| Beginning in 1935, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration began purchasing submarginal agricultural & forest land so that it could be converted to better use. In 1936, the National Park Service was given the responsibility of the Recreational Demonstration Areas. Laurel Hill was one of five areas in Pennsylvania & targeted for restoration & reforestation, & organized group camping & day picnicking.
Beginning in 1935, with cooperation of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests & Waters, men of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) & the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began building roads, trails, bridges & recreational facilities.
Two CCC camps, SP-8 & SP-15 arrived in July 1, 1935 & began building camps for themselves (currently Group Camp eight & Group Camp 5). The 200 young men in each camp worked year-round building park facilities like group camps, picnic areas, waterlines, roads, the beach house & Laurel Hill Lake. World War II ended the CCC. |
Laurel Hill State Park Campground Web Site
Driving Direction GPS Coordinates:
40.009628, -79.224043
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Campground: Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset Pennsylvania *