Below the dam, the river continues to flow through Cohasset. The water is tested frequently for safety. 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: On-site parking at the Visitor Center, with additional parking at the Transfer Station, much farther into the park. The Wompatuck Trail is ADA accessible. . Please limit your input to 500 characters. Some motor pool and factory buildings remain north-north-east but the asbestos abatement has reduced them to mere hulks. Streams powered the Stockbridge Shingle Mill and water from Mt. For mountain bikers, the park is home to one of the longest section of switchbacked singletrack in the state. You can come from Boston on the train and use the trail - until you get to the border of Wompatuck and theres a big fence, Boles said. Heres a handy map to guide your trip. Many of these bunkers have been backfilled, but some remain exposed. This is an excellent alternative to the unofficial Prospect Street entrance, around the corner, which lacks sufficient parking. Remnants of buildings can often be found clustered near abandoned rail spurs. There seems to be a couple bunkers covered on either side of the main building, so bring a shovel. There are over 250 bird species in the park, including: blue jay, great blue heron, gosshawk, red tail hawk, yellow warbler, ruffed grouse, and quail. Have you hiked or biked the loop at Wompatuck State Park? English settlers purchased the land from Wompatuck in 1655. hi guys ive been to the wampatuck resivation and there were many explorable bunkers and sites to check out 10 years ago. The park lies largely in the town of Hingham, but also touches parts of Cohasset, Norwell and Scituate. One would hope this [the project] is coming to the end of a very long process, Boles said. Other access points include: Main Entrance, Hingham Leavitt Street Entrance, Hingham Triphammer Pond Conservation Area, Hingham Whitney Spur Rail Trail, Cohasset Whitney & Thayer Woods, Cohasset Doane Street Entrance, Cohasset Aaron River Reservoir and Dam, Cohasset Brass Kettle Conservation Area, Cohasset Prospect Street, Norwell Mt. Below the dam, the river continues to flow on to Lilly (formerly Scituate) Pond. View full map Reviews (713) Photos (899) 5 4 3 2 1 4.4 713 reviews Sort by: Robert Brisbois reviewed Wompatuck State Park Big Loop December 2, 2022 Hiking The Gulf River flows into the ocean at Cohasset Harbor. Leavitt Street, which continues into Doane Street and into Cohassets Beechwood area. Wompatuck State Park is built upon land that once belonged to a former ammunition depot and several abandoned buildings remain on the property today. Posts about Wompatuck State Park written by shadowedhills. Mount Hope is in the southeast corner of the park, north of Mount Blue, which is south of the park in Norwell. 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. Turn right on the rail trail and take the next trail to the left into the woods. Love Massachusetts? Park supervisor Steve Gammon, who has overseen the site since the 1970s, said, We would like to see the whole park opened.. The Illinois State Police performed a . In 1969 the park opened for limited outdoor recreational use, and in 1973 it was dedicated as Wompatuck State Park. 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. If you enjoy a good scare, you should check out these disturbing and haunted cemeteries around Boston that are sure to give you chills. There are 12 miles of paved bike paths, plus off-road trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. In the 1700s, early settlers and ship captains held title to the area, but the land was never extensively developed. The last military activity at the Annex took place when the U.S. Army Reserve 187th Infantry Brigade was stationed at United States Army Reserve Center Hingham from 1971 to 1982.[1]. One can see the vast infrastructure dating from the WWII era when walking through the Wompatuck State Park. theres a path up to it, this place is well worth the trip. It should be open. Explosives such as TNT loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and cartridges were produced and stored along with the assembly of rocket motors. In 1986 the Park acquired an additional 600 acres from the government. In addition to being open to the public for recreation, Wompatuck State Park has an interesting history: Particularly its use as an ammunition depot for the United States Navy during WWII. Wildflowers and flowering shrubs also grow in abundance. If you're looking for beautiful views and perhaps a spooky adventure, a hike at Wompatuck State Park in Hingham may be in order. The Aaron Reservoir Dam was constructed from 1976-1978. Explore an array of Wompatuck State Park, Hingham vacation rentals, including houses, apartment and condo rentals & more bookable online. 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. Definitions of wompatuck state park, synonyms, antonyms, derivatives of wompatuck state park, analogical dictionary of wompatuck state park (English) abandoned places in dartmouth ma. a 400-site campground. Length: 1.4 miles Route Type: Trail (Narrow), Path (Medium), Road (Wide) The spring was closed when we were there and we did not explore the park much. Today it is a 3,526 acre park that . Fax: 781.659.7915 [7] Several old military buildings can be found on park property as well as an extensive network of abandoned railroad. As you explore the park, you can glimpse a few derelict bunkers and also the train tracks that connected the depot to Hingham Shipyards and Fore River. At the top of the list is the Omni Parker House. On the east Brass Kettle Conservation Area and residential land west of Doane and Church Streets in Cohasset and west of Summer Street and north of Clapp Road in Scituate form the boundary. This vast expanse of woods was named for its prior owner, Josiah Wompatuck, who was chief of the Mattakeessett and grandson of Chief Chickatawbut. However, a gate blocked access from the trail to the northwest section of the park, which still had several dangerous abandoned buildings. 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 fishing. those are great photos. Choose your favorite wompatuck state park photographs from 16 available designs. This 3,500-acre Massachusetts state park served as the Hingham Naval Ammunition Annex from 1941 to 1965. In fact, this hotel was the very spot where Charles Dickens first debuted A Christmas Carol. Blue . With its extensive history, Boston may very well be one of the most haunted places in the country. Blue Street, Norwell. Land was acquired from private homeowners for the purpose of expanding the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot nearby. [8] The station opened with the rest of the Greenbush Line on October 31, 2007. Info on the state and cleanup of the site. Good to see there's still something there. There are several old military buildings on the property, as well as an abandoned railroad. Today the parks munitions storage history survives in events such as the Landmine Classic bike race, which passes through an area once thought to have the explosive devices. 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. A rail spur, sided off the Old Colony Greenbush Line, was built to facilitate the transfer of ammunition, stored in cement bunkers at the Annex, to the Depot at the Hingham Shipyard. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Share your adventures in the comments we would love to hear from you! Now that you've learned about some abandoned places in Boston, you may be curious to see if there are any spooky places to spend the night. Search for: Recent Posts . its amazing how nature takes back abandoned buildings and spaces in no time. Corps officials are studying a report received in May on the projects analysis of the contamination and a range of proposed solutions, which range from removing contaminated soil to simply posting warning signs and taking down the wire fence that bars people from the site, not far from the parks campground. ShadowedHills A New England photoblog About Shadowed Hills; . Wompatuck State Park comprises 3,000 acres of eastern transitional forest and various other habitats. Norwell MA 02061, Phone: 781.659.8168 The Ballistite Grain Inhibiting Building today. Visit the remains of a utopian commune from the 1840s that was part of the transcendentalist movement. Explore Wompatuck State Park - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. The loop trail connecting these two points to S11-S14 crosses the Aaron River twice. A risk assessment will determine how much remediation is needed. [1] The 1.4 mile route begins at the entrance at the end of Leavitt Street and loops around the northwest corner of Wompatuck park, an area that abuts the Whitney Spur Rail Trail. Since then, 725 acres have been added. It could have just been some junk making it look like two areas. Wompatuck Abandoned Buildings Puzzle by Brian MacLean. 1665 Chief Josiah Wompatuck deeded the land to settlers. Wompatuck State Park is located in Hingham, MA - just 35 minutes from downtown Boston. u have to see it to belive how big it is. (214 South Street) The railroad tracks fan out throughout the property from what is now known as the Whitney Spur Rail Trail at the northwest corner of the park. This rock, a remnant of the glacial period, balances itself at three points equally distant from each other. you will need a lock pick or cutter to get in but thats doable. For some off-road fun, explore the many single-track trails through the woods. I am extremely interested in abandoned buildings and parks, and what the story is behind the destruction. Wildflowers and flowering shrubs also grow in abundance. In the 1700s, early settlers and ship captains held title to the area, but the land was never extensively developed. The easiest and cheapest thing to do is to board up the asbestos-contaminated buildings and put up warning signs, Boles said. From what I could see through the door it might be two rooms? Home / Hiking / Wompatuck State Park Main Entrance (Hingham), https://www.mass.gov/locations/wompatuck-state-park. 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. The mile-wide estuary forms the border between Hingham and Hull, and empties into Hingham Bay. We utilized this park as an economical . While those sites have been judged safe for peacetime uses, the parks burning grounds still feel the fires of war. There are numerous woodland trails for hiking, dog-walking, horseback riding, cycling, and cross-country skiing. There are many rocky outcroppings and glacial erratic boulders throughout the park. Email: info@nsrwa.org, Public Office Hours: The park itself opened in 1969. From there, look for the unpaved trail beside Wildcat Pond, and follow it to N33 and N32. Wompatuck State Park, Hingham: See 118 reviews, articles, and 40 photos of Wompatuck State Park, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 20 attractions 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. hey - how come you guys havenet been to Wompatuck state park at teh intersection of Norwell, Hingham, Scituate etc, in MA? The park falls inside the area bound by land in Hingham and Norwell in the west, Hingham and Cohasset in the north, Cohasset and Scituate in the east and Norwell in the south. Home / Hiking / Wompatuck State Park Grove Street Entrance (Norwell), https://www.mass.gov/locations/wompatuck-state-park. Read More. Monday: 1:00-5:00pm One person killed in Quincy accident. . Many of these roads go back to colonial times. Black-and-white warbler in Wompatuck State Park, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, "THE LIST: What to know about Wompatuck State Park", "Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth", 10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:TEOTWA]2.0.CO;2, "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA District 1964-2016", "Demolition work will open up trails at Wompatuck State Park", "Bike trail to come to Wompatuck State Park", "Rep. Bradley secures free parking for Cohasset trail", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wompatuck_State_Park&oldid=1136502999, This page was last edited on 30 January 2023, at 17:11. Explosives such as TNT-loaded depth charges, bombs, fuses, projectiles, and cartridges were produced and stored here. In 1941, the United States government established the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex (known by locals as the Cohasset Annex). There are many rocky outcroppings and glacial erratic boulders throughout the park. This faded grandeur paired with the forest setting make this a hauntingly beautiful spot. Caught in a love triangle with a fatal ending, Harriet was ultimately shot and killed within its walls. Wednesday: 9:00am-5:00pm Leavitt Street, which once connected Cohassets Beechwood Area to Hinghams Town Hall, extends into Wompatuck and becomes Doane Street at the Cohasset town boundary. 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. anyways you go in through the main gate and then the first parking area on the left is the trailhead to the old buildings that are left.. you gotta jump a fence now, I was there last week and they fixed the opening that had been there since i started going there.. just follow the old roads to get around and theres also some nice old rail lines to follow. This park is also the site of a glacial erratic, the Burbank Boulder. It remained in use until 1965, and served both World War II and the Korean Conflict. This 3,500-acre park is the perfect destination for your next RV vacation, whether you're looking for some off-road biking adventures, a good place to kayak, or simply the chance to reconnect with nature. as the gemtlemen said ina previous post be careful how far you poke around you may run into some bad stuff. 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. Monday: 1:00-5:00pm They're the ones who restored it and give tours, from what Ive heard. Gates have been created at the end of Leavitt St. in Hingham and from the Doane St. path from Cohasset. Security on site has arrested more than 120 people for trespassing since the year 2000. Some areas of the park contain standing military structures are still closed off to the public due to several hazards, including contamination and unexploded ordinance. Contacts. To cut to the chase, this is starting up again. Encompassing 3,500 acres (1540 in Hingham), this heavily wooded park is one of the towns greatest conservation assets. The trails can be quite wet in the spring. The farmers used the fields to graze their horses, sheep, and oxen. Wompatuck State Park is a state-owned, public recreation area of about 3,500 acres (1,400ha) in size located primarily in the town of Hingham with portions in the neighboring towns of Cohasset, Norwell, and Scituate, Massachusetts, in the United States. Early Fall Bike Path September 27, 2015. iam gointo do do some traveling there soon, because its been so long and the last time i was there i didnt have my digi cam. Staff writer for Only In Your State and freelance writer. 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