Van Buren State Park, West entrance

About Van Buren State Park, West entrance

Van Buren State Park is located on an agricultural plain in northwest Ohio and offers a peaceful retreat for fishing and picnics. The forest is home to a variety of tree species as well as a large number of birds, birds of prey and other wildlife.

The plateaus are the result of the depositing and smoothing of glaciers, and the plain, called lowland, takes its name from the glacial debris fields and farmland that cover the pre-glacial hills and valleys.

The sedimentary rock in this region, which consists mainly of limestone and a little schist, is covered with an almost continuous cover of glacial deposits. Most of the hills in the area are heaps of rubble and dirt left behind by the retreating Wisconsin Glacier. A large part of this limestone is magnesium - a form called dolomite, and the rest is sandstone.

The original vegetation in this area was mostly forest before the settlement, but today much of the vegetation consists of plants such as maize, soybeans and wheat.

The small but valuable remains of the original forest are preserved in this place and covered with beech and maple. Mammals found in the area include white deer, black bears, coyotes, raccoons, foxes, elks and wolves. Other animals found are the short-eared heron, the blue heron, the black-legged toad and other birds of prey, as well as a number of other species.

Wildflowers bloom in the fields and woodland, as well as in some areas of the park in spring and summer. The beets common in this park are yellow, orange and red, and the flowering period of wild flakes extends from late spring to late summer and autumn.

The region around Van Buren State Park was originally inhabited by the Shawnee Indians.

Although the tribe eventually ceded land west of the Mississippi, its last stronghold in southern and central Ohio was driven out. Indian artifacts and relics can still be found in the park and several other state parks across the country.

The German doctor Charles Osterlen was convinced that a huge natural gas reservoir lay beneath the town of Findlay. Van Buren is located in the southern part of the city, just south of Findlay, which was founded in 1821. Although natural gases were discovered in 1880, the development of this city was rather slow.

He was considered a vain dreamer, but his faith spoke for him, and when he managed to set up a joint stock company to drill for gas, patience and perseverance prevailed. The well was successful and led to the growth of a large industry in Findlay. Today, it claims the world's largest source of gas, producing more than 20 million cubic feet per day.

The land, including Van Buren State Park, was originally designated a wildlife reserve and a dam was built to create additional fish and animal resources, according to the park's website.

In the 1950s the area was transferred to the newly created Department of Parks and Recreation, and since then the State Park has been maintained. The park was named after Van Buren, a former Michigan governor and member of the U.S. House of Representatives, according to its website. Van buren offers a variety of activities, such as hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, kayaking and other activities.

The park has table pits, latrines and landfills, as well as picnic tables, benches, tables and the landfill site for pits, according to the website.

Camping for pets is allowed on designated pitches in the park, as well as on picnic areas, picnic tables, benches, tables and landfills, according to the website. The south-eastern part of the park is located on the north side of Lake Van Buren, near the intersection of state road 5 and state road 1. Camping facilities such as campsites and picnic areas are also available on reservation.

Van Buren Lake is a good spot for fishing, but experienced anglers will find it a little more difficult than most of the other lakes in the park. There are only two types of fishing: small and medium sized perches and large, medium and large perches.

Under state law, all of the parkland east of TR 229 is designated for hunting, and a valid fishing license or hunting license is required.

Three picnic areas are located in scenic locations in the park and all three accommodations are available according to the "first come, first served" principle. The three picnic areas located on the south side of Van BUREN Lake State Park are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Several hiking trails are planned on the south side of the lake, some of which will lead to Van BUREN Lake State Park and other parts of the park.

Springville Marsh State Nature Reserve is located on the south side of Van BUREN Lake, just south of State Park. The reserve was home to a variety of bird species, reptiles and amphibians, as well as birds of prey and other wildlife.

The Nordland Cycle Path leads through the park, along the cycle path there are picnic areas, toilets and parking spaces available. This scenic route offers scenic views of the Blanchard River and the Blanche River Village on the east side of Van BUREN Lake.

Hancock County Courthouse in Findlay is on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1833 and restored in 1976, the building now serves as the headquarters of the Hancock County Park District.