By Doris Cook

Ashtabula Star Beacon

ANDOVER, Ohio —Fishing, swimming and boating are just a few of the

activities awaiting visitors to Pymatuning State Park on the Ohio side of

the 14,000-acre lake setting in southeastern Ashtabula County.

Park manager Phil Vichosky said Ohio Department of Natural Resources

self-operates the 60 rental cottages in the park’s 3,500 acres with more

than 300 campsites for tents and recreation vehicles. Twenty-seven of the

cottages are available year-round for rental even in winter months.

Vichosky has spent 33 years with ODNR in various capacities. In addition to

duties at Pymatuning State Park, he also is regional manager of Geneva State

Park.

“We expect a busy season. Our cottage rentals are already getting filled.

Many Amish families vacation here in April and May. They come to fish and

just relax with their families. Summer months are busy with what I term the

urbanites and we have people coming from Pennsylvania, Cleveland area and

New York,” Vichosky said.

“We do not charge an entrance fee as some parks do to just come in to fish

or swim. And we do not put a surcharge on cottage or campsite rentals for

out-of-state visitors. We are one of five in the U.S. with this policy.”

Vichosky and his 12 full-time and 20 part-time park employees have been busy

getting ready for the tourist season.

A seasonal naturalist will be hired soon to conduct nature- and

environmental-related programs for campers this summer and fall. The big

season at the park runs from April to Aug. 15 with things winding down Labor

Day weekend.

“It has worked out the month of October is a big month for cottage rentals

here. The two-bedroom cottages are preferred by many families. Cottages are

rental by the week from Memorial Day to mid-August,” Vichosky said.

To rent cottages or for more information, call a central reservation line

for state parks at (866) OHIOPARKS.

Vichosky said until mid-July the northern sector campsites are off-limits

because a pair of bald eagles set up housekeeping in the tall trees. Bald

eagles are an endangered species and federally protected birds.

“We’ve set up road barriers and request people to not go into this area. The

eggs will be hatching soon or have already. We have volunteers, who keep an

eye on the nests and what’s happening. This is the first pair we have had on

this Ohio side of the lake that I can recall.”

The lake has limited horsepower for boats with 9.9 horsepower allowable

only. It’s a great fishing area with walleye, northern pike, bass and

crappie in plentiful supply.

There has been an effort again to raise the horsepower on both the Ohio and

Pennsylvania sides of the lake, Vichosky said. State Rep. George Distel of

Ashtabula proposed the bill to go up to 20 horsepower on a 16-foot or large

pontoon boats.

It has passed in the Ohio General Assembly and is now being considered by

the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation state park officials.

Improvements this past year at Pymatuning State Park included resurfacing of

roads. Another needed facility came with the complete renovation of a former

cabin, which was partly destroyed by fire in 2005. The new Bowers Launch

area has a new sidewalk for fishing and benches along the lake border.

Landscaping and new drainage also has been added in this area.

“It is conveniently located in the rental cabin areas. Before people would

have to clean fish by the shore or on the picnic tables. This should work

out much better,” Vichosky said.

Several annual festivals are on tap for the season at the park. They include

the Pymatuning Lake Festival on the first weekend in August, which is

sponsored by the Andover Chamber of Commerce. It features artisans, games,

food and fireworks staged at the main beach area.

“We usually get up to 10,000 people coming and it’s great for Andover

Village businesses as well. In the fall on the third weekend in September is

a Fall Campout Weekend with lots of activities planned,” Vichosky said.

On July 15, the Pyma-Laker 5K and Kids’ Half Mile Fun Run is scheduled to

begin at Birches’ Landing in the park. The half-mile starts at 8:30 a.m. and

the 5K at 9. Entry fees are $12 if pre-registered by July 11 or $15 day of

run for adults and $10 for the Kids’ Run. For more information, c all Shawna

Bryan at (440) 293-4164. All proceeds benefit the Pymatuning Valley

cross-country program at the school district.

For boat rentals the Pymatuning Liveries Inc. operates at two locations on

the Ohio side: Birches Livery (south) and Paranormal (north) on the lake.

For information, call the corporate office at (440) 293-5156, 293-5155 or

293-5154. Everything from rowboats to pontoon craft is available for rent by

the hour, day or week. Seasonal dockage is also available at the two

locations.

The park located on the western shore of Pymatuning Reservoir has a long

list of activities for outdoor recreation lovers.

Picnic shelters, hiking trails, summer nature programs, swimming beaches and

lots of fishing spots are open to the public, said Vichosky. The park office

is located on Pymatuning Lake Road south or call 293-6684 for information on

events or general information.