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Austin Dam Memorial Park

98%
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· Potter, Pennsylvania
76 acres hosted by Austin Dam P.
4 RV/tent sites · 4 tent sites
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Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Best in Pennsylvania: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.
Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
Off-leash friendly
Pets can be off-leash at this Hipcamp.
Just outside the quaint town of Austin sits a vivid reminder of one of Pennsylvania's worst disasters – the Austin Flood. In 1909, the dam was constructed on Freeman Run to power the Bayless Papermill downstream. Many wondered if the dam was safe. On September 30, 1911, Austin found out. Poor construction, coupled with torrential rain, resulted in the dam's collapse. Nearly 400 million gallons of water were released, destroying everything for 8 miles. At least 78 people perished in the tragedy. It was the second worst flood disaster in Pennsylvania's history and sixth worst dam failure in U.S. history. The tragedy sparked new legislation to improve dam safety, and the Austin Dam was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The ruins of the dam still stand, surrounded by a 76-acre park, as a tribute to the lives lost in the Austin Flood. Don't miss one of Potter County's best kept secrets!
Activities
Biking
Boating
Fishing
Hiking
Natural features
Cave
Forest
River, stream, or creek
Swimming hole
98%
748 ratings · 304 reviews
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Kasey E.recommends
September 13, 2024
Log Train (Site 8)
Tremendous Host
We absolutely loved everything about camping at the Austin Dam and hope to return every year! Alvy was a tremendous host, especially being a volunteer! He had many recommendations, wonderful knowledge of the area and its history, and answered all of our questions. We had everything we needed at the campsite, plenty of space and privacy, and the wood we purchased prior to arrival was more than enough for us! Alvy was very accommodating when we booked an extra night since we got in later than we were expecting the first night. Swimming at one of the spots Alvy recommended was our favorite part (aside from getting engaged while we were there!) even though the water was probably around 50°! We hope to see the memorial and the campsites stay up and running!
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Elissa S.recommends
September 6, 2024
Mess Hall (Site 6)
Will Be Back!
We had a great time at this camp! The site is huge with tons of space for families to spend out. The creek was fabulous to wade in. The main road above the valley was louder than we expected but it wasn't terrible. The portapotty near our site was spotless. Highly recommend!
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John J.recommends
August 19, 2024
Log Driver (Site 3)
Excellent park and site! Hosts were very kind and welcoming.
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Alex A.recommends
August 4, 2024
Saw Filer (Site 4)
Great campsite. Access to amenities. Surrounded by nature and history. Would recommend!
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Janie C.recommends
August 3, 2024
Log Driver (Site 3)
Beautiful site right on a creek. Host was so nice, stopped by to check on us, firewood delivery was so convenient! Unfortunately for us, there was a festival going on at the Dam that day/night that we were unaware of, so there was a lot of traffic on the gravel road right next to our site. The traffic really took away from the peaceful tranquility that we were looking for. That being said, we will definitely be back, but will check to make sure nothing is going on at the Dam next time!
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Paul P.recommends
July 23, 2024
Log Scaler (Site 5)
Relax by the Stream
We had a fantastic camping trip at Log Scaler (site 5)! There was tons of space for our group to spread out and relax. The highlight for the kids was definitely the stream right next to our campsite - they played there all day long. The location was ideal - close enough to explore the historic Austin Dam, but still feeling secluded in nature. We took advantage of the pre-purchased firewood, which was a great deal and saved us time setting up. Speaking of convenience, the pre-purchased porta-potty was clean and unused, which was a huge plus! An added bonus - we went in mid-July and to our surprise, none of us in our group came across a single tick! Overall, a perfect spot for a fun and relaxing family camping trip.
Location
Potter, Pennsylvania, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Susquehannock and Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga (Haudenosaunee) First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Austin Dam P.

Joined in March 2019
Response rate: 50%Response time: Within 12 hours
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