Van Buren State Park

Van Buren State Park is a state park in northwestern Ohio with a 45-acre lake at its center, spread across nearly 300 acres of woodland. Beech and sugar maple trees frame the shoreline and create shade throughout the grounds.

A dam built across Rocky Ford Creek in 1939 created the lake, and the site became an official state park in 1950. This transformation changed the landscape from a flowing river valley into a recreational destination.

This place marks where the Shawnee people had their final settlement before moving west, and you can still see traces of their presence on an island in the lake. Walking through the park, visitors encounter this layered human history in the landscape.

The park has both basic and fully equipped camping sites, along with three reservable shelter buildings open year-round for group gatherings. Visit during spring or fall when weather is mild and insects are less of a nuisance.

Dolomitic limestone lies beneath the park's soil, left behind by glaciers that shaped this region thousands of years ago. This hidden geological layer influences how water drains and where springs emerge across the grounds.

Location: Hancock County

Inception: 1950

Website: https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/van-buren-state-park

GPS coordinates: 41.13490,-83.63720

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:05