Little Buffalo State Park - Activities, events and history bring visitors year-round to Perry County

Little Buffalo State Park is the place that kicked off my love for Pennsylvania’s state parks. I’ve told this story many times, but I’ll do it quickly here right now. 

In 2020, my wife Abby and I were looking for something to do after brunch. The world was beginning to open up during the COVID 19 pandemic and we didn’t want to spend any more time cooped up in our house. 

So, we went for a drive through Perry County and happened upon Little Buffalo State Park. On this beautiful day we were treated to majestic scenery. The trees and mountains reflecting off Holman Lake. 

In a time of such uncertainty, it felt like heaven. Like – for a moment – we were the only ones being treated to this spectacular nature. My unexpected visit to Little Buffalo that afternoon would lead me onto my journey where I would run a mile in all 121 state parks in Pennsylvania in 2021. 

And after 224 days, the last park in that journey was Little Buffalo. It was only fitting. That #121In21 Challenge led me to volunteering for outdoor organizations, serving on boards and committees, speaking to groups, starting this podcast and advocating for public lands. It all started with Little Buffalo State Park. 

We’ll be going deep into the park on this episode - from its historic buildings and hiking opportunities, to its yearly events and popular community pool. 

On this episode, I speak with Jim Eckert and Mindy Wilt. Jim is the manager and Mindy is the educator at Little Buffalo State Park. 

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