Just recently I explored the lesser known Bendigo State Park. It’s awfully small compared to some of the more popular parks in PA, but it nonetheless serves its purpose as a community gathering point within Elk County, PA. 

History

Bendigo State Park began in the 1920s as a community project for the nearby town of Johnsonburg. Seeking a place for a swimming pool and picnicking area, the planners chose the forgotten village of Bendigo. Starting out as a lumber mill town, Bendigo was somehow named after the British boxer William Abednego Thompson, but no one seems to remember why! During the Great Depression, the money for the community project ran out and floods destroyed many of the facilities in 1942. In April 1949, the late State Senator George B. Stevenson introduced a bill transferring the property over to the Commonwealth of PA, and improvements were made. the grand reopening was in 1954.

Amenities

• Ballfields
• Basketball Courts
• Swimming Pool and Lifeguard Station
• Dressing Rooms, Water Fountain and Food Concession
• Restrooms
• Environmental Interpretive Programs
• Horseshoe Pits
• Hunting Areas
• Picnic Areas and Pavilions
• Playground
• Volleyball Courts
• Fishing Areas

Thoughts

The Park is definitely a great spot for swimming or a picnic, but there isn’t much to do as a tourist. It serves a great purpose for the community, and I’m sure I will visit again as I only live 30 minutes away, but I couldn’t picture an out-of-state tourist specifically routing their trip to stop at Bendigo State Park.

Have you ever been to Bendigo State Park? As always, don’t forget to subscribe for email updates, and also check out my new Facebook page where I’ll be posting some cool stuff!

xoxo