New Germany State Park is a public recreation area covering adjacent to

Savage River State Forest Savage River State Forest is located in the north and northeastern part of Garrett County, in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state forest has many waterways, including Savage River Reservoir, which was built in 1952 by the U.S. Army. The dam was ...

Garrett County Garrett County () is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,806, making it the third-least populous county in Maryland. Its county seat is Oakland. The county was named for John Work ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

. The state park is administered by the

Maryland Department of Natural Resources The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a government agency in the state of Maryland charged with maintaining natural resources including state parks, public lands, state forests, state waterways, wildlife, and recreation areas. I ...

History

The park's lake was created when settlers John and Charles Swauger dammed Poplar Lick Run to create water power for the operation of a sawmill and grist mill. The lake was expanded to thirteen acres when the

Civilian Conservation Corps The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a voluntary government work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 18–25 and eventually expanded to ages 17–28. The CCC was a major part of ...

replaced the original dam with a larger one. The CCC was active in the park from 1933 until 1942, maintaining forest roads, planting trees, and adding day-use facilities including bathhouse, gazebo, and picnic shelters. The CCC also built cabins for overnight stays and slopes that created the state's first ski resort. The CCC's recreation hall and officers quarters are still in use in the park.

Activities and amenities

The park's lake offers fishing, swimming, and a boat launch for canoeing and non–gas-powered boating. The park's of trails are used for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. Other amenities include cabins, campsites, nature center, snack bar, and picnicking facilities. The lake is stocked with trout in the spring, and a trout stamp is required to possess trout. Nature programs and kayak rentals are offered in summer. Cross-country skis and snowshoes are available for rent in the winter.

References

External links

New Germany State Park
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
New Germany State Park Map
Maryland Department of Natural Resources {{authority control State parks of Maryland Parks in Garrett County, Maryland German-American culture in Maryland Nature centers in Maryland Civilian Conservation Corps in Maryland IUCN Category III