Bendigo

A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for Bendigo State Park Bendigo State Park The Park The 100-acre Bendigo State Park is in a small valley surrounded by picturesque hills. About 20 acres of the park is developed, half of which is a large, shaded picnic area. The forest is predominantly northern hardwoods and includes beech, birch, cherry and maple. The East Branch of the Clarion River flows through the park. This beautiful waterway was once polluted by abandoned mine drainage. It now provides excellent fishing and is stocked with trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Directions In Elk County, Pennsylvania, Bendigo State Park is four miles northeast of Johnsonburg on SR 1004, which branches off of US 219 in Johnsonburg. Reservations Make online reservations at www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. Spend the Day SWIMMING: The pool is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, unless otherwise posted. Depth ranges from three to five feet. Certified lifeguards staff the pool. The pool has an ADA accessible lift. pennsylvania WI LDS Environmental Education and Interpretation Bendigo State Park offers year-round environmental education and interpretive programs. Hands-on activities, guided walks and historical talks are offered to park visitors. Participants will gain an appreciation and understanding of the natural world and develop a sense of stewardship for the park’s natural resources. Group programs must be arranged in advance and may be scheduled by calling the park office. History PICNICKING: Over 150 picnic tables are located in several picnic areas. Within these areas are charcoal grills, drinking water, four horseshoe pits, restrooms and three picnic pavilions. Picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. Pavilion #1 is ADA accessible. For More Information Contact: Bendigo State Park 533 State Park Road Johnsonburg, PA 15845-0016 814-778-5467 email: BendigoSP@pa.gov GPS: Lat. 41.53168 Long. -78.62849 An Equal Opportunity Employer FISHING: The East Branch of the Clarion River flows through the park and is an excellent fishery. The river is stocked with trout and is home to many cold-water species. A fishing pier behind the pool allows for easy access for children and the elderly. www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks Information and Reservations CANOEING/KAYAKING: The East Branch of the Clarion River is scenic and appropriate for beginning boaters under normal conditions. A canoe launch is three miles upstream along Kilgus Road. Best water conditions are generally in the spring. To launch in a state park, a non-powered vessel needs a state park or PA Fish & Boat Comission launch permit. Make online reservations at: www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. Printed on recycled paper 2022 Bendigo State Park has a mysterious and interesting history. It includes the Bible, boxing, lumbering and a mysterious name. William Abednego Thompson (1811 - 1880) was born into a poor family in Nottingham, Britain. The last of 21 children, Thompson was one of triplets named for three men who escaped a fiery furnace in the Book of Daniel. Thompson began bare-knuckle boxing to make money. He was nicknamed Bendy Abednego due to his bobbing and weaving. The name eventually evolved into ‘Bendigo’. He was popular with fans because of his wild behavior in the ring. Bendigo was known to do flips, taunt his opponent, and skillfully avoid punches. After becoming a champion in British boxing, he retired and became a Methodist preacher. There are no records of Bendigo ever leaving Britain. In 1895, fifteen years after Bendigo’s death, a lumbering operation began on a small creek in northwestern Pennsylvania. The operation was built and operated by Alfred Truman, who also built a small town named Bendigo. After five years of business, the operation exhausted the available timber. The mill and town disbanded and the lumber company razed the facilities. It is still a mystery how a mill town and creek in Pennsylvania came to bear the name of a left-handed boxer from Britain. Early European settlement in the area was centered on the abundant timber of northwestern Pennsylvania. Towns and services sprang up around the lumbering industry. Starting in 1887, the towns and mills were linked by the Johnsonburg and Clermont Railroad that carried timber to the market. When the timber was exhausted, the railroad, sawmills and towns slowly disappeared. The old railroad bed is now the main park road. In the 1920s, the townspeople of Johnsonburg joined together to form a community park for swimming, picnicking and outdoor recreation. The lumber company that owned the former village of Bendigo gave 100 acres to the county to be a park. In 1936, during the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) began building roads, a dam and a pool at Bendigo Community Park. However, there were not enough funds to complete some projects and the pool and other facilities remained unfinished. Visitors to the park in that era were able to swim in the river behind the dam and enjoy the picnic tables and grills. Floods destroyed many of the facilities in 1942, but the stone wall and dam on the East Branch of the Clarion River survived. Due to the debris, most of the park was unusable; however, visitors still frequented the swimming hole and picnic area. In 1948, the late State Senator George B. Stevenson introduced a bill that transferred the property to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Now a parcel of the State Park system, improvements were made to the park facilities, including the building of a swimming pool. Bendigo State Park opened in 1954, completing the vision that the community began. Nearby Attractions Information on nearby attractions is available from: Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau, 814-849-5197. www.visitpago.com ELK STATE PARK: This beautiful park contains the lake formed by the East Branch Dam. Recreational opportunities include unlimited horsepower motor boating, waterskiing, hiking, fishing and hunting. 814-965-2646 EAST BRANCH LAKE: The East Branch Dam of the Clarion River was finished in 1952 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The dam provides flood protection and recreational opportunities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates a recreation area by the East Branch Dam that has camping with facilities, sanitary dump station and boat launch. 814-965-2065 STATE GAME LANDS 25: This 24,523-acre wooded area consists of long narrow valleys and flat mountaintops. Visitors are welcome to hunt, fish, hike and bird-watch. A large stone marker at the entrance to State Game Lands 25 in Glen Hazel commemorates the purchase of this land in 1920. State Game Lands 25 was the first purchase by the Pennsylvania Game Commission from the proceeds of hunting license fees. John MacFarlane Philips, Game Commission member from 1905-1924, worked tirelessly to develop a statewide system of public hunting grounds and game refuges, and this land purchase was significant in those efforts. The marker was erected in 1948 by sportsmen and friends of Philips. ELK STATE FOREST: The western section of this 195,911-acre forest is adjacent to Elk State Park. Hiking, bird-watching, fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation is permitted on state forest land. 814-486-3353 KINZUA BRIDGE STATE PARK: Experience stunning vistas of the surrounding valley from the 600-foot long skywalk that stands 225 feet above the valley floor. The visitor center and exhibits are a fun and educational experience. Protect and Preserve Our Parks Please make your visit safe and enjoyable. Obey all posted rules and regulations and respect fellow visitors and the resources of the park. • Be prepared and bring the proper equipment. Natural areas may possess hazards. Your personal safety and that of your family is your responsibility. • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. • Because uncontrolled pets may chase wildlife or frighten visitors, pets must be controlled and attended at all times and on a leash, caged or crated. Pets are prohibited in swimming areas. • Do your part to keep wildlife wild! Enjoy wildlife from a safe distance and do not feed or approach wild animals. • Prevent forest fires by having a fire in proper facilities and properly disposing of hot coals. Do not leave a fire unattended. • Please park only in designated areas and obey all traffic regulations. • Please recycle. Place trash accumulated during your stay in proper receptacles, or take it home with you. Access for People with Disabilities This symbol indicates facilities and activities that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible for people with disabilities. This publication text is available in alternative formats. If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.  In an Emergency Contact a park employee or dial 911. For directions to the nearest hospital, look on bulletin boards or at the park office. NEAREST HOSPITAL Elk Regional Health Center 763 Johnsonburg Road St. Mary’s, PA 15857 814-788-8000 18 50 00 18 BENDIGO STATE PARK 50 17 00 17 50 16 Private Land 1600 N ELK COUNTY 1550 150 50 0 18 N Ormsby r e Riv 00 18 321 Mt. Jewett n ri o Basketball Courts Volleyball 46 Emporium Johnsonburg 255 Ridgway 0 1500 Elk ELK 150 McKEAN Clermont BENDIGO 948 1650 No.1 155 Marvindale Crosby Highland Wilcox Cla 1700 Port Allegany 321 66 0 46 6 219 Kane 175 1600 Kinzua Bridge 6 STATE GAME LANDS 25 1550 Lantz Corners 0 190 Smethport 120 Saint Marys 949 219 Howard Truman CAMERON 948 0 155 0 160 d Ball Field B Private Land No.2 50 16 To Kilgus Rd., Elk State Park, & East Branch Dam 00 17 o dig Ben Ro h c ran ad Roa 50 17 00 15 18 rk Pa 00 0 5 18 0 State 50 19 50 00 15 16 50 16 Picnicking Hiking Trail Picnic Pavilion Unpaved Road Water One-way Road Recycling Gate Public Phone Parking Lot Paved Swimming Pool Parking Lot Unpaved Lifeguard Station State Park No Hunting Dressing Area/ Restrooms CONTOURS ARE ON 50 FT. INTERVALS 0 180 50 19 0 0 18 800 FEET 0 400 17 0 175 400 00 16 50 1700 1650 Road Hand-carry Boat Launch Hazel Modern Restrooms 00 Fishing Pier 17 Blue Symbols Mean ADA Accessible Glen 200 METERS Playground Crooked 100 Park Office Creek 0 1550 100 1600 2000 1650 1950 1700 1900 0 1850 0 2000 180 1800 175 1750 GLEN HAZEL 0 STATE GAME LANDS 25 0 1650 1700 185 1950 un 190 oR ig 1600 Trail nd 1550 0 1500 Be To Johnsonburg, 4 Mi. East 150 Eag le 190 No.3 To Saint Marys, 9 Mi. Rev. 1/24/21