Ricker Pond State Park, State park with camping facilities on Ricker Pond in Groton, United States.
Ricker Pond State Park is a recreation area centered on a lake with extensive camping facilities in Groton State Forest, Vermont. The 95-acre property includes a swimming beach, boat launch, and overnight lodging spread along the southern shore of the pond.
The park was developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a work program created during the Great Depression. The stone structures and buildings constructed during that era remain visible throughout the grounds today.
The park's name comes from Amaziah Ricker, who bought Edmund Morse's sawmill and gristmill at the pond outlet in 1827; the Ricker family ran them until 1963. The 1938 CCC picnic pavilion and sandy beach in Section B remain the gathering spots, and the Cross Vermont Trail passes through the park.
The park is open between Memorial Day and Columbus Day weekends, and fees are charged for day use and camping. Vermont Route 232 runs past the southeastern end of the pond, and gravel roads lead from the entrance to three separate waterfront sections. The Montpelier-Wells River Rail Trail crosses the middle of the park.
The grounds sit directly beside the Montpelier-Wells River Rail Trail, a historic railroad corridor now open to walkers and cyclists. This location lets visitors easily switch between water activities and forest exploration without leaving the area.
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