Shawnee State Park: A Day Well Spent | Manager Jim McCorkle

“I live in a place where people come on vacation, and my family reminds me of that pretty frequently.”Our host, Marci Mowery, chats with Jim McCorkle who manages Shawnee State Park in Bedford County, a role he's held for five years within a 19-year park management career.Speaking from the park's Historical and Interpretive Center, he describes a place built around its 450-acre lake, kept free of gas motors so paddlers, anglers, and swimmers share the water peacefully. Trails range from the paved, stroller-friendly Lake Shore Trail to Field Trail's unexpected Allegheny Plateau overlook, to a quieter, hillier loop along Forbes, Pigeon Hills, and Tiday trails that most visitors skip.Overnight options span camping cottages, an island lodge once part of the Bowman family's Water Brooks Dairy Farm, and 201 campsites, including "Great Gathering" sites for larger groups and new "buddy sites" arriving alongside a rebuilt yurt for the 2027 season.Historically, Forbes Road once passed through the property, the Shawnee people moved seasonally through the area, and longtime educator Ron Barlik spent 51 seasons amassing a Native American artifact collection now being recatalogued. The park, dammed and dedicated in 1951, marks its 75th anniversary this year with a 75K challenge and an October 17th celebration.Volunteers, coordinated through the Friends of Shawnee and Blue Knob State Parks, sustain much of this through trail work, cleanups, and events like Art in the Park.What Jim hopes visitors take away is that even a place built for tourists can be a backyard worth discovering!Key Topics:What to Expect at Shawnee (01:28)Campsites, Great Gathering Sites, and New Buddy Sites (04:49)Bedford County and the Surrounding Laurel Highlands (10:57)Celebrating 75 Years of Shawnee State Park (15:10)Family Activities (18:26)Overlooked Trails and Quiet Contemplation Spots (19:32)The Friends of Shawnee and Blue Knob State Parks (26:31)Healthy Lands Week and Closing Thoughts (29:44)Resources:Shawnee State Park: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/shawnee-state-parkShawnee State Park Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShawneeSP/Friends of Shawnee and Blue Knob State Parks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendsofshawneeblueknob/Friends of Shawnee and Blue Knob State Parks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfShawneeDiscover Bedford County: https://discoverbedfordcounty.com/Bedford County Development Association: https://www.facebook.com/GrowingBedfordCounty/Shawnee Boat Rental: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566658509518Pa Healthy Lands Week: https://pahealthylandsweek.org/Pa Healthy Lands Week Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthylandsweek/🎧 Listen to the Think Outside Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite app while on the go! New episodes drop bi-weekly on Mondays, and you may occasionally find a bonus episode, as well!The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation inspires stewardship of YOUR state parks and forests through volunteerism, education, recreation, and philanthropy.Learn more, find events, download outdoor resources, and get involved!👉 Sign