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Nearby Parks:
Beltzville State Park
Worthington State Forest
Roosevelt State Park
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| State Park Overview: |
 | Jacobsburg offers environmental education programs from the preschool environmental awareness programs to high school level environmental problem solving programs, historical programs, teacher workshops and public interpretive programs. Once the site where the famous Henry Rifle was made, the Jacobsburg National Historic District lies almost entirely within the park. Henrys Woods offers very scenic hikes and the rest of the center grounds have multi-use trails.
The center office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The center?s main parking area on Belfast Road is open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week for your enjoyment.
The original land for the center was purchased by the Department of Forests and Waters from the City of Easton in 1959. In 1969, additional land was purchased using funds from Project 70. This brought the total land area of the center to its present size of 1,168 acres. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| On the northern edge of the Lehigh Valley, the rolling terrain of Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center is near the foothills of the Pocono Plateau. The habitats range from fields in various stages of successional growth to mature hardwood forests dominated by oak trees. About 2.5 miles of the beautiful Bushkill Creek and its tributary, Sobers Run, wind through the center.
Jacobsburg?s natural resources are not only an excellent outdoor laboratory for environmental education and interpretation, but are also important to many visitors from the surrounding area for healthy outdoor exercise and recreation. The natural open spaces provided by this public resource are becoming increasingly important in a continually expanding urban setting. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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| Trails: |
| Trails: 18.5 miles of trails
The network of trails makes the center?s fields, woodlands and streams accessible to both students and the casual visitor. These facilities are for use by hikers, all-terrain bicyclists, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. We suggest that non-hunters wear blaze orange during hunting seasons. |
| Trail Accessories: |
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| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Fishing:
The Bushkill Creek, which is regularly stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, provides excellent trout fishing. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.
Hunting and Firearms:
About 937 acres are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, pheasant, rabbit and squirrel.
Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day to March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for accessible hunting information.
Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. The park is used by other visitors during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment must be kept in the owner's car. Non-hunters are recommended to wear flourescent orange when recreating in hunting areas during hunting seasons. |
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| Area Accommodations |
| B&Bs / Inns | | Hotel Jonas - This 105 year old Victorian hotel is centrally located within minutes of many activities. Enjoy a delicious meal in our romantic dining room. A continental breakfast is included in your stay. |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
| Hiking and Biking : Fall in P.A. - Pennsylvania's changing foliage creates a breathtaking backdrop for hiking and biking in the fall. There are thousands of miles of trails throughout the state, ranging from easy to very... | | Jacobsburg State Park - Jacobsburg State Park Pennsylvania Reviews by www.mtbr.com | | Bushkill Stream Conservancy Projects Events - PROJECTS EVENTS Newsletter - Spring 2002 Bushkill Stream Festival Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center and Bushkill Stream Conservancy join forces to sponsor an annual Bushkill Stream... |
| Nature Programs: |
| Jacobsburg was dedicated as an environmental education center in October of 1985, and is one of four environmental education centers operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks. Through its environmental education programming at centers and state parks, the Department aims to help develop a citizenry that is aware of and concerned about the environment and its problems, and also has the knowledge, attitude, motivation, commitment and skills to work individually and collectively toward solutions of current problems and the prevention of new ones.
The Jacobsburg environmental education program consists of a variety of quality programs including; student field learning experiences, Youth Environmental Learning Series, Environmental Forums for high school students, Conservation Leadership Schools, the Bureau?s Watershed Education, school site and curriculum development, and numerous in-service and pre-service teacher workshops focusing on problem-solving for a variety of environmental issues and natural history. The center?s program staff also offers community programs and supports ecological research, in addition to assisting in developing regional and statewide programs that serve educators and other Bureau and Department program and staff needs.
Educators and school groups wishing to participate in a learning experience at Jacobsburg should contact the center office for program scheduling and reservation information. |
| Area Attractions: |
| The Jacobsburg National Historic District lies almost entirely within the boundaries of Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center. The district is on the National Register of Historic Places and its story is intertwined throughout the early development and growth of our nation. The history of Jacobsburg focuses on the Henry Family and their small arms industry; an industry that played a key role in the American Industrial Revolution.
The first of the Henry gunmakers, William Henry I, opened his gun factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1750. He became Armorer for the Braddock Campaign of 1755 and for the Forbes Expedition of 1758. William Henry II established a small gunmaking shop in Christian Springs near Nazareth in 1778. In 1792, William Henry II purchased land at Jacobsburg from the heirs of Jacob Hubler, who in 1740 founded the community from which Jacobsburg draws its name. Henry II built a gun manufactory at Jacobsburg. A few years later, he erected a forge (bloomery) to supply the gun factory with iron to manufacture guns. In 1812, a larger manufactory was built in nearby Boulton in order to accommodate large government firearms contracts.
Three succeeding generations of Henrys produced small arms at Boulton until the late 1800s when competition from small arms companies using mass production techniques made the Henry?s handcraft technology obsolete. It is still remembered, however, that the Henrys not only produced firearms for all of our nation?s major conflicts from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War, but that they were also the primary suppliers of rifles for the largest American business enterprise of the early 19th century, John Jacob Astor?s American Fur Company. The Henry firearm became the most prominent weapon of the western frontier due to its durability, accuracy and relatively low cost.
Only the foundations remain from the colonial village of Jacobsburg. The Jacobsburg Historical Society administers and operates one of the most significant and picturesque historic sites in the Lehigh Valley. The Henry Homestead, built in 1812, lies on a beautiful tract of land leased from the Bureau of State Parks. In 1989, the society also acquired the John Joseph Henry House from the estate of Mary Henry Stites. The house, built in 1832, is surrounded by 23 scenic acres. Contact the center office for a schedule of historical programs or for information on the historic district. |
| Area Campgrounds | | Pocono Vacation Park Campgrounds
RR 5
Stroudsburg, PA
(570) 424-2587
| Arrowhead Campground
Beaver Valley Rd
Stroudsburg, PA
(570) 992-7949
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Route 209 & Silver Valley Rd
Saylorsburg, PA
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85 Mount Pleasant Rd
Columbia, NJ
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2375 Benders Dr
Bath, PA
(610) 837-6401
| Donald George Painting Contr
735 57 Dr
Palmerton, PA
(610) 381-3381
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Palmerton, PA
(610) 381-3381
| Mountainview Campground
131 Goritz Rd
Milford, NJ
(908) 996-2953
| Dutch Springs
4733 Hanoverville Rd
Bethlehem, PA
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| Don Laine Campgrounds
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Palmerton, PA
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| Yards Creek Scout Reservation
6 Linaberry Rd
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(908) 362-5374
| Camp Swatara Family Camping
2901 Camp Swatara Rd
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| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Little Lehigh Fly Shop
2643 Fish Hatchery Rd
Allentown, PA
(610) 797-5599
| Klotz's Bait & Tackle Shop
216 Hess Ave
Hellertown, PA
(610) 838-7970
| Dunkelberger's Sports
585 Main St
Stroudsburg, PA
(570) 421-7950
| Ixtapa Sport Fishing Charters
19 Depue LN
Stroudsburg, PA
(570) 688-9466
| Mike's Bait & Sport Shop
328 E Lawn Rd
Nazareth, PA
(610) 759-2905
| East Bath Rod & Gun Club
TS Line
Nazareth, PA
(610) 837-1985
| John's Gun & Tackle Room
2604 Freemansburg Ave
Easton, PA
(610) 253-1111
| Mac's Hobby Hall
721 Linden St
Bethlehem, PA
(610) 866-8465
| Old Lehigh Outfitters Inc
573 Main St
Bethlehem, PA
(610) 332-0450
| Dave's Custom Tackle
4321 Newburg Rd
Bethlehem, PA
(610) 759-7371
| Koren Bait Tackle & Arrow
3430 Cannonball Dr
Northampton, PA
(610) 262-0335
| Palmerton Rod & Gun Club Inc
RR 1
Palmerton, PA
(610) 377-3404
| Bowmanstown Rod & Gun Club
525 Club Rd
Palmerton, PA
(610) 852-4051
| Lehigh River Bait & Bow
209 W Union St
Allentown, PA
(610) 432-2511
| Copeechan Fish & Game Club
5649 Brook St
Schnecksville, PA
(610) 767-9519
| Clemens Custom Tackle
Allentown, PA
(610) 395-5119
| Sea Mar Tackle Co
1424 W Allen St
Allentown, PA
(610) 432-1780
| Izaak Walton Rod & Gun Club
Guth Sta
Allentown, PA
(610) 395-5775
| Windsor Fly Shop
348 N 9th St
Stroudsburg, PA
(570) 424-0938
| Keystone Rod and Gun Club
Bath, PA
(610) 837-7644
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| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | Sunny Rest Lodge
425 Sunny Rest Dr
Palmerton, PA
(610) 377-2911
| Alpine Motel
1863 W Main St
Stroudsburg, PA
(570) 421-3790
| Walter's Motel
2011 W Main St
Stroudsburg, PA
(570) 424-1862
| Water Gap Country Club
Stroudsburg, PA
(570) 476-0300
| Countryside Cottages
RR 3 Box 3002
Stroudsburg, PA
(570) 629-2131
| Howard Johnson's
63 Route 611
Bartonsville, PA
(570) 424-6100
| Flower Fields Motel & Cottages
301 Route 611
Bartonsville, PA
(570) 629-0131
| Village at Sciota The
Crest Road
Sciota, PA
(570) 992-5659
| Rimrock Country Cottages
425 Rimrock Dr
Stroudsburg, PA
(570) 629-2360
| Mountain Springs Lake
Mountain Springs Dr
Reeders, PA
(570) 629-0251
| Chateau Resort & Conference Center
300 Camelback Rd
Tannersville, PA
(570) 629-5900
| Aurora Spa
607 E Montgomery St
Allentown, PA
(610) 391-3800
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| Directions: |
| At the foot of Blue Mountain in Northampton County, Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center is reached from PA 33 at the Belfast Exit, near Nazareth, PA. |
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