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| Situated along the historic Maumee River, 591-acre Mary Jane Thurston State Park offers a variety of day-use and overnight activities • The Maumee is not only scenic, but also provides some of the best stream fishing in Ohio • Boaters have access to the river while history buffs may explore the remnants of the old canal |
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Camping 
- 33 non-electric sites • 15 sites are designated for walk-in tent camping
- 4 non-electric premium sites
- Picnic tables and fire rings are provided at each site
- Latrines and restrooms are located nearby
- A dump station is located near the park office
- Pet camping is permitted at all sites
- Additional walk-in sites are available in the North Turkeyfoot Area • Permits can be obtained at the park office
- Campers can enjoy summer nature programs at the ampitheater
- Horseshoe pits also provide recreation for campers
- Games and sporting equipment are available to registered campers at the camp office
- Playground equipment is available in the campground
Boating
- Launch ramp provides access to the Maumee River
- Marina
- 96 docks are available for seasonal rental • Seasonal docks not rented are available for transient use • Contact the park office for more information
 Fishing
- The Maumee River's northern pike, walleye, white bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, bullhead, sheepshead and crappie offer good sport
- Children can enjoy fishing in the pond near the marina
- Valid Ohio fishing license is required
Picnicking
- 3 picnic areas with picnic tables, grills, restrooms and water are located along the river shore
- An enclosed day-use lodge was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1936 • This heated building is wheelchair accessible and can be reserved year-round for reunions and meetings for a nominal fee • Contact the park office for details
 Trails
- 6 hiking trails
- Chipmunk Trail • Easy
- Pheasant Loop Trail • 1 Mile • Easy
- Woodchuck Trail • Easy
- Red Fox Trail • 0.6 Miles • Easy
- Opossum Trail • Easy
- Whitetail Loop Trail • 3 Miles • Easy
- A one-mile portion of the Buckeye Trail passes through the park following the side cut canal
Hunting
- Excellent waterfowl hunting can be found at North Turkeyfoot on the Maumee River
- Valid Ohio hunting license is required
- Contact the park office for a more detailed explanation of the open and closed areas
Winter Recreation (conditions permitting)
- Ice skating
- Ice fishing
- Sledding
- Cross country skiing
More to Do
- Playground equipment is offered in day-use areas of the park
Area Attractions
- Providence Metropark (Grand Rapids) features the Isaac Ludwig Mill. Built in 1846, this water-powered grist mill has been restored and is now operated seasonally
- Independence Dam State Park (Defiance) offers hiking, camping and picnicking facilities as well as a restored canal lock
- Maumee State Forest, located 8 miles from the park, provides 3,068 acres of recreation opportunities
- A monument to the Battle of Fallen Timbers is located between Maumee and Waterville on U.S. 24
- Also of historical interest is the restored Fort Meigs near Perrysburg. The original fort was built by General William Henry Harrison during the War of 1812
- For more information on area attractions, visit
Nature of the Area
Northwestern Ohio was covered by a massive ice sheet during the Ice Age. As the ice melted, the area from Fort Wayne, Indiana to western New York was covered by a large lake named Lake Maumee by geologists • With the retreating of the ice, new eastern outlets opened and eventually present-day Lake Erie was formed
As the water drained from the state, swamps formed in the lowlands • The Great Black Swamp, 120 miles long and 30 to 40 miles wide, included the Maumee Valley • The heavily wooded swamp was a barrier to westward settlement • By 1900, through the use of a major system of dikes and ditches, the area was drained • The dark soils of the old swamp became fertile agricultural lands
Ridges of sand or old beaches can be found from Liberty Center, Ohio northeast to Detroit • Known in Ohio as the Oak Openings, these sand beaches were formed when present-day Lake Erie was larger • Originally, the Oak Openings were surrounded by dense swamp forests • Today, the Oak Openings area includes impressive dunes, bogs, prairies, swamp forests and a variety of unique vegetation
History of the Area
This area was the rich hunting grounds of many Indian tribes • As settlers moved west, hostilities arose. President Washington appointed General Anthony Wayne to lead forces into the area • After building Fort Defiance in 1794, at the junction of the Maumee and Auglaize rivers, Wayne advanced down the Maumee Valley • At the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Wayne's troops defeated the Indian warriors commanded by Blue Jacket • This battle put an end to twenty years of conflict between Indian and settler
In later years, the canal building era had a great influence on the region • The Miami and Erie Canal, which traveled north from Cincinnati, merged with the Wabash and Erie Canal south of Defiance in 1845, linking Cincinnati to Lake Erie • The canal stimulated development and trade along its route
In order to better use the slackwater at the head of the Maumee River near the community of Gilead, a second dam was built by the state in 1845 • Previously, a smaller dam had been built across part of the river to power a mill • The citizens were outraged about the new dam which limited water power to the mill and one night destroyed the dam • As a compromise, the Gilead Side Cut Canal was built, connecting Gilead with the Miami and Erie Canal, and a replacement dam was constructed • In 1855, the canal port of Gilead was incorporated as Grand Rapids
In 1928, Mary Jane Thurston, a Grand Rapids schoolteacher bequeathed fourteen acres of land to be used as a park • After several transfers and leases, Mary Jane Thurston State Park was dedicated in 1968 • Adjacent property and additional land upriver, known as North Turkeyfoot Area, were purchased in 1968 and 1969
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