- Promised Land State Park
Geobox Protected Area
name = Promised Land State Park
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category_local = Pennsylvania State Park
category_iucn = III
image_caption = The spillway of a dam at Promised Land State Park.
etymology_type = Named for
etymology = A so calledPromised Land that the earliest settlers were told they would find.
country = United States
state = Pennsylvania
region_type = County
region = Pike
district_type = Townships
district = Blooming Grove
district1 = Greene
district2 = Palmyra
city =
city1 =
location =
lat_d = 41
lat_m = 18
lat_s = 55
lat_NS = N
long_d = 75
long_m = 11
long_s = 57
long_EW = W
location_note = cite web | url=Gnis3|1184437 | title=Promised Land State Park | date =August 2 1979 | work=Geographic Names Information System | publisher=United States Geological Survey | accessdate=2007-12-24]
elevation_imperial = 1745
elevation_round = 1
elevation_note =
area_unit = acre
area_imperial = 3000
area_round = 1
area_note =
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established_type =
established = 1905
established_note =
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management_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
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free_type = Nearest city
free =Milford, Pennsylvania
free1_type =
free1 =
map_caption = Location of Promised Land State Park in Pennsylvania
map_locator = Pennsylvania
website = [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/promisedland.aspx Promised Land State Park]Promised Land State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Blooming Grove, Greene and Palmyra Townships,
Pike County, Pennsylvania , in the United States. The approximately 3000 acre (12.1 km²) park is completely surrounded byDelaware State Forest . It is in thePoconos and sits at 1,800 feet (549 m) and is mostly surrounded byDelaware State Forest . Thesecond growth forest s in Promised Land State Park are made up ofbeech ,maple ,oak and hemlock trees. There are twolake s within the boundaries of the park. Promised Land State Park is 10 miles (16.09 km) north of Canadensis onPennsylvania Route 390 .Recreation
Promised Land State Park is open year round for recreational opportunities that include
fishing ,swimming ,boating ,horseback riding , trail biking,camping , andice skating . cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateParks/parks/promisedland.aspx
title = Promised Land State Park
accessdate = 2007-01-24
publisher =Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ]Fishing
Promised Lake and Lower Lake are both popular fishing and ice fishing destinations. The common game fish are smallmouth and
largemouth bass ,catfish ,crappie ,pickerel ,muskellunge , andyellow perch . Lower Lake is stocked by thePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission with brook, rainbow andbrown trout . All anglers are expected to follow the rules and regulations of thePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission .Hunting
Hunting is permitted at Promised Land State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the
Pennsylvania Game Commission . The common game species are turkey,white-tailed deer , and black bear. The hunting ofgroundhog s is prohibited.Trails
There are convert|50|mi|km of trails at Promised Land State Park and the nearby state forests that are open to hiking and in some locations, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and mountain biking. The trails pass through a variety of habitats and give visitors an opportunity to observe a diverse wildlife population.
Boating
Gas powered boats are prohibited on the lakes of Promised Land State Park. Electric powered and non powered boats must have a current registration with any state or a launch permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. A concession is open on the shores of the lakes for renting
canoe s,kayak s and paddle boats.Picnic and swimming areas
Promised Land State Park has a centrally located picnic area that is near Promised Land Lake in a woodland setting. The facilities include parking area, fresh water, garbage disposal containers, a sand
volleyball court, and restrooms with pay showers. The picnic area is within walking distance of the lakes swimming area, boat rental, and a refreshment stand. Beginning in 2008 lifeguards will not be posted at the beach. [cite web | url = http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=384046 | title = Pa. state parks going without life guards at beaches in 2008 | accessdate = 2008-02-19 | publisher =The Times Leader ]taying overnight
Visitors to Promised Land State Park who wish to stay overnight have a choice of staying in one of four
campground s or in rustic cabins that were built during theGreat Depression by theCivilian Conservation Corps .*Lower Lake Campground is on Lower Lake. It opens for the season on
Memorial Day weekend and closesColumbus Day weekend. The campground has flushtoilet s and showers with hot water.*Deerfield Campground is set back in a rocky forest. It is open
Memorial Day weekend throughLabor Day weekend. It does have flush toilets, but the nearest pay showers are in the picnic area. The camping area will be closed for the 2008 season while it is being renovated. Deerfield campground is over 95 years old. Each campsite will receive a new table, fire ring and lantern holder. Also, some of the ground will be leveled for easier access.cite web | url = http://www.wnep.com/global/story.asp?s=8355100 | accessdate = 2008-05-22 | title = State park in Pike County closes 2 campgrounds | publisher =WNEP TV]*Pickerel Point Campground is on a
peninsula on the southern end of Promised Land Lake. There are walk in campsite situated at various points along the shore. It is a rustic camping area with limited facilities. This campground is open year round. It will also be closed for renovations during the 2008 season.*The Pines Campground is open Memorial Day through Labor Day. It is on the northwestern shore of Promised Land Lake. The campground does have pay toilets, but the nearest pay showers are in the picnic area.
*Bear Wallow Cabins Colony is a group of 12 rustic cabins that were built and used by the CCC during the 1930s. Each cabin has a
fireplace andelectricity .History
The name is an ironic commentary of the immigrant residents in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries who had been dazzled by promotional promises of the supposed wonders of the land they were buying, reflecting their later relative disappointment.
Promised Land State Park was once the
hunting grounds of theLenape Indian tribe. Their land was part of theProvince of Pennsylvania , established byKing Charles II of England and under the leadership ofWilliam Penn . William Penn founded Pennsylvania as a colony wherereligious freedom was foundation of its establishment. TheShakers , a religious sect, fromEngland migrated to theThirteen Colonies and purchased some of the land in the Promised Land State Park area. It appears that they chose not to settle and instead sold off the land tolumber ing operations that clear cut the land and sent the timber to the ship building docks in Philadelphia. The process of clear cutting the forests repeated itself several times until the land was acquired by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1902. The forestry department worked to re-establish the forests of the area. Promised Land State Park was opened to the public in 1905, becoming just the fourth state park in all of Pennsylvania.Many of the park facilities in use today were constructed during the
Great Depression of the 1930s by the young men of theCivilian Conservation Corps . The CCC was established by PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt to relieve the widespreadunemployment what was brought about by the Depression. In exchange for a paycheck, food, and shelter, the men of the CCC worked to reclaim the forests. They built the roads and trails that cross the state forests. They also fought wild fires, planted trees, and built bridges on state roads.Natural history
Geology
Since the forests have been allowed to regrow at Promised Land State Park it has become a center of diverse wildlife and
ecosystem s. The land on which it sits has largely very rocky and shallow soil withnutrient -poorbog s and darkevergreen forest s. The poor quality of the soil and the bogs are a remnant of the vastglacier s that covered Pennsylvania during the lastice age . As the glaciers receded they scraped the earth and left aglacial till at the surface above thebedrock . This rocky soil drains poorly thereby creating the bogs that are spread throughout the park. cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateParks/parks/promisedland_wildlife.aspx
title = Promised Land State Park - Wildlife
accessdate = 2007-01-24
publisher =Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ]Coniferous forests
The evergreen trees attract a variety of birds including, the
red breasted nuthatch ,blackburnian warbler andnorthern waterthrush .Salamander s andwood frog s are drawn to the bogs to breed during the springtime.Deciduous forests
Not all of the trees are evergreen, although they were before the lumber era. Some
deciduous trees have grown at Promised Land State Park. These trees attract a different set of birds including theAmerican redstart ,Louisiana waterthrush andred-eyed vireo .Black bears
American black bear s are a common sight at Promised Land State Park. They are attracted to the wide variety of plants, grasses and berries that are common in the park. Visitors to the park are cautioned to be extremely careful when encountering a black bear. Bears are generally shy and will avoid human contact, but bears that have been fed by and have been accustomed to human contact can become dangerous. They are very fast, as fast as athoroughbred , strong and nimble. Bears also have a strong sense of smell. For this reason all visitors are asked to firmly secure all food products brought into the park and never to leave them out in the open overnight.Wildlife observation
In addition to the bears, Promised Land State Park is also home to variety of other large woodland creatures. White tailed deer are a common sight in the park. Early morning visitors may come across groups of feeding wild turkeys. A wildlife observation deck is located on Lower Lake, from here visitors may see a variety of
waterfowl species and even somebald eagle s that have nested in the area within the last few years. Visitors are asked to not feed the wildlife. Feedingraccoon s,squirrel s andchipmunk s may expose visitors torabies . The feeding ofCanada geese in the swimming area is discouraged due to the increased quantities of odorus fecal matter.Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within convert|30|mi|km|0 of Promised Land State Park: [cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/region_northeast.aspx
title = Map reference for Promised Land State Park
accessdate = 2006-01-24
publisher =Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ] cite web
last = Michels
first = Chris
year = 1997
url = http://www2.nau.edu/~cvm/latlongdist.html
title = Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation
publisher =Northern Arizona University
accessdate = 2008-04-23] [cite map |scale = 1:65,000| publisher= Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division
url= ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/pike_GHSN.PDF
title= 2007 General Highway Map Pike County Pennsylvania
accessdate= 2007-07-28 "Note: shows Promised Land State Park"]
*Archbald Pothole State Park (Lackawanna County)
*Big Pocono State Park (Monroe County)
*Gouldsboro State Park (Monroe and Wayne Counties)
*High Point State Park (New Jersey )
*Prompton State Park (Wayne County)
*Swartswood State Park (New Jersey)
*Tobyhanna State Park (Monroe and Wayne Counties)
*Varden Conservation Area (Wayne County)References
External links
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