{{Short description|State park in Greene County, Pennsylvania}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = Ryerson Station State Park | image = Ryerson Station.jpg | image_caption = | image_alt = Creek | image_size = 280 | location = [[Richhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|39.88614|-80.44549|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref name="rssp"/> | area = {{convert|1164|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="rssp"/> | elevation = {{convert|1197|ft}} | established = 1967 | administrator = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] | free_label = | free_data = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | website = {{Official website}} | module = {{Infobox protected area | map = USA Pennsylvania#USA | label = Ryerson Station State Park | label_position = | map_caption = Location in Pennsylvania | relief = 1 | module = [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania State Parks]] }} }} '''Ryerson Station State Park''' is a {{convert|1164|acre|adj=on}} [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania state park]] in [[Richhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania]] in the United States. It was previously home to Ronald J. Duke Lake, a {{convert|52|acre|adj=on}} artificial lake on the North Fork of the Dunkard Fork of [[Wheeling Creek (West Virginia)|Wheeling Creek]], that was constructed in 1960, but drained in 2005 due to structural concerns about the dam. Ryerson Station State Park is {{convert|3|mi|0}} from [[Wind Ridge, Pennsylvania|Wind Ridge]] just off [[Pennsylvania Route 21]] very close to the [[West Virginia]] state line.

==History== The park is named for [[Fort Ryerson]]. This fort was constructed by the [[Commonwealth of Virginia]] in 1792 to resist the raids of local [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] who fought against the settlement of the [[Ohio River Valley]] by the United States. Ownership of the land in this part of Pennsylvania was disputed among several parties including Virginia, Pennsylvania and the Native Americans.<ref name="rssp">{{cite web |url=https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ryerson-station-state-park |title=Ryerson Station State Park |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=2026-01-18}}</ref>

The state acquired the land in 1958. Duke Lake was completed with the construction of a dam in 1960 and the park was finally opened in 1967.<ref name="rssp"/>

==Recreation== There is a camping facility on a [[ridge]] overlooking the park. There are 48 sites for tents and [[travel trailer]]s, with flush toilets, warm showers at the camp site, plus some sites with electricity. Group tenting is permitted in the large group tenting area. Two wooden cottages are available for rent. The cottages have electric lights and outlets as well as double and single bunks that sleep up to five, wooden floors, windows, skylights, a porch, fire ring, and picnic table.<ref name="rssp"/>

Over 275 picnic tables are available for use on the ground of Ryerson Station State Park. The park also has five [[pavilions]] and a small playground in the main picnic area.<ref name="rssp"/>

Hunting is permitted in {{convert|1000|acre}} of Ryerson Station State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the [[Pennsylvania Game Commission]]. The common game species are [[ruffed grouse]], [[eastern gray squirrel]]s, [[wild turkey]] and [[white-tailed deer]]. The hunting of [[groundhog]]s is prohibited.<ref name="rssp"/>

Duke Lake had been [[fish stocking|stocked]] by the [[Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission]] with [[trout]] in the spring and again in the fall. Non-powered and electric powered boats with current registration from any state and having a launching or mooring permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission<ref name="rssp"/> had been permitted onto the waters of the lake. Gasoline powered boats were prohibited.

In July 2005, Duke Lake was drawn down due to concerns about the structural integrity of the dam across the North Fork of the Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek. As of November 2024, the lake bed remains dry.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/news/resource/res2005/05-0802-ryersonstationsp.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060327234040/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/news/resource/res2005/05-0802-ryersonstationsp.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-date = March 27, 2006 | title = DCNR to begin drawdown of lake at Ryerson Station State Park in Greene County | access-date = 2007-12-19 | publisher = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]]}}</ref>

Structural cracks in the Duke Lake Dam are reported to be the result of [[longwall mining]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/bmr/Ryerson_report/Ryerson_report.htm | title = Ryerson Station Dam Interim Report | access-date = 2010-03-03 | publisher = [[Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110615160328/http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/bmr/Ryerson_report/Ryerson_report.htm | archive-date = 2011-06-15 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

The dam had been scheduled to be rebuilt by 2017 in a deal with [[Consol Energy]] that allowed the company to refrain from admitting fault for the original damage, continue mining under the park, and begin drilling for natural gas under the park in the future.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.anglersnotebook.com/2013/05/21/coal-natural-gas-and-consols-duke-lake-deal/ | title = Coal Mining, Fracking, and Consol's Duke Lake Deal | access-date = 2012-05-30 | publisher = Angler's Notebook}}</ref> However, due to the ground's mining-related instability, the rebuild was abandoned in 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/8787417-74/dam-lake-state | title = State halts efforts to restore Greene County's Duke Lake | access-date = 2017-09-18 | publisher = Trib Total Media}}</ref>

The swimming pool is open from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm beginning [[Memorial Day]] weekend and ending [[Labor Day]] weekend. The park has {{convert|11|mi}} of hiking trails. The trails pass through several different habitats, mature forests, evergreen plantations, wet valley bottoms and fields.<ref name="rssp"/>

The snow-covered slopes of the park are opened to sledding and [[toboggan]]ing when the weather permits. [[Cross-country skiing]] and [[snowmobile|snowmobiling]] are permitted on some of the hiking trails.<ref name="rssp"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Ryerson Station State Park}} {{portal|Pennsylvania}} *[https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ryerson-station-state-park Ryerson Station State Park] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources *[http://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=1737270&DocName=RYST_ParkMap.pdf Ryerson Station State Park Map] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

{{Protected Areas of Pennsylvania}}

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[[Category:State parks of Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Greene County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Greene County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1967]] [[Category:1957 establishments in Pennsylvania]]