Frances Slocum State Park

Frances Slocum State Park
Pennsylvania State Park
Natural Monument (IUCN III)
Swampland in the park in autumn
Named for: Frances Slocum
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Luzerne
Township Kingston
Location [1]
 - coordinates 41°20′24″N 75°53′29″W / 41.34000°N 75.89139°W / 41.34000; -75.89139Coordinates: 41°20′24″N 75°53′29″W / 41.34000°N 75.89139°W / 41.34000; -75.89139
 - elevation 1,148 ft (349.9 m) [1]
Area 1,035 acres (419 ha)
Founded 1968
Managed by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Location of Frances Slocum State Park in Pennsylvania
Website : Frances Slocum State Park

Frances Slocum State Park is a 1,035-acre (419 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Kingston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Frances Slocum Lake is a 165-acre (67 ha) man-made, horseshoe-shaped lake that is a popular fishing and boating destination. The park is 5 miles (8.0 km) from Dallas and 10 miles (16 km) from Wilkes-Barre.

History

The park is named for Frances Slocum, who was taken captive by a group of Lenape on November 2, 1778 when she was just five years old. Her family had been among the first whites to settle in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania. It is believed that she escaped captivity that first night but was soon recaptured and was held for the night under a rock ledge along Abraham Creek in what is now part of Frances Slocum State Park. Frances Slocum spent the rest of her life with the Native Americans. Her brothers found her 59 years later living on an Indian Reservation near Peru, Indiana. Despite the pleadings of her brothers, Frances refused to leave her family. She had been married twice and was the mother of four children. Frances, now called "Mocanaquah" (meaning "Young Bear"), lived for the rest of her life in Indiana. She died in 1847 when she was 74 years old. Her name lives on in Indiana, where the Frances Slocum State Recreational Area and Lost Sister Trail in the Mississinewa Reservoir and State Forest are named in her memory. Her final resting place is marked with a monument along the banks of the Mississinewa River in Indiana.[2]

Frances Slocum Lake was built to help control flooding in the North Branch Susquehanna River basin in 1968. Frances Slocum State Park was built around the dam and lake. The park became home to 280 families that were displaced by the flood created by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. The park was closed to the public and was not reopened until 1974 when all the families had moved out of their temporary homes.[2]

Recreation

Hunting and fishing

A frozen Frances Slocum Lake

About 700 acres (280 ha) of Frances Slocum State Park are open to hunting. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species are squirrels, rabbits and white-tailed deer. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited.[2]

Frances Slocum Lake is a warm-water fishery. Fisherman can catch crappie, bluegill, walleye, muskellunge, pickerel, and smallmouth and largemouth bass from the shore, fishing pier and from electric or non-powered boats. Gasoline powered boats are prohibited at Frances Slocum State Park.[2]

Camping and picnicking

There are 100 campsites at Frances Slocum State Park. 15 are walk-in tent sites and 85 sites can accommodate tents or trailers. The larger sites have electric hook-ups. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. There is a modern bathhouse with showers, flush toilets and drinking water. There is a large group tenting area that has a 40 tent capacity. It is within walking distance of the main camping area and its bathhouse.[2]

A picnic area at the park

The Park made some changes to its registration process in 2008 to accommodate a new camp store for campers. Previously, camper registration was performed at the Contact Station along the road to the campsites. That building is no longer used, and camper registration is performed at the Main Office near the entrance to the Park.

Frances Slocum State Park has several picnic areas. There are three pavilions available to rent. The picnic areas have tables, grills and charcoal disposal pits. They also have restrooms, drinking water, and garbage and recycling bins.[2]

Trails

Frances Slocum State Park has 9 miles (14 km) of hiking trails.[2]

Salamanders are a common sight along Lakeshore Trail

Winter Activities

Frances Slocum State Park is open during the winter months for ice fishing, ice skating, sledding, tobogganing, and snow mobiling.[2]

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Frances Slocum State Park:[3] [4][5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Frances Slocum State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. August 30, 1990. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Frances Slocum State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2006-11-26.
  3. ↑ "Find a Park by Region (interactive map)". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  4. ↑ 2007 General Highway Map Luzerne County Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). 1:65,000. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. Retrieved 2007-07-27. Note: shows Frances Slocum State Park
  5. ↑ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved 2008-04-20.

External links

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