Dillon State Park

 Region 16                                                                                 Three Lakes and a River

                                                                                                                                      05/11/2006
 

Buckeye Lake

Blue Rock

Muskingum

Welcome to our Web site!

Dillon State Park offers a wide variety of activities. Some of which are getaway rental, cottages, mountain bike trails, camping, boating, swimming, fishing and hunting, sportsmen's area, hiking trails, picnicking and horse trails.

5265 Dillon Hills Drive     Nashport, OH 43830-9568   

Park Office (740) 453-4377     Fax 740-453-3872    

Camp Office (740) 452-1083

email: dillon.parks@dnr.state.oh.us

Dillon State Park Map

 Dillon's   Campsites / Cottages

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Ohio State Parks

 Attractions

 Black Hand Gorge State Nature Preserve

  Lorena Sternwheeler  

  National Road/Zane Grey Museum

 

Park News !

 On July 8th and July 9th, 2006 the lake will have limited access due to IOA boat races. The races are from 7:00 am thru 6:00 pm. Call the park office for more information.

History of the Area
Much of the history of the Dillon region can be attributed to the effects of transportation through the park. The Licking River provided transportation for Native Americans on their way to Flint Ridge where outcroppings of flint were found. In the Blackhand Gorge, carved by the Licking River, a sandstone cliff bore a soot blackened engraving of a human hand. This mysterious petroglyph is thought to have served as a guide marker for Indians searching for Flint Ridge. Specimens of Flint Ridge flint have been found as far east as the Atlantic seaboard, as far south as Louisiana and as far west as Kansas City.

Other methods of transportation affected the Dillon region. The Old National Road, just south of the park, was partly responsible for the establishment and growth of nearby Zanesville. The Ohio-Erie Canal followed the route of the Licking River for several miles and boosted trade and commerce to surrounding towns. An inter-urban railroad that connected Zanesville and Newark with Columbus passed through Blackhand Gorge. Steamboat traffic was busy through Zanesville on the Muskingum River.

In 1803, Moses Dillon purchased the land bordering the Licking River where the park is located. This industrious, early American built and operated a local iron foundry, founded the village of Dillon Falls and dammed the Licking River to provide water power for the community. Moses Dillon is probably most noted for his contributions toward the design and construction of the world-famous "Y" bridge in Zanesville.

Dillon Reservoir was constructed for flood control by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was completed in 1961. The park was dedicated in August 1968.

 

 

 

 

 

 
Activity Facilities Quantity
Resource Land, acres 2,285
Water, acres 1,560
Nearby Wildlife Area yes
Activities Fishing yes
Hunting yes
Hiking Trails, miles 8
Bridle Trails, miles 15
Picnicking yes
Picnic Shelters, # 3
Swimming Beach, feet 1,360
Beach Concession yes
Basketball yes
Volleyball yes
Shuffleboard yes
Tennis yes
Nature Center yes
Summer Nature Programs yes
Boating Boat Rental yes
Boating Limits UNL
Fuel For Sale yes
Seasonal Dock Rental, # 123
Launch Ramps, # 3
Winter Ice Skating Pond yes
Sledding yes
Resort Family Cottages, # 29
  Tepee 1
Camping Non-electric Campsites 12
Campsites with Elec., # 183
Pets Permitted yes
Showers yes
Flush Toilets yes
Dump Station yes
Camp Commissary yes
Laundromat yes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This site was last updated 05/11/06