Ole Bull State Park Campout, July 13-18, 2008

[George Miklas]

We're extending the 4th annual Cook Forest Campout to include a stop at Ole Bull State Park. All are invited! Arriving on Sunday, July 13, 2008, the Slifka Family will be on site 34 and the Miklas Family will be on site 35, departing on Friday July 18, 2008 (heading to Cook Forest).

Sites are still available at the 2007 rates until midnight tonight!

There will be hiking, tubing, kayaking, swimming and other water sports.

[woodburner]

Are you guys blowing the seasons vacation days in PA this year?....Not that it's a bad thing; wish we could do the same!

[George Miklas]

Woodburner,

This summer, I'm on vacation from June 6 through August 18th. This is the first time in my life that I've had practically the whole summer off! I absolutely love my new job

gm

[themanfromvan]

Hi !! I found this thread through a search engine. We are planning to visit Ole Bull State Park for the first time in June 2008. Numerous people have told me about it. Every time we talk to other campers at a campground and tell them the places we like to camp, the first thing they ask is, "You ever been to Ole Bull?"

My question is for the family from Grove City. Since we are pretty much from the same neck of the woods - which way to you go to get to Ole Bull? I would imagine if you're leaving from your home, you typically go across I-80 and up Route 53 to Route 144 and to the park from there.

However - if you're going to Cook Forest first on this trip, you're going to pass pretty close to my house on Route 322 in Venango County, PA. I imagine you go across 80 to Shippenville and up 66 to go to Cook Forest. What's your plan to get from Cooksburg to Cross Fork. Back to 80 and across? Or up to Kane across Route 6 and down 144?

I've had people tell me that 66 - 6 - 144 would be the best route for me to go. 80 - 53 - 144 may seem like the shorter route, but it's not. Do you folks have any input on this matter? I certainly appreciate any help you can give. From the pictures I've seen of Ole Bull, I am really pumped about getting there !!!! Thanks - Dave

[Joe-K]

Hi Dave,

Glad to see you joined and posted on the site. I'll let George (from Grove City) get back to you on his route to Ole Bull, but I just wante to welcome you to the site.

I checked out your webpage...very nice job on that. We're also from Western PA, (Butler area) to be precise and often camp in the North West part of the state. Quite frequently we get together as a group at some of the state parks. Area's like WoodCock Creek Lake, Pymatuning, and Cooks forest area are frequented annually.

We hope to catch up with you at one of the outings.

Joe

[themanfromvan]

Joe - Thanks for the welcome. Actually, from doing some looking around, I found George's webpage and e-mailed him the same question through it. But, I'm glad you saw my post, they may just delete my message as junk.

We own a pop up camper, as you probably saw from my site. We camp mainly at Clear Creek, Chapman Dam and Parker Dam. Clear Creek is closed for renovations this year, though, so we are looking for new places. We've considered Woodcock. Ironically, it's EXACTLY the same distance from driveway to campground as Clear Creek. I mean right down to the 1/10 of a mile !! I'm hoping that's a good omen.

We're also going to Cook Forest, site 116 in June. It's the closest state park with camping to our home, 33 miles. We've never camped there .

Thanks again, Joe. I appreciate the welcome and maybe we will meet up sometime.

[George Miklas]

We are actually going to Ole Bull first. There are two possible routes--one longer but relatively faster and straighter, and one shorter but slower and winding roads.

178 miles from Grove City to Ole Bull (I-80 to DuBois, PA255, PA555, PA120, PA144).
190 miles from Grove City to Ole Bull (I-80 to Snow Shoe, PA144 ).

Since you are camping at Ole Bull and Cook Forest earlier than us, I hope that you will give us some condition reports.

Since Cook Forest is 33 miles from your house, will we at least get to meet you at our campout?

George

[Tom N]

Quote:

Originally posted by themanfromvan:

Dave S. from Van,

Have you camped over at the campground across the river from Kennerdale?? I use to rent a seasonal lot there in the 70's and early 80's.

This was before the mall went in at Cranberry. We used to go to the old drive-in at the Cranberry crossroads.

-Tom

[Superslif]

Welcome Dave,
Last year while at Clear Creek another camper asked if I ever been to an out-of-the-way place called Ole Bull SP. He said it had one of the best fishing spots in the state. The following week while at Cook Forest with George I told him I was kind of thinking about Ole Bull for 08'. Well, later on in the fall someone where I work here in Cleveland said did I know that Clear Creek was going to be closed for the 08' season. So that is when I started to think about doing a Ole Bull / Cook Forest 2 week trip for 08'. I have never been to Ole Bull either. I usually like to visit a state park first to see what campsites I would like. So I called the ranger at Ole Bull and she suggested a few sites on the creek. I Googled it and found a few pictures of the campground. I like what I saw.... Here is a link to those pix's http://wiseguys.smugmug.com/gallery/...4298#167458031
Dave since you have never been to Cook Forest (Ridge Campground) what site do you have? I have pictures of a good deal of the electric ones. We have been going to Cook Forest now for maybe 5-6 years, usually for a week in July.

[themanfromvan]

Jim/Tom - Sorry for the delay in replying. I hadn't checked back on this forum for quite some time. This is our first time at Cook Forest despite it being only 33 miles from home. We are in site 116. I drove up and scoped the place out before selecting that site.

No, I've never been to Marlowe's Campground in Kennerdell because there is now a sign up there reading 'Seasonal Sites Only'. Besides that, are you aware that there is now a power plant practically right across the river from Kennerdell? Yes - Scrubgrass Power was built in 1993 and it makes quite a bit of noise.

There is another river campground up near Tionesta - Kibbe's Island Campground. I've heard it's a 24/7 party there, though. That's not my cup of tea.

[themanfromvan]

Sorry - I don't know how to edit my posts on your forum yet. I just wanted to show you this photo I found of Ole Bull on Community Webshots -



I don't have any idea who this guy is or where he buys his attire, but look at that campground behind him. Level. Partially shaded. It's perfect !! I'm really stoked about going there.

[George Miklas]

Dave,
It appears that he lives life on the edge.....seeing that he rides a bike with a bullseye on his belly

George

Quote:

Originally posted by themanfromvan: Sorry - I don't know how to edit my posts on your forum yet. I just wanted to show you this photo I found of Ole Bull on Community Webshots - I don't have any idea who this guy is or where he buys his attire, but look at that campground behind him. Level. Partially shaded. It's perfect !! I'm really stoked about going there.

[Superslif]

George, I found some more pix's on Community Webshots. I'm thinking that this picture is taken from our campsites. The first bridge you see is the pedestrian foot bridge and the 2nd one is the road bridge to get over to our campsites. According to the campground map we are the 2nd and 3rd campsites on that side of the river. The dam and the swimming area will be just to the left and behind where this picture has been taken. http://www.superstork.com/rt4/images/12%20Dick%20Ole%20...064%20Ole%20Bull.jpg

[Superslif]

Here is another link to a few more pictures. Go down the page about half way. http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A...69651b8c6&no=1&tt=21