Yards Creek Scout Reservation
Trenton Times June 21, 1972

Boy Scouts from George Washington Council won't be without a summer camp this year.

The council, which is comprised of units from Mercer, Hunterdon and Warren counties will open the Yards Creek Scout Reservation, replacement for the doomed Camp Pahaquarra, at dedication ceremonies this Saturday at 2 p.m. at the flag plaza.

James F. Foran, dedication chairman, will officially open the park. The Rev. G. Douglas Davis, pastor of Trenton's Prospect Presbyterian Church, home of Troop 12, will give the invocation prayer.

William Lanning, committee development chairman, will offer dedication comments as a representative of the many volunteers who have given their time to prepare Yards Creek.

James O. Case, Northeast area director for the Boy Scouts of America, will represent the national organization.

545 Acres
The new camp, situated next to the Yards Creek Pumped Storage Generation Station Between Blairstown and Hope, contains 545 acres of fields, wooded areas and lakes.

It was purchased from the New Jersey Central power and Light Company and Public Service Electric and Gas Company for $230,000.

Camp Pahaquarra, which had been the Scouts' camp for the last 45 years, is now part of the Delaware Water Gap national Recreation Area and Tocks Island Reservoir.

"When the government told us that they were going to take possession of Pahaquarra, we knew that 1971 would be our last year at Pahaquarra," said Albert N. Falcone, executive of George Washington Council.

Falcone explained that the council launched a campaign drive to raise funds for the new camp in January of 1971. The goal set by the campaign is $1.25 million and $730,000 has already been raised.

$500,000 Offer
The government has offered $500,000 for the old camping area, but Scouting officials were not satisfied with the offer and allowed the land to be taken over by condemnation.

Falcone said that there would be a court hearing in Newark sometime this summer to decide the final selling price of the camp.

Only one of the three proposed camping areas has been finished, according to Falcone. All the roads leading to the camp, ranger residences, and the waste disposal systems have also been completed.

Falcone also said that the $200,000 central dining hall was almost completely finished and would be in operation on Sunday.

More Offerings
"This camp will be a real Scouting adventure land," Falcone explained, "and there will be many things that we can offer here that were not offered in Pahaquarra."

Falcone explained that there were two lakes on the property. He said the larger lake, which is about 10 acres in area, would allow the camp to expand their water activities into sailing and water skiing, which was not possible on their river location.

There will also be campsites available for Cub Scout Packs and their parents, Falcone added.

About six Boy Scout Troops are expected to use the new Yards Creek Scout Reservation this weekend, including Troops 50 and 58 from Princeton and Troop 11 from Covenant Presbyterian Church on Parkway Avenue.