.

From the park office, turn right and turn left onto Lake Shore Road, then right onto Mountain Canal Road. Turn left onto Old Cherry Road and then right onto Mountain Canal Road until you reach Lake Shore Road, from where you can turn.