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4.5
36 votes

Colonel Denning State Park

1701-1717 Doubling Gap Road, Newville, Pennsylvania 17241 USA

$
Budget
Open Now
Thu 8a-7:30p
  • Independent
  • Pet Friendly
  • Not Wheelchair
    Accessible
  • Public
    Restrooms
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“Imagine Denning's Cannons and More!”

Colonel Denning State Park, in north central Cumberland County, is in Doubling Gap, so named by the “S” turn where Blue Mountain doubles back on itself. This feature may be seen from the Doubling Gap Vista in adjacent Tuscarora State Forest. The park has 273 acres of woodland and a 3.5-acre lake. William Denning, (1737-1830) American Revolution veteran for whom the park is named, was never a colonel but he is deserving of a place in history for his manufacturing of wrought iron cannons. William Denning served his country as a sergeant from March 1778 to April 1780 in Nathaniel Irish’s Company of Artillery Artificers in Benjamin Flower’s Regiment. Denning was stationed just outside of Carlisle, Pa., at Washingtonburg Forge, now Carlisle Barracks. The forge provided armaments for the Continental Army, including cannons. It is at this forge that William Denning made wrought iron cannons in a process of welding gads (strips) of wrought iron in successive layers to produce a cannon lighter and better able to resist failure during firing than cast iron cannons. Unfortunately, none of Denning’s cannons survive today. Historical documents help us imagine what Denning’s cannons looked like. It is not known when or who added the “colonel” to Sergeant William Denning’s name. After the Revolution, William Denning lived out his life near Newville, Pa, and is interred with his only son and daughter in the Big Spring Presbyterian Church cemetery in Newville. His monument reads “Blacksmith and Forger of Wrought Iron Cannon.”

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Reviews of Colonel Denning State Park

3 people have reviewed this location

Ratings Summary

5.0 Access
5.0 Location
5.0 Cleanliness
5.0 Site Quality
5.0 Noise

Cell Coverage

Verizon 4G

Confirmed by 1 users | Last reported on July 07, 2020

AT&T 5G

Confirmed by 3 users | Last reported on July 31, 2022
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Reviewed by
Campendium

July 07, 2020
Rated

Verizon 55.8 Mbps download and 2.1 Mbps upload

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $26.00

Days Stayed: 3

Site Number: 3

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

Verizon 4G

AT&T

  • 13 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
July 31, 2022
Rated

We stopped here for a couple of nights to enjoy a break in a road trip between family visits. It was lovely! It seemed recently updated? Roads were good, bathhouse was nice (and clean!), there was recycling and trash bins. Camp host was away while we were there, but it was an honor system for wood with a bucket that you paid per fill. I liked that. Sites were spacious, although not much screening between them.
We loved the hiking, and did get a tad lost in the trails. We were warned on our check in that they were confusing when you got onto the bike trails. It was all find though, well worth the exploring.

Was this helpful?
roadtripper8076751 would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $34.00

Days Stayed: 2

Site Number: 3

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

AT&T 5G

  • 13 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
July 31, 2022
Rated

We stopped here for a couple of nights to enjoy a break in a road trip between family visits. It was lovely! It seemed recently updated? Roads were good, bathhouse was nice (and clean!), there was recycling and trash bins. Camp host was away while we were there, but it was an honor system for wood with a bucket that you paid per fill. I liked that. Sites were spacious, although not much screening between them.
We loved the hiking, and went up to enjoy the views from Flat Rock a couple of times.

Was this helpful?
roadtripper8076751 would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $34.00

Days Stayed: 2

Site Number: 3

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

AT&T 5G

Be the first to add a review to the Colonel Denning State Park.

Colonel Denning State Park

1701-1717 Doubling Gap Road
Newville, Pennsylvania
17241 USA
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Hours

Open now until 7:30 pm
  • Sun - Thu, Sat: 8:00 am - 7:30 pm
  • Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

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  • Check
    Parking
  • Check
    Pets Allowed
  • Check
    Restrooms
  • Unknown
    Wifi
  • Unavailable
    Wheelchair Accessible
  • Unknown
    Credit Cards Accepted
Affiliation
State park or forest
Back In RV Sites Count
13
Last Nightly Rate
26.0
Longest Vehicle Length Reported
24.0
Lowest Nightly Rate
26.0
Max Stay
14
Season End
Year Round
Season Start
Year Round
Sites Count
33
Standard Tent Sites Count
6
  • Unavailable
    Paved Sites
  • Unavailable
    Fifty Amp
  • Unavailable
    Full Hookup
  • Check
    Rec Facilities
  • Unavailable
    Pull Through
  • Check
    Tent Sites
  • Check
    Dump Station
  • Unavailable
    Big Rigs
  • Check
    Open Seasonally
  • Unavailable
    Age Restricted
  • Check
    Back In RV Sites
  • Check
    Boondock
  • Check
    Cabin Sites
  • Unavailable
    Dispersed Sites
  • Unavailable
    Firewood
  • Unavailable
    Fulltime Residents
  • Check
    Group Tent Sites
  • Unavailable
    Laundry
  • Unavailable
    Mobile Homes
  • Unavailable
    Permit Required
  • Unavailable
    Propane
  • Check
    Public Water
  • Unavailable
    Pull Through RV Sites
  • Check
    Reservations
  • Unavailable
    Sewer Hookup
  • Check
    Showers
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    Sites
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    Standard Tent Sites
  • Unavailable
    Vehicle Wash Permitted
  • Unavailable
    Water Hookup
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