Rocks State Park

History

The belief that the King and Queen's Seat rock formation was used by Native Americans for ceremonial purposes stems from a book published in 1880 by Thomas Wysong entitled The Rocks of Deer Creek: Their Legends and History. Wysong's account was written for "the young people especially,... mingling fact and fancy." An archaeological investigation by the Maryland State Highway Administration begun in 2005 failed to find evidence that the site had significance to modern Indians as a “traditional cultural property.” The “Rocks of Deer Creek” were already a tourist attraction in the 19th century, served by the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad at milepost 35.3 until 1958. The state purchased 82 acres at the site in 1949, opening it under the name Deer Creek State Park in 1953.

Park areas

;Main: The park has three noncontiguous sections in Deer Creek Valley. The largest section, home to park headquarters, is located along Rocks Ridge and is home to the King and Queen's Seat rock formation, a 190 ft rock outcropping that towers above the banks of Deer Creek. ;Falling Branch: The Falling Branch area is a 67 acres tract of land located 5 mi north of the Rock Ridge section, along the Falling Branch tributary of Deer Creek. It is home to Kilgore Falls, the second highest waterfall in Maryland. ;Hidden Valley: The Hidden Valley section, located 5 mi to the west of the Falling Branch area, is an undeveloped area along the banks of Deer Creek primarily used for fishing.

Activities and amenities

The park offers scenic views on 3.5 mi of hiking trails as well as tubing on Deer Creek and picnicking facilities with pavilions. Hunting and fishing are also available.

In popular culture

Kilgore Falls and the King and Queen's Seat rock formation were featured in the movie Tuck Everlasting.

References

References

1. {{cite gnis. 586900. Rocks
2. "DNR Lands Acreage Report". Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
3. "Rocks State Park". Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
4. "Maryland State Park History". Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
5. "Falling Branch, Harford County". Maryland Geological Survey.
6. "Archeological Investigations Conducted by the Maryland State Highway Administration along MD 24 through Rocks State Park". Maryland State Highway Administration.
7. (March 1952). "Master Plan: Maryland State Parks and Recreation Areas". Maryland State Planning Commission.
8. Wysong, Thomas. (1880). "The Rocks of Deer Creek: Their Legends and History". A. J. Conlon.
9. Gienow, Michelle. (August 4, 2004). "In the Swim: Soaking Up the Primeval Pleasures of Maryland’s Swimming Holes". Baltimore City Paper.
10. "Tuck Everlasting Filming Locations". IMDB.