Indian Rock Park

Remains of Indian Rock Park, 2020

The Marietta Daily Times, Tuesday, June 25, 1935, page 1:

Washington County to Have New State Park in Warren Township on State Route 7

Washington County is to have a new state park and it will be located on the Ohio River bank in Warren Township, fronting on state route No. 7. It will contain 15 acres of land directly overlooking the lower end or finish section of the crew race course. It will be constructed on property now owned by the United States government and under direct control of the Department of the Interior. Muskingum Valley Chapter of the Izaak Walton League is the direct sponsor of the undertaking with Edwin P. Rinehart and his associates in charge of the enterprise.

Few people remember that many years ago, when the original surveys for dam No. 18 on the Ohio River were being made, the government tentatively decided to place the improvement at the head of the island a short distance from Moore’s Junction, and to provide a site for the power house, locks and the attending structures it purchased 15 acres of land on the river front.

The United States Engineers and the War Department later decided that the location at Briggs was a better one and the dam finally was given that location. The extra site as originally purchased, was kept by the government.

Learning of this state of affairs the Waltonians in Marietta set about recently to secure it for a state park. They enlisted the aid of B. J. Hill, chief of Inland Lakes and Parks in Ohio, and one of the leaders in the Buckeye division of the Isaak Walton League of America. He saw at once its possibilities and after a brief survey endorsed it.

 Agreement Reached

Quietly the negotiations with the federal government have been carried through and an agreement has been reached.

The park will have a frontage of more than 1,000 feet on the river, and it will be skirted by state route No.7 which is one of the more picturesque of all the state roads in southern Ohio. Much of the land included in the park lies high and commands wonderful views up and down the river. It is splendidly situated for picnic purposes, and once it is improved and placed under the supervision of the regular foresters of the state park services it is expected to prove attractive.

There is considerable natural shade on the ground at the present time and it is proposed to augment this with additional plantings. Suitable shelter houses will be constructed, standard park furnaces for picnic parties will be built and it will be made an ideal recreational center. Fine bathing beaches will be available directly in front of and as a part of the preserve, and there will be boating facilities at all times. It is said to be possible that additional acreage along the bluffs overlooking the park may be obtained by its sponsors.

Members of the Muskingum Valley Chapter of the Isaak Walton League will make a detailed report of the new enterprise at that meeting.

The Marietta Alumnus [Marietta College], October/November 1939, page 19:

As a memorial to the late Harold B. Youmans, ’23, landscape engineer of the tenth district of Ohio State Highways, the employees of his district have erected a plate at Indian Rock Park near Belpre, Ohio, with the inscription as follows:

INDIAN ROCK PARK

Dedicated to

Harold B. Youmans

1900-1939

State of Ohio

Department of Highways

The name, “Indian Rock Park,” was suggested by Mr. Youmans who had designed the roadside retreat following his research relative to the local history of the region.

The Marietta Daily Times, May 29, 1961:

Indian Rock Park To Be Abandoned By Highway Dept.

Indian Rock Park, one of the most popular picnicking areas in the Marietta area, will be abandoned by the state highway department.

The state offered to let the roadside park's facilities remain if the county would take over maintenance of the area below Mile Run, but County Commissioners William T. Wiant, Guy Mendenhall and Harold Goddard turned down the offer.

Max R. Farley, division deputy director for the highway department, pointed out in a letter to county commissioners that the park is no longer on Ohio 7. Skyline Drive now takes the highway above the park. Old Ohio 7 is now a county road.

Farley explained that the purpose of roadside parks is to serve the traveling public, but the park in question is used mostly for local or near-local picnicking. He said it is not proper to continue to use state highway funds for its maintenance.

Farley indicated that the park would be abandoned soon unless a way is found for it to be maintained.