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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

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.

Best in Pennsylvania: Finalist

Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.

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%

745 ratings · 302 reviews

John J.recommends

August 19, 2024

Log Driver (Site 3)

Excellent park and site! Hosts were very kind and welcoming.

Alex A.recommends

August 4, 2024

Saw Filer (Site 4)

Great campsite. Access to amenities. Surrounded by nature and history. Would recommend!

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!

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.

Karen A.recommends

July 21, 2024

Tree Sawyer (Site 1)

We really liked this site and hope to return next summer. The sites are big and we camped right next to the stream. It was an easy walk to see the dam and while there we learned about the several other hikes and points of interest. The manager was very kind and helpful.

Keith B.recommends

July 9, 2024

Saw Filer (Site 4)

It’s was secluded, private, and large. I enjoyed my stay.

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