“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 Historical documents help us imagine what Denning’s cannons looked like.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.”
Reviews of Colonel Denning State Park
3 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 4G
Confirmed by 1 users | Last reported on July 07, 2020AT&T 5G
Confirmed by 3 users | Last reported on July 31, 2022Reviews
Verizon 55.8 Mbps download and 2.1 Mbps upload
Nightly Rate: $26.00
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 3
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T
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.
Nightly Rate: $34.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: 3
RV Length: 24 ft
RV Type: Class B
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 5G
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.
Nightly Rate: $34.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: 3
RV Length: 24 ft
RV Type: Class B
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 5G
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Colonel Denning State Park
Hours
- Sun - Thu, Sat: 8:00 am - 7:30 pm
- Fri: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Affiliation
- State park or forest
- Back In RV Sites Count
- 13
- Last Nightly Rate
- 34.0
- Longest Vehicle Length Reported
- 24 ft
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 26.0
- Max Stay
- 14
- Season End
- Year Round
- Season Start
- Year Round
- Sites Count
- 33
- Standard Tent Sites Count
- 6
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Paved Sites
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Fifty Amp
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Full Hookup
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Rec Facilities
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Pull Through
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Tent Sites
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Dump Station
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Big Rigs
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Open Seasonally
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Age Restricted
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Back In RV Sites
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Boondock
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Cabin Sites
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Dispersed Sites
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Firewood
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Fulltime Residents
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Group Tent Sites
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Laundry
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Mobile Homes
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Permit Required
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Propane
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Public Water
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Pull Through RV Sites
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Reservations
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Sewer Hookup
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Showers
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Sites
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Standard Tent Sites
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Vehicle Wash Permitted
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Water Hookup
Campground, Parking, Restrooms
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