Wompatuck State Park is a state-owned, public recreation area of about 3,500 acres (1,400ha) in size located primarily in the town of Hingham with portions in the neighboring towns of Cohasset, Norwell, and Scituate, Massachusetts, in the United States. It has stands of White Atlantic cedar, American holly, chestnut oak, shagbark hickory, mountain laurel, pink dogwood, white pine, American Beech, and hemlock, some estimated to be 175 years old. The 1.5-mile Whitney Spur Rail Trail now connects the Cohasset MBTA station to Wompatuck State Park. HINGHAM - Thirty-five years ago, visitors to Wompatuck State Park could still find open munitions storage bunkers and rusting barrels of toxic materials - remnants from a period when the military used the site to store ammunition and assemble explosives. Below is a photo of the Weir River Farm in late spring. Soon after it exits the pond, it flows into the Weir River. Other local campgrounds know they always have a spillover area in Hingham. Search for: Recent Posts . Follow the Beechwood Street paved trail from E13, past E16 to the boat/kayak launch area for a view of the Aaron River Reservoir. The tall trees were used for masts and stone walls were built to denote survey and boundary lines. If you enjoy a good scare, you should check out these disturbing and haunted cemeteries around Boston that are sure to give you chills. Wompatuck State Park - Grove Street Entrance (Norwell) 433 Grove St, Norwell, MA 02061, USA (617) 895-8245 Wompatuck.park@mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/locations/wompatuck-state-park Owned By: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Directions Trail Map The newest (2022) access point to Wompatuck State Park! Several old military buildings can be found on park property as well as an extensive network of abandoned railroad. Wompatuck Abandoned Buildings Puzzle by Brian MacLean. Water from Mt. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. Post-Closure Usage [ edit] The Commonwealth of Massachusetts took possession of the Annex, in 1966, and later turned the 3,500 acres (14 km 2) into the present day Wompatuck State Park. The park features numerous seasonal campsites, plus fishing and non-motorized boating on the Aaron River Reservoir. One can see the vast infrastructure dating from the WWII era when walking through the Wompatuck State Park. There are 12 miles of paved bike paths, plus off-road trails for hiking, dog walking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. The Mount Blue Spring is currently closed. Difficulty (Grade/Surface): Easy, Moderate Both park users and officials look forward to a time when the burning grounds will be declared safe and the closed area will be open. Among the most common are swamp azalea, solomons seal, white geranium, ladies slipper, and sheep laurel. Never enough time. Additional entrances with parking at Leavitt Street in Hingham, Doane Street in Cohasset. Fish commonly found in the 136-acre Aaron River Reservoir include bass, pickerel, sunfish, and perch. We will use this information to improve this page. Wompatuck State Park Grove Street Entrance (Norwell), Count Fish Online South River, Marshfield, Dumpster Maintenance and Waste Materials Checklist. Still some cool things to shoot, http://www.state.ma.us/dem/parks/womp.htm, Quote from: sewerRat21 on March 17, 2012, 12:47:00 PM, Quote from: Villain on March 17, 2012, 02:12:50 PM. The Illinois State Police performed a . Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company. Nathanial Hawthorne spent time here and the commune served as inspiration for a similar community featured in his book: West Roxbury, 450 Lagrange St, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA, The town of Medfield owns Medfield State Hospital, an old asylum turned park. The 1.4 mile route begins at the entrance at the end of Leavitt Street and loops around the northwest corner of Wompatuck park, an area that abuts the Whitney Spur Rail Trail. Posts about Wompatuck State Park written by shadowedhills. To this day, the park is underused. There are several old military buildings on the property, as well as an abandoned railroad. Blue Street, Norwell. Blue Street, Norwell. In 2003, the DCR sold the land for the Cohasset commuter rail station and parking lot to the MBTA, in exchange for the construction of a rail trail on the former rail spur. Fort Revere Park, FT Revere Park, Hull, MA 02045, USA. Wompatuck State Park comprises 3,000 acres of eastern transitional forest and various other habitats. Illinois; Quincy; source: Bing 20 views; May 30, 2022 2:39pm; One person has been killed in a traffic accident on Memorial Day in Quincy. The Depot was the main ammunition supplier for Naval Forces of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, during World War II, employing 2,091civilians along with 721naval officers and sailors and 375Marine guards at its peak in June, 1945. Recommended Trail Activities: Walking, Hiking, Trail Biking Length: 1.7 miles Route Type: Trail (Narrow), Road (Wide) Difficulty (Grade/Surface): Easy, Moderate, Difficult Parking: Adequate Dog Restrictions: Allowed Ancillary Activities: Cross-country skiing, Snowshoeing, Horses (permission may be required), Birding, Boating, Fishing (license may . Fort Revere isnt just historic and abandoned; its also rumored to be haunted. The 1.5-mile Whitney Spur Rail Trail now connects the Cohasset MBTA station to Wompatuck State Park. View full map Reviews (713) Photos (899) 5 4 3 2 1 4.4 713 reviews Sort by: Robert Brisbois reviewed Wompatuck State Park Big Loop December 2, 2022 Hiking Trudged through the snow covered trail until I was greeted with the realization that every single building had . There seems to be a couple bunkers covered on either side of the main building, so bring a shovel. Water features include Cohassets Aaron River Reservoir which was created by damming the Aaron which flows east from Holly Pond. 3,526 acres, 262 wooded campsites, 12 miles of paved bicycle trails. Wompatuck State Park is built upon land that once belonged to a former ammunition depot and several abandoned buildings remain on the property today. The park's campground offers 262 campsites, 140 of which have electrical service. Stroller-friendly in some sections. Many explorers were drawn to the site by stories of hauntings at the hospital. Wildflowers and flowering shrubs also grow in abundance. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. In addition to a large campground and an extensive trail system, the park is noted for the free spring water that can be obtained at Mt. Look for the entrance diagonally across the street from the Hornstra Farm sign on Grove Street. With its extensive history, Boston may very well be one of the most haunted places in the country. Recreation Wompatuck State Park offers 12 miles of paved bicycle trails, and many miles of wooded bridle paths and hiking trails. (214 South Street) [8] The station opened with the rest of the Greenbush Line on October 31, 2007. theres a path up to it, this place is well worth the trip. Wompatuck Abandoned Buildings is a photograph by Brian MacLean which was uploaded on August 12th, 2015. there is a huge ex-ammo depot up there, fenced but accessible very easily. Hingham, United States. Friday: 9:00am-5:00pm. Theyd use them as echo chambers, recalled Friends member Steve Cobble of Quincy. 1941 Navy acquired the land for an ammunition depot. u have to see it to belive how big it is. Common species include: muskrat, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, skunk, painted turtle, bullfrog, coyote, deer, bobcat, fisher cat, red & grey fox, yellow spotted salamander, yellow spotted turtle, box turtle, woodcock, bass, pickerel and sunfish. This is an excellent alternative to the unofficial Prospect Street entrance, around the corner, which lacks sufficient parking. When the state restored the Greenbush line, local mitigation for building a new Cohasset station included constructing a rail trail from the station through the Whitney Thayer Woods to Wompatuck. Many of these bunkers have been backfilled, but some remain exposed. Black-and-white warbler in Wompatuck State Park. There are over 250 bird species in the park, including: blue jay, great blue heron, gosshawk, red tail hawk, yellow warbler, ruffed grouse, and quail. It should be open. The materials disposed of consist of small arms ammunition, machine gun bullets, flares, incendiaries, irritants (gases), and grenades, Charette said. See the top reviewed local architects and building designers in Gunzenhausen, Bavaria, Germany on Houzz. The Annex was connected to the Ammunition Depot on the Back River, at what is now Bare Cove Park by railroad. QR code, vCard. The Mount Blue Spring is currently closed. . The park has over 400 campsites and is a great place for hiking, biking, and fishing. Scoop the poop! The park is full of the remains of old rail lines, which have been paved over and made into trails. iam gointo do do some traveling there soon, because its been so long and the last time i was there i didnt have my digi cam. Our road trip to the most abandoned places in Boston begins at the, Old Bear Dens, Playstead Rd, Boston, MA 02119, USA. This all came to an end in 1962. The trail leads to a paved road, which is Leavitt Street, at marker NN12. Explosives such as TNT loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and cartridges were produced and stored along with the assembly of rocket motors. park that's mostly in hingham, but jets out into parts of Norwell and Cohasset " in 3 reviews camping " Location & Hours 204 Union St Get directions Edit business info Amenities and More Good For Kids Private Lot Parking Bike Parking Ask a question Got a question about Wompatuck State Park? Our main concern is public safety, he said. At this time, the agency is reviewing these concerns and is also exploring possible alternatives that would establish recreational access while being cost-effective, Zimmerman said. Visit Massachusetts State Parks Locations, Snowmobile Trails in State Parks Locations, Includes level, packed-surface campsite, pedestal grill, accessible picnic table. After more than a 2 year hiatus, it's safe to say this had fallen by the waist side for a long time. Wompatuck State Park is a state-owned, public recreation area of about 3,500 acres . When World War II ended, this area reverted to maintenance status only. The route turns left at a paved road and quickly turns left again down another trail which is an old rail bed so you may notice railroad ties in the trail. However, Bradley Park Drive resident Ed Demko told the Hingham Anchor last night that he believes the cost could be between $50,000 and $100,000. Life at Brook Farm involved a careful balance of work, relaxation, and community responsibility. 3.7 20 reviews. Trees include Atlantic white cedar, American holly, chestnut oak, shagbark hickory, mountain laurel, pink dogwood, white pine, American beech, and hemlock some estimated to be 175 years old. Read more about camping at Wompatuck State Park. Wildflowers and flowering shrubs also grow in abundance. The U.S. Navy deactivated the Cohasset Annex in 1963 and declared the land surplus. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts took possession of the land in 1966, and began developing it as a public park the following year. it may still hold areas of intrest to the bunkergang. Among the most common are swamp azalea, solomons seal, white geranium, ladies slipper, and sheep laurel. In the 1700s, early settlers and ship captains held title to the area, but the land was never extensively developed. Choose your favorite wompatuck state park designs and purchase them as wall art, home decor, phone cases, tote bags, and more! Common species include: muskrat, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, skunk, painted turtle, bullfrog, coyote, deer, bobcat, fisher cat, red & grey fox, yellow spotted salamander, yellow spotted turtle, box turtle, woodcock, bass, pickerel and sunfish. Formed at the confluence of Crooked Meadow River and Fulling Mill Brook, the Weir River flows for a mile or so north through Hingham. rating 3.86) | Affordable and good location By user-1931001 on 2017-10-23. Soon after it exits the pond, it flows into the Weir River. The Mount Blue Spring is currently closed. Rich in history, this land was originally the property of Indian chief Josiah Wompatuck who deeded the land to English Settlers in 1665. This faded grandeur paired with the forest setting make this a hauntingly beautiful spot. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. In 1655, Chief Josiah Wompatuck, leader of the tribe, deeded the land, we now call Hingham and Cohasset, to the settlers from England. Most buildings have had their roofs and windows removed and are open to the elements. If you like to discover Bostons history through its abandoned places, youll love this trip around the city. Fax: 781.659.7915 This 3,500-acre Massachusetts state park served as the Hingham Naval Ammunition Annex from 1941 to 1965. Email: info@nsrwa.org, Public Office Hours: The Aaron River is relatively close to this entrance. The park itself opened in 1969. . Wildflowers and flowering shrubs also grow in abundance. Perched on Telegraph Hill in Hull, the earliest fortifications on this site date back to the 1770s. Doane Street was created at the initiative of Doane to make it easier for second parish residents to attend Hingham town meetings at the corner of Leavitt and East Streets. This land that we call Wompatuck State Park was originally the property of the Wampanoag Tribe. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The park has a large number of paved roads remaining from its use as a Naval Ammunition Depot. Its helpful to know that the trail from the parking lot leads to marker S27. Wompatuck State Park is built upon land that once belonged to a former ammunition depot and several abandoned buildings remain on the property today. We said if you rode the race, you had a blast, Bill Boles, president of the Friends of Wompatuck, said of the fund-raising event. Geocache locations. The Gulf River flows into the ocean at Cohasset Harbor. It stretches into four towns Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate and Norwell. Then return to the Visitors Center via the paved trail past N14, N12, N3, and N2. It stretches into four towns Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate and Norwell. In the 1700s, early settlers and ship captains held title to the area, but the land was never extensively developed. The Brewsters: Great & Little Brewster Island and Boston Light, Historic Places of the Massachusetts Coast: The John Alden House, Moon Island and the Old Boston Drainage System, Fishing Regulations Massachusetts Division of Marine Fishery. Wompatuck State Park is one of the closest campgrounds to Boston, where you can find a weekend getaway and get back to nature without having to travel too far. Camping at Wompatuck State Park is $17/night for Massachusetts residents and $54/night for non-residents. The land at Wompatuck State Park was commonly used by the Massachusett tribe, led by Chief Josiah Wompatuck. The land was originally the property of Native American chief Josiah Wompatuck, who deeded the land to English settlers in 1655. Land was acquired from private homeowners for the purpose of expanding the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot nearby. Some motor pool and factory buildings remain north-north-east but the asbestos abatement has reduced them to mere hulks. Scattered throughout the property are over 100 decommissioned military bunkers, which were used to store ammunition. In 2003, the DCR sold the land for the Cohasset commuter rail station and parking lot to the MBTA in exchange for the construction of a rail trail on the former rail spur. Federal engineers also discovered the land mine area of suspected unexploded ordnance buried near a bike trail, Boles said. Is public safety, he said seems to be a couple bunkers covered on either of! 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