The ski complex opened in 1968 as the North Heidelberg Ski Slope by a man named John H. Guenther Jr.. This has been the cradleland of families conspicuous in the development of our county. [2], Blue Marsh was the name of the village that was located where the lake now is, and locals called the area Pleasant Valley. Below are some images of Pleasant Valley before the dam. It is in western Berks County, fed into by the Tulpehocken Creek. Tulpehocken Creek rises in eastern Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, and flows generally east, in a winding course, through Myerstown, entering Berks County, passing north of Womelsdorf.At Womelsdorf it turns abruptly north, then flows southeast, through the Blue Marsh Lake reservoir and joins the Schuylkill at Reading.. 5 miles northwest on PA 183 to Bern Church, then left following project signs to the lake. Others include Old Dry Rd. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. The Old Dry Road Farm Complex includes 200 acres of farm land on which are three farmsteads: the 19th Century Essig Farm , Historical Survey of Blue Marsh Project Area, Exhibit: Berks County Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Parts of Blue Marsh Lake have reopened after flooding forced it to close. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the swimming beach at Blue Marsh Lake will open to the public on July 2, 2020. Blue Marsh Ski Area was a small ski area located in Bernville, just 10 miles north of Reading, PA. Blue Marsh Lake is located on Tulpehocken Creek (stream code 01846), which is a tributary to the Schuylkill River within the Delaware River basin (drainage list F) . Blue Marsh park ranger Jonah Eckert inspects a few of the new stake trees structures prior to them being placed in the lake last September. Built by the US Army Corps of Engineers for flood control, Blue Marsh Lake is located northwest of Reading, Pennsylvania. Lake History. The village also had a church, schoolhouse, post office, and Pyles General Store. US Army Corps of Engineers. A National Historic Landmark, it was relocated when Blue Marsh was created in the 1970s. It is a lovely and impressive complex - an artificial lake, beach and walking area. Blue Marsh Trail is a 23.3 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Leesport, Pennsylvania that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Some buildings were spared, such as Gruber Wagon Works, which was originally in Obold village (present day … In 1986 Joseph M. Aichholz Jr. and four partners leased the ski area, and in 1987 they renamed it Blue Marsh Ski Area.… There were many Farms, and 18th and 19th century homes. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until November. Construction of the dam began in 1974 and was completed July 5th, 1979. Initial authorization for the reservoir was granted by the Flood Control Act of 1962 that started eight projects on the Delaware River basin. Welcome to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Blue Marsh Lake! It was also a heavily forested area with abundance of wildlife. Some buildings were spared, such as Gruber Wagon Works, which was originally in Obold village (present day Mt. Park Rangers will be monitoring the visitation and closing the area as needed. Find both history and wildlife at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. The trail has a mixture of surfaces (hard-packed dirt, grass, gravel and abandoned roads) with some single-tracking and climbs that make it best suited for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. However, the northwesternmost portions lie in the more sparsely populated North Heidelberg and Penn Townships. Visitation in the Dry Brooks Day Use Area will be limited to 75% capacity. The Blue Marsh Dam and Recreational Project was carried out by the Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1979. It was also a heavily forested area with abundance of wildlife. Instead we found the area very pleasant for … Blue Marsh Lake. It contains pioneer homesteads and early settlements largely unchanged in their basic characteristics—affording one the increasingly rare opportunity to sample rural living of a prior era. Show Breakdown 3.9 from 15 votes 5 … Blue Marsh Lake Trail Hikers, mountain bikers, geocachers, and even equestrian enthusiasts enjoy Blue Marsh’s plethora of trails. We did not stay on the beach . Blue Marsh Lake was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1978 and has prevented more than $90 million in flood damages. The National Recreation Trail at Blue Marsh is a loop trail that encircles the lake, while Skinners Loop and Foxtrot Hiking Trail bring you closer to the water’s edge. “Those who enjoy Blue Marsh Lake for its recreational activities today may not realize the dam destroyed a rich agricultural region with family farms that extended back into the 1700s,” Swope said. This is useful when stations have moved their location, changed instrumentation, or have even changed ID. Blue Marsh Lake is a 6,100 acre-project having a 1,150-acre lake. The following names figure prominently: Obold, Haag/Haak, Deppen, Gruber, Reber, Fisher, Dundore, Kalbach, Zerby, Conrad, Bright, Hiester, Stoudt, etc., etc. Blue Marsh Lake started as a simple dam that was approved by Congress originally to provide flood control to part the Schuylkill River Valley. In 1980, more than 1 million persons visited Blue Marsh Lake … Blue Marsh Lake 1268 Palisades Drive, Leesport PA, 19533 • Get Directions Blue Marsh Lake is a man-made lake along the Tulpehocken Creek that features numerous boating, hiking, biking, and birdwatching opportunities. A significant portion of the Blue Marsh Project is located within the southern part of Penn Township. Farm, which most of its buildings were relocated out of the village. When Blue Marsh Lake opened in 1979, the sealed Ohnmacht Cave lay beneath 25 feet of water. It has 36 miles of trails and 1,147 acres of water. There were many farms and 18th and 19th century homes. Facilities include a day use area with swim beach, bathhouse, food concession, picnic areas, volleyball courts, pavilions available for rental; visitor center; three boat launches; and a stilling basin. Residents were put under eminent domain and had no choice but to move out. The Visitor Center, also known as a Visitor Information Center, offers information on local lodging, Leesport tours, and local history. The main span of the lake is along the border between Bern and Lower Heidelberg Townships. It was a major point of activity (in the Berks County section) on the Union Canal from its construction in 1828 until operations ceased around 1884. Also part of the heritage center on the north side of the towpath is the Deppen Cemetery. Blue Marsh Lake is located along the Tulpehocken Creek in the Delaware River Basin, six (6) miles northwest of the City of Reading. Material and … The village also had a church, schoolhouse, post office, and Pyles General Store. Blue Marsh Lake, Leesport, PA. 18K likes. The land was very fertile. It was the first settlement in Lower Heidelberg Township. The land was very fertile. Here, from early times, had been established business stands and varied industries facilitated. Schuylkill River Greenways NHA 140 College Drive, Pottstown, PA 19464 Phone: 484-945-0200 Fax 484-945-0204 The Schuylkill River Greenways National & State Heritage Area is managed by the Schuylkill River Greenway Association (SRGA), a 501(c)3 non-profit. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. In the middle of the lake is a large, uninhabited island (claimed by Bern Township). Blue Marsh Lake Visitor Center / Overlook (610) 376-6337 Directions & Lake History/Factoid Directions: From Reading, approx. Near Bernville, Pennsylvania. Zillow has 1 homes for sale in 19608 matching Blue Marsh Lake. The land was very fertile. The bathhouse and shower facilities at the beach will also open. The United States Army Corps of Engineers began constructing the lake in March 1974 with the impoundment of the Tulpehocken Creek and was completed in September 1979. To … Factoid: Blue Marsh Lake is a 6,100 acre-project having a 1,150-acre lake. Blue Marsh was the name of the village that was located where the lake now is. Brandywine Battlefield State Park: Delaware County: unknown The graph visualizes station information over the history and shows if and when any of this information has changed. First estimated to cost $11,000,000, the final cost was around $62,000,000. The Day Use Area at the lake is back open, and the boat launches are also open again. Blue Marsh is a multi-use trail system so IMBA rules of the trail are in affect. It was busy but not crowded, some boaters, lots of fishermen. Most of the vestiges from that enterprise still existing in our county are found in this area. The survey presented here began upon the receipt of a brochure (dated January 1, 1970) entitled LAND ACQUISITION PROCEDURE FOR BLUE MARSH DAM AND RESERVOIR, TULPEHOCKEN CREEK, PA. issued by the Philadelphia Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army … It was also a heavily forested area with abundance of wildlife. It was the first settlement in Lower Heidelberg Township. Blue Marsh Today The process was stalled briefly in 1972 with Hurricane Agnescausing flooding. Blue Marsh Lake Visitors Center, located in Leesport, PA, provides information on Berks County area attractions, sights, accommodations for guests and travelers. There were many farms and 18th and 19th century homes. We had only a rather superficial encounter with Blue Marsh National Recreation Area . It is maintained by the Philadelphia District, U.S. Army Corps Blue Marsh was the name of the village that was located where the lake now is, and locals called the area Pleasant Valley. Description. It was the first settlement in Lower Heidelberg Township. The recreation program at the project attracts almost 900,000 visitors a year. The Blue Marsh Lake Multi-Use Trail loops around a manmade reservoir just outside of Reading in southeastern Pennsylvania. “The Corps of Engineers proceeded with the project with no regard to the culture, the residents or the history of the region.” [4][5][6], A view on the hill above the State Hill boat ramp, Project 70 Land Acquisition and Borrowing Act, "Blue Marsh Lake Recreation Area | Visit PA Americana", "Historical Survey of Blue Marsh Project Area", "Water Quality Standards Review: Blue Marsh Lake", Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area, Carbon County Environmental Education Center, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, Harrison Hills Park Environmental Education Center, Honey Hollow Environmental Education Center, Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center, Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, Wildlife Center at Sinnemahoning State Park, Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blue_Marsh_National_Recreation_Area&oldid=1000469004, Protected areas of Berks County, Pennsylvania, Bodies of water of Berks County, Pennsylvania, Berks County, Pennsylvania geography stubs, Articles with dead external links from November 2016, Articles with permanently dead external links, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 January 2021, at 06:58. Blue Marsh National Recreation Area is an artificial lake located northwest of the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, USA and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District. The intent was to curb some area flooding and to provide a nice recreational area including the newly created Blue Marsh Lake. Pleasant) but was moved a safe distance away before the dam was created. [3] The Pennsylvania Project 70 Land Acquisition and Borrowing Act provided funding and permitted the eminent domain acquisition of the land that would later become the lake with the governor's permission in 1969. The “collector’s limited edition” of the Blue Marsh book can be ordered for $59 if picked up at the authors’ home or $68 shipped by USPS mail. Blue Marsh State Park: Berks County: 1978: Blue Marsh Lake and Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 280: Park was completed, but without funds to operate it, so was given to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, now also partly a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site. The lake is a popular recreation area in the summer, where people can fish, swim, and boat. The Blue Marsh Lake Visitor's Center features educational information on the project, which was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1978 and has prevented more than $95 million in flood damages. ... History & Background ... in Blue Marsh Lake Recreation Area #1764 Overall. Blue Marsh, which opened July 5, 1979, was created to prevent a repeat of the massive flooding that came with Tropical Storm Agnes seven years earlier. Length 23.3 miElevation gain 2253 ftRoute type Loop A living-history farm museum located in the Blue Marsh Lake Recreation Area of Berks County, Pennsylvania. 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