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Austin Dam Memorial Park

98%
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· Potter, Pennsylvania
76 acres hosted by Austin Dam P.
103 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 2023.
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
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98%
710 ratings · 278 reviews
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Arshdeep D.recommends
October 20, 2023
Log Train (Site 8)
Cozy out-of-the-way spot
Loved the site, and the host was very helpful! Site itself is very spacious.
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Laura B.recommends
October 15, 2023
Log Scaler (Site 5)
Wonderful site for a large group.
Tons of room to spread out tents and super close to the field and dam for group activities. The campsite is relatively close to Cherry Springs, and we got to see some incredible stars.
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Will M.recommends
October 2, 2023
Bark Peelers (Site 2)
Loved the location it was nice and peaceful and the host was amazing!
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Jacob H.recommends
October 2, 2023
Tree Sawyer (Site 1)
Should you stay here?
Not only is it a secluded piece of lost history you are camping beside but the scenery and view of the mountains is unrivaled. It's 30 minutes away from Cherry spring state park and has one of the best star viewing places in North America. 20/10 would highly recommend.
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Craig S.recommends
September 29, 2023
Saw Filer (Site 4)
Excellent Campsite.
The site was excellent. While there was some road noise during the day, we heard nothing at night. The site was clean and well laid out. We kept a fire going most of the time we were there and used 5 bundles of wood over two days. The hosts were very accommodating. We attempted to filter water from the stream but the water still had an unpleasant taste so I would recommend bringing water or taking it from a tap. The site was quite large with room for several tents. Overall, a great campsite.
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Kurt E.recommends
September 24, 2023
Bark Peelers (Site 2)
A weekend get away.
I really enjoyed the stream running right next to our camp site. It was a really beautiful location. Clean and quite with things to do all over.
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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