Wompatuck State Park spans over 3500 acres with it's address in Hingham, but its borders reach into the towns of Cohasset, Scituate and Norwell. Follow the woodland trail along the edge of Heron Pond to E18 an E15, then follow the paved trail back to the starting point. The caretakers / local authorities have seen fit to seal up or backfill much of what was at Wompatuck in the last few years, but it is still a good place to visit. The park features numerous seasonal campsites, plus fishing and non-motorized boating on the Aaron River Reservoir. Geocache locations. . Thank you for your website feedback! A hike here is as spooky as it is fascinating. Park supervisor Steve Gammon, who has overseen the site since the 1970s, said, We would like to see the whole park opened.. Visit the remains of a utopian commune from the 1840s that was part of the transcendentalist movement. a 400-site campground. In 1941, the United States government established the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex (known by locals as the Cohasset Annex). This involved, first, cleaning the area, featuring the demolition of the remaining buildings, despite their historical value. Note: Please abide by all trespassing laws and be mindful of private property signs when exploring. we have a few pics on our site, most of the buildings were pretty open, alot of old rail if you're into that, many buildings, roads, etc. Land and water creatures abound in the park. The route continues on the road straight past NN10 and turns right onto a dirt trail. The park features approximately 400 seasonal campsites, plus fishing, non-motorized boating and seasonal ice skating on the Aaron River Reservoir. Most buildings have had their roofs and windows removed, and are open to the elements. Your comment is In 1665, Chief Wompatuck deeded the park and the surrounding land to the English settlers. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left to Route 228 north. Fish commonly found in the 136-acre Aaron River Reservoir include bass, pickerel, sunfish, and perch. If the risk to public health is higher, remediation could consist of removing contaminated soil or capping the ground. See the top reviewed local architects and building designers in Gunzenhausen, Bavaria, Germany on Houzz. This land that we call Wompatuck State Park was originally the property of the Wampanoag Tribe. Robert Knox can be reached at rc.knox2@gmail.com. The park is built on the former Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex (known by natives as the "Cohasset Annex"), which was in use from 1941 until 1965. 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. Difficulty (Grade/Surface): Easy, Moderate During the 1800s, families maintained woodlots and grazing lands here, and the streams powered the Stockbridge Shingle Mill. If you like to discover Bostons history through its abandoned places, youll love this trip around the city. An unexpectedly dramatic stone staircase hidden in the middle of the woods leads to dens decorated with elaborate stonework. All wompatuck state park artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. Recreation Wompatuck State Park offers 12 miles of paved bicycle trails, and many miles of wooded bridle paths and hiking trails. Outside the parktrail/gate entrances -Rt3A Cohasset Rail Station toWhitney Spur trail, and Doane St, Cohasset gate. 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. Whether youre bringing a tent, R.V., or trailer, you'll find plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors. The loop trail connecting these two points to S11-S14 crosses the Aaron River twice. It ends at a gate in Norwell at the end of Mount Blue St. Explosives such as TNT loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and cartridges were produced and stored along with the assembly of rocket motors. What once was before, and the aftermath leaves an eery mystery behind the intriguing broken down factories and bunkers from WWII. Several old military buildings can be found on park property as well as an extensive network of abandoned railroad. If youre looking for a smooth ride, check out the paved Whitney Spur Rail Trail. Most buildings have had their roofs and windows removed and are open to the elements. The park lies largely in the town of Hingham, but also touches parts of Cohasset, Norwell and Scituate. Dogs: Dogs must remain on leash. More interested in offbeat history? Blue Spring . This entrance features a new ADA trail that connects via a boardwalk and a crushed stone pathway to established trails within the park. They're the ones who restored it and give tours, from what Ive heard. Posts about Wompatuck State Park written by shadowedhills. This task was completed in the Spring of 2015, with the former building sites having been razed and covered with earth and new hiking and biking trails established, roadways refinished as walking and biking trails and access improved via the former rail bed, connecting to Route 3A in Cohasset near the Greenbush rail line. The Corps fenced off and thoroughly examined several acres before pronouncing it safe. Fish commonly found in the 136-acre Aaron River Reservoir include bass, pickerel, sunfish, and perch. If you want to see the exterior on Bunker N-9 continue of the drivable road about a quarter mile past the visitor center and on the right is the restored bunker a little off the street. According to the parks historians, the Navy also tested missile parts there in the early years of the Cold War and experimented with rocket fuels. See 54 photos and 1 tip from 141 visitors to Wompatuck State Park. Distance = 1 mile. Begun three years ago, the project to study and propose solutions for the contaminated area, about one to two acres, where the military disposed of old munitions and weapons materials during and after World War II, raises hope that all of the parkland property acquired by the state more than 40 years ago will finally be open to the public. Visit Massachusetts State Parks Locations, Snowmobile Trails in State Parks Locations, Includes level, packed-surface campsite, pedestal grill, accessible picnic table. 27 de fevereiro de 2023 | usssa baseball tournaments 2022. 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. Black-and-white warbler in Wompatuck State Park. The park has over 400 campsites and is a great place for hiking, biking, and fishing. Wompatuck State Park is a state-owned, public recreation area of about 3,500 acres . Much of the park is undeveloped and is heavily wooded. "Lots of hiking/biking trails and very clean facilities." State / Provincial Park in Hingham, MA Access to the Boston public rail system was convenient and provided access to many parts of the Boston area. those are great photos. Good to see there's still something there. The Gulf River flows into the ocean at Cohasset Harbor. The route turns right, passing an open field on the left and continues past trail marker NN11 to the Leavitt Street entrance. Many never returned. Scoop the poop! Today in Naval History - Naval / Maritime Events in History 17 May 1904 - Launch of USS Rhode Island (BB-17), the last of five Virginia-class battleships built for the United States Navy USS Rhode Island (BB-17) was the last of five Virginia-class battleships built for the United States Navy. From the Greater Boston area, Wompatuck State Park is most easily reached by driving south on Route 3 to Route 228 (Exit 14) in Rockland. Scattered throughout the property are over 100 decommissioned military bunkers, which were used to store ammunition. Hingham, United States. Prospect Hill, near the southwest corner of the park, is the highest point in Hingham at 240 above sea level. Located within the boundaries of four towns - Cohasset, Hingham, Norwell, and Scituate - Wompatuck State Park was once part of the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex, used from 1941 until 1965. The hotel first opened in 1855 and has since entertained and hosted countless celebrities and noteworthy public figures. Perched on Telegraph Hill in Hull, the earliest fortifications on this site date back to the 1770s. 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 Being adjacent to the rail access point to the Ammunition Depot Annex, the area features remnants to many depot structures and abandoned railroad tracks fanning out from the spur track. In 1941, the U.S. Navy acquired from private landowners all of the property in order to expand the already existing Hingham Naval Ammunitions Depot. Additional pedestrian access from Mount Blue Street in Norwell, the Aaron River Reservoir in Cohasset, Whitney-Thayer Woods in Cohasset, Brass Kettle Conservation Area in Cohasset, South Pleasant Street in Hingham, and Grove Street in Norwell. Choose from more than 166 properties, ideal house rentals for families, groups and couples. Accord Brook, which originates in Accord Pond, flows north along the parks border, from the Hingham-Norwell town line to S. Pleasant Street. You will come to the Whitney Spur Rail Trail at marker NN7. After more than a 2 year hiatus, it's safe to say this had fallen by the waist side for a long time. The land for the Annex was bought by the U.S. Navy in 1941, from local landowners, to expand the nearby Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot, in Hingham. 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. Dogs: Dogs must be leashed at all times. Many of the waterways within the park drain to the Aaron River, which flows northeast to the Aaron River Reservoir. I would highly recommend a visit to the park if you are in the South Shore area. Missile Test Facility August 16, 2015. This rock, a remnant of the glacial period, balances itself at three points equally distant from each other. Home / Hiking / Wompatuck State Park Grove Street Entrance (Norwell), https://www.mass.gov/locations/wompatuck-state-park. Water from Mt. The park lies largely in the town of Hingham, but also touches parts of Cohasset, Norwell and Scituate. If this hospital looks familiar, thats probably because parts of "Shutter Island" were filmed here. Theyd use them as echo chambers, recalled Friends member Steve Cobble of Quincy. Distance = about 4 miles. Please do not include personal or contact information. A third watershed in Wompatuck is Brass Kettle Brook which flows from the base of Turkey Hill to the east along the north border of Wompatuck to Lilly Pond and on to Bound Brook. 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. The road continues to the right past another foundation and follows a trail to the right. 1h 18m Wompatuck State Park is popular state park south of Boston and the trails are popular with a variety of user groups. yea, i believe N-9 was made specifically to hold a certain anti-aircraft or anti-tank missile or something dont quote but something along those lines, RUR-5 ASROC, an anti-sub rocket. Have you ventured into any of these abandoned places in Boston? [5] Upland game bird hunting is allowed in season in the South Field area. The Friends say the state promised years ago to clean up or secure those buildings so the public can make use of a new bike trail. The photograph may be purchased as wall art, home decor, apparel, phone cases, greeting cards, and more. Acquired by the state in 1967, the park offers some 40 miles of wooded mountain bike and hiking trails, 12 miles of paved bicycle trails, more than 250 campsites, and open water for boating and . brought back to life again :P, last time i was there biking most of them were sealed but i found about three way out of the way ones that were opend to pansy to go inside (i was by my self), Here's whats left (and theres not much) of the old Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex located in Wompatuck State Park. Parking: Limited; heed posted signs regarding parking as the school bus uses the circle for turning around and police will ticket drivers parked during school hours Dog Restrictions: Allowed It was reactivated for the Korean conflict and once again went into full military operation. The rail spur entered the ammunition depot at its northern boundary near Leavitt Street and served military warehouses, a cluster of which were in the area of the spur and Leavitt Street. Still some stuff there, but you can see that they are systematically taking it all down. It contains over 100 decommissioned military bunkers, many of which have been backfilled, but some of which remain exposed . could not find your e-mail or password. The Aaron River is relatively close to this entrance. 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. Wompatuck State Park Address 204 Union St., Hingham, MA 02043 Directions Phone (617) 895-8245 Online Wompatuck.park@mass.gov Reserve a campsite Download a trail map Recommended hikes and rides Southeastern MA Adult Walking Club Winter Hikes Accessible Dogs Allowed Historic site Get Directions Details Overview Hours Parking Activities All Activities Depth charges, bombs, and rocket motors were assembled at the Annex until declared surplus, by the Navy, in 1962. The park is full of the remains of old rail lines, which have been paved over and made into trails. Many cement bunkers were constructed and the area became a huge munitions storage depot. Juliet can be reached on Twitter @JulietWrites. 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. There are many rocky outcroppings and glacial erratic boulders throughout the park. Many of these bunkers have been backfilled, but some remain exposed, including one which housed parts of the Navys first nuclear depth charge in the 1950s. Get more stories delivered right to your email. That could range from a minimal cost to hundreds of thousands of dollars, she said. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. But the new rail trail is a trail to nowhere, the Friends say, because it is blocked by the wire fence around the closed area. Wompatuck State Parkis a state-owned, public recreation area of about 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) in size located primarily in the townof Hinghamwith portions in the neighboring towns of Cohasset, Norwell, and Scituate, Massachusetts, in the United States. Munitions storage Depot 1855 and has since entertained and hosted countless celebrities and noteworthy public.... Because parts of `` Shutter Island '' were filmed here are in the middle of the Tribe... 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