Kooser State Park - Somerset County, Pennsylvania - State/Provincial Parks on Waymarking.com

Kooser State Park - Somerset County, Pennsylvania


Information excerpted from Kooser State Park website
Kooser State Park derives its name from John Kooser, who in 1867 settled in the western end of the park near what is now known as Kooser Spring. The early settlers told of an American Indian battle that was fought nearby. A number of war arrows and spearheads have been found in the area. A contingent of Washington’s Army, known as Coxe’s Army, crossed Laurel Summit near here during the Whiskey Rebellion.

The land for Kooser State Park was acquired by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1922. In the late 1920s, the Van Dyke Area was used for summer tenting by people who would camp from early spring until late fall. In 1933, a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp was established in the western end of the park. The "CCC Boys" built new roads, fireplaces, cabins and a lake. In 1945, a tornado hit the area and did a tremendous amount of damage to Kooser's wooded areas.

In 1955, the present tent and trailer area was developed. Water was piped from Kooser Spring throughout the park and the original dam was rebuilt with a modern earth and concrete breast and an all-sand beach.

In 2002, Growing Greener money was used to add modern restrooms to the campground, cabin colony and make improvements to the day use area.