Located south of Huntingdon from route 26 and looks like a bruise covered with dark green hills that surround it, Lake Reistown is the largest artificial water supply in Pennsylvania and the only one where you can rent houseboats.
Created between 1968 and 1978 by the US Army Corps of Engineers to control the flow of the Susquehanna Valley, hydroelectricity and recreation, a narrow zigzag 28-mile lake that emulates the Reistown branch of the Uniate River, it feeds over 8,300 acres and offers 118 miles of forest coast .
Occupying the land first discovered by Native Americans, it possesses a significant, once exposed archaeological object, designated the Sheep Rock Shelter, a significant, overhanging scarp at modern Suskehannock
Camping was originally used to protect tribes and animals.
Excavating the site before expanding the reservoir in the 1960s, researchers from Juniat College and the State University of Pennsylvania discovered a 6000-year-old cancer of the skull and bones of an Indian woman with knives, pottery, and spears.
The abandoned earthen and rocky dam that created the lake, with a base width of 1,550 feet, a width of 24 feet, a length of 1,700 feet, and a height of 225 feet, created what could be considered the Pennsylvania. with the “crown of jewels” allowing the Allegheny Electric Cooperative power station to use hydropower for 8500 houses and Huntingdon County to create tourism as the second largest industry after agriculture with more than two million annual visitors.
Despite the fact that it has evolved significantly since its unscrupulous start in the form of a collection of cottages for boats, the coast and hills of the area, due to the rules governing the development of the US Army corps, still have a natural appearance, preserving the wildlife of the indigenous peoples, which depends on them.
Today in Mecca for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts a lot of recreational activities are offered for both day and long trips, to which understanding and enjoyment are a glance at the Visitors Center located on the ridge and providing a primeval view of the azure lake that it represents.
Spreading information, directions and brochures, she offers a look at the conditions 6,000 years ago through her interactive exhibits in paleontology, as well as the interpretation of the displays called “Construction and Operation of the Dam”, “Days of Life in Raystown” and “Generation of Electricity”. "
Visitor Bureau Huntingdon County and the US Army Headquarters Ranger and Office Headquarters are at a lower level. Audiovisual presentations are provided in the multipurpose room, and the gift shop sells drinks, snacks, books, and souvenirs right behind the entrance.
The lake and surrounding wildlife related activities are numerous.
Swimming, for example, can be booked on one of two beaches, managed by the Corps, located in the recreation area of seven points. The first one, respectively called Seven Points Beach next to the marker of the 9th lake mile on its western side, is subdivided into a 200-600 foot area with a concrete bottom and a 100-by-150 foot area with a sand base mainly used by children. Its facilities include a shower and a changing house, picnic tables, playground equipment and a lighthouse concession. Auckland cover picnic is located on the peninsula opposite the beach.
The second swimming pool Tatman Run Beach is located on the southern tip of the lake and has a support area of 200 feet by 700 feet, as well as a changing room, a playground, picnic tables, grills and a boat start,
The aircraft can be performed on any of the seven Corps-controlled launches: Snyder, Aych, James Creek, Tatman Beg, Shy Beaver, Weaver Falls and Seven Points, the last of which borders The Tusey Ridges, located by the bay-drive, offers a powerful three-lane, 40-foot boat with a capacity of 119 high-rise cars and a modular board for swimming. There is either a limit on the size of the boat, or horsepower on the lake, but there are zones without waking up to eliminate fluctuations in wildlife viewing and fishing.
Fishing itself can be performed in various areas, including from rocky places, shallow bays, coves and right in the middle of a lake from a boat, and can produce small, small, large or striped bass, musk, pike perch, crappie, larvae, perch, carp , brown trout, brown trout or Atlantic salmon.
More than 700 campgrounds, ranging from primitive tents and ending with fully functional connection types, cover the territory. The six facilities of the Army Corps include seven points, the Nancy camp, Suskehannock, a group camp, the Lake Reystaun resort and a branch.
Hiking can be done on the four established trails: the Hillside Native and Old Logger trails, as in Seven Points; The Riverside Nature Trail below the dam to view wildlife; and a 30-mile long Terrace trail.
In addition to recreational and waterfowl areas, Lake Reistown offers unlimited hunting for rabbit, squirrel, grouse, beaver, pheasant, raccoon, turkey and deer.
Several nests offer the ability to view bald eagles.
Most of the Raystown facilities are concentrated in two areas.
The first of these, Seven Points Marina, is located at its northern end. Initially offering only a few boats, it became the largest facility in Pennsylvania, which has a shop, restaurant, 35-strong rental and 946 blunders.
His memories at Lake Restaurant offer both home and street cooking, and Oar House sells clothing, supplies, souvenirs, ice, bait and tackle.
Its rental park includes seven aluminum boats with four feet, 10 hp, four people for sightseeing and fishing; nine 90-strong, eight-pontoon boats; and 19 houseboats. The last, rented from Monday to Friday or from Friday to Monday, vary in size and location, including those that sleep four, six, eight or ten with bunk beds in a cabin style, full bedrooms, sliding boards, and hot tubs .
Public tours are offered on the Marina of the Princess’s own houseboat. Having accommodated 125 on both lower and upper open decks, configured by tables and cupboards, an aluminum body 75 feet long, which moves 440 horsepower, receives tourists on 90-minute trips with appropriate commentary, tracing the lake; with a red cedar tree exploring its islands and bays, and exploring the archaeological object Sheepdog Rocks with its red slate, with a diagonal pattern. Although it is mostly submerged, its upper part, depicting its last layers, is still visible.
Other cruises include a two-hour dam trip, autumn foliage trips, holiday and seasonal excursions with fireworks, as well as themed buffets such as seafood, Italian and surfing.
The second major concentration of facilities is the Lake Raystown Resort Lodge and Convention Center.
The family resort, located on a 400-acre property on the waterfront, appeared in 1984 and evolved from a small campus of the Army Corps. Today it offers a wide range of accommodation, restaurants, boats and related activities.
First of all, his house offers 50 rooms and 2 suites. His rustic, one-room, original cabins of the army corps, built of local logs, sleep six and are closest to the lake, and the newer ones are pine and maple trees. Cottages in Oak Park can accommodate up to seven people, or more than beach bungalows, while an equal number can live in two-bedroom villas located in a forest on their own peninsula. At the resort, 221 campsites, offering water, electrical and cable connections, take in tents, pop-ups, tourist trailers, fifth wheels and motor homes.
In the dining rooms you can find the Marina Café, Bistro Express and three stores: Trading Post, Marina Store and General Store.
A fully featured 650-season seasonal marina offers canoes, John's boat boats, pontoon boats and houseboats, the last of which, 60 feet by 16 feet, accommodates up to ten people, and sports floats and sunbeds, water slides, barbecue grills , four bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen / galley, dining room, living room and air conditioning.
Lake Raystown Resort offers its own 90-minute Proud Mary Showboat public sightseeing cruise, as well as other excursions for dinner, full bar and sunset.
