Tygart Lake State Park Overview & History
Park Overview
Located in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in scenic north-central West Virginia, Tygart Lake State Park provides guests with a quiet vacation spot and breathtaking views. Just four miles south of Grafton, Tygart Lake State Park is known for its 10-mile-long, 1,750-acre lake, which offers water activities like boating, water skiing, scuba diving, swimming, kayaking, canoeing and fishing. Next to its gorgeous mountain views, this park is the ultimate spot for lakeside lodging and unwinding after a full day of play.
Park History
The land that is now Tygart Lake State Park was given to the state of West Virginia in 1945 in a deed from the U.S. government. Before that transaction, the area was under development to control and regulate the waters and tributaries of the Tygart Valley, West Fork, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. In 1938, the U.S. Corps of Engineers built a dam that created the Tygart River Reservoir, two miles south of Grafton in Taylor and Barbour counties. The area quickly became popular with boating enthusiasts. Over the years, the park expanded to accommodate larger crowds of visitors. In 1953, the park opened its campgrounds, making it one of the first two parks in the state to offer camping. Cabins were built in 1955, and the park received additional funds in 1964 to construct a 20-room lodge.
