Elk Neck State Park is a public recreation area located between Chesapeake Bay and the Elk River near the southern tip of the Elk Neck Peninsula in Cecil County, Maryland. The state park is home to the historic Turkey Point Light and offers land-based and water-based recreation. The park is located on MD 272, eight miles (13 km) south of the town of North East, and south of exit 100 on I-95. It is operated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.HistoryThe park had its genesis when, in 1936, naturalist Dr. William Abbott bequeathed his holdings along the Elk River to the state for use as a state park. Although he originally intended the land to be a gift to the Boy Scouts, a meeting with State Forester Fred W. Besley in 1935 persuaded Abbott to change the terms of his will. Following the state's purchase of additional acreage, the Civilian Conservation Corps created park improvements from 1937 to 1941.Activities and amenitiesTurkey Point LighthouseDating from 1833, the Turkey Point Lighthouse sits on a 100ft bluff overlooking the Upper Chesapeake Bay. The 35ft tower is a "private aid to navigation" maintained by a non-profit organization, Turkey Point Light Station, Inc., which offers weekend tours seasonally. CampgroundsThe park offers more than 250 campsites, rustic cabins, camper cabins, and youth group sites. TrailsThe park has of trails for hiking and biking.
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