New visitor center open at Ohio’s Portage Lakes State Park

Akron, Ohio — The Ohio DNR (ODNR) recently celebrated the official ribbon cutting for the new visitor center at Portage Lakes State Park, marking a major milestone in improving the experience for the thousands of guests who visit this popular boating, birding, and fishing destination each year.

The nearly 6,000-square-foot facility is intended to serve as a welcoming gateway, offering interactive and informative displays that showcase the rich history and recreational importance of the park’s eight canal lakes.

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Strategically located at the Turkeyfoot Lake beach area, the center offers easy access for all visitors, including a new ADA switchback sidewalk connecting the parking lot to the beach. The project includes a comfort station for beachgoers and boaters, along with modern infrastructure to support an engaging, educational experience for everyone to enjoy.

Exhibits within the center highlight the vital role the lakes have played over time, from their origins as part of a Native American portage path linking the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas rivers, to their use as feeder reservoirs for Ohio’s historic canals, and now as a hub for boating and recreation.

Visitors can also enjoy sweeping views of Turkeyfoot Lake.