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HEADLINE NEWS
"Rock Cut Park Opened; Lake Named for Pierce"
-Rockford Morning Star, Sept. 6, 1962 STORY BY LIZ PENSONEAU As the United States flag was hoisted in the fall of 1962 to officially open Rock Cut State Park northeast of Rockford, few at the dedication ceremony, including then Gov. Otto Kerner, could have predicted the contributions this parcel would make to outdoor recreation in the upcoming years. Today, Rock Cut State Park is one of the Department of Natural Resources' most heavily visited and most diversified sites—a virtual refuge from the urban development that surrounds it and Interstate 90, which divides it into two parcels. According to a Sept. 6, 1962, news story in the Rockford Morning Star, the governor made it clear that Rock Cut represented "part of a larger, long-range attempt by the state to develop conservation and recreational areas in an attempt to make tourism one of Illinois' major industries." The manmade lake at the site was to be called 'Pierce Lake' in honor of Rep. William Pierce of Rockford, who had proposed the park and lake to state officials seven years earlier. The name of the park itself was selected by a citizens' committee and announced by Gov. Kerner, who removed the name selection from a sealed envelope. And, although it didn't make the headline or the lead paragraph, the news that state Director of Conservation William T. Lodge was "unable to attend because of an infected tooth" merited a few lines in the feature story. The name of the park can be traced to the days of rock quarrying operations near the site. In 1859, engineers blasted through solid rock to provide a suitable roadbed for the Kenosha-Rockford railroad. The procedure was referred to as the "cut" through the rock. Prior to the advent of the railroad, Frink, Walker and Company ran a stagecoach from Chicago to Galena along the Buckhorn Trail. A waystation for the coach was located within what would become the park for more than 100 years, though nary a trace remains today. The beauty and serenity of Rock Cut State Park are welcome alternatives to the urban development that surrounds the site. (Photo by Adele Hodde.)
A stone shelter constructed by Work Progress Administration workers is tucked away in Willow Creek Valley. (Photo by Liz Pensoneau.)
The lay of the land Rock Cut State Park is comprised of two tracts totaling 3,092 acres with two user-friendly lakes. The largest, Pierce Lake, at 162 acres is especially beautiful and extremely popular for fishing, sailing, ice fishing and ice skating. The smaller 48-acre Olson Lake, which is east of Interstate 90 on a 300-acre parcel known as Olson Recreation Area, is a swim spot complete with a beach designed to accommodate 1,500 swimmers at peak time. This section of the park property also has a dog-training area with a watershed where sporting dogs can be trained to retrieve. In 1989, a bridge was constructed over I-90 to link the Olson Recreation Area to the remainder of the park property. A beautiful new concession facility overlooking Pierce Lake currently is under construction in the boat launch area. There are several well-equipped picnic areas and a total of five shelters within the park. A historic Work Progress Administration shelter, constructed of rocks cut from a quarry at the park, is tucked away in Willow Creek Valley. Visitors also will find an amphitheater for interpretive programs, the 20-acre Plum Grove Nature Preserve and a native prairie. The park's 80-acre satellite area, the Harlem Nature Preserve, is home to the last sand gravel prairie in the state. Something for everyone Out of the 131 sites for which DNR maintains attendance records, Rock Cut ranks ninth in the number of visitors. Perhaps the one thing that stands out about Rock Cut is its land management program. The property use changes with the seasons, allowing visitors an opportunity to participate in a wide array of outdoor recreation. Last year, more than 900,000 people took advantage of what the site has to offer, including great opportunities for wildlife watching, viewing more than 100 varieties of wildflowers and the general enjoyment of nature. Camping: According to Assistant Site Superintendent Loren Swanson, the most popular activity at Rock Cut is camping, as evidenced by the 250,000 individuals who camped there in 1999. A visit to the campsites finds them to be aesthetically pleasing and carefully planned. Campgrounds are located in loops with names such as Buckthorn and Plum Grove. Swanson said there are 212 Class A sites with electrical hookups, but only the 30 at the Buckthorn Loop can be reserved. There are 60 Class B units at Hickory Hill that afford the best view of Pierce Lake. A youth camp area also overlooks Pierce Lake, and there are two rental cabins under construction that will offer fantastic views of the lake. Winter camping is allowed on a limited basis, but water is shut off and shower buildings are closed during that season. All campers require a permit from park personnel. Visitors to Rock Cut are attracted to its miles of scenic trails. (Photo by Chas. J. Dees.)
Equestrian camping: Rock Cut is one of only a handful of DNR sites offering equestrian camping. This campground has its own entrance off of Perryville Road and can accommodate 75 to 80 horses. A 14-mile equestrian trail winds through the west side of the park, but it closes to horse traffic from Dec. 1 through April 15 when the land is used for winter sports. Winter wonderland: Winter sport enthusiasts enjoy the park's winding 15-mile, cross-country ski trail and the opportunity to snowmobile on the 14-mile equestrian trail when there is a 4-inch or more compacted snow base. Ice fishing, sledding and ice skating are other popular winter activities at the park. Fishing and boating: A fisherman's paradise. Pierce Lake offers two fishing piers and great opportunities to land largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, bullhead, northern pike, muskellunge and walleye. There is a 10-horsepower limit on motors. Boat rental, docks and two launching ramps are available. Trails: In addition to trails already mentioned, the Rock Cut Trail extends 4.25 miles around Pierce Lake. Mountain bikes are allowed on a 12-mile loop of the 15-mile cross-country ski trail. (On occasion, mountain bike and regular bike races are held by private organizations at the park.) A 2-mile blacktop path connects the park with Harlem High School as well as Perry Path and the Grand Illinois Trail. Hunting opportunities: Rock Cut offers disabled hunters an opportunity to participate in a fall turkey hunt and a DNR program for managing the park's deer herd. Forty blind sites are available for this purpose. This is the only hunting allowed at the site.
Accessibility: Individuals with disabilities will find Rock Cut to be extremely accessible. Shelters, fishing piers, camping spots, the amphitheater, showers, wildlife viewing sites and the horse mounting ramp are just some of the amenities available to them to enhance the enjoyment of their outdoor experience. Legend of the Lone Rock A visit to Rock Cut wouldn't be complete without a glimpse of Lone Rock. It has been described as a "great rock, standing high and isolated in the grove." The following legend has it that Native Americans inhabited the area in the 19th century:
"The girl was devastated, and one night when the camp was asleep, she wandered to the base of the rock, climbed to the top, and while singing her song, hurled herself over the edge. The tribe told of how, as they sat in their lodges at night, the wail of her song was heard with the evening breeze and how, if one ventured near the rock at night, the maiden might be seen flitting about in the moonlight."
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"A young Indian warrior wooed and won a daughter of the Potawatomi. The happiness of the young people was interrupted by the arrival of a runner in the village with summons to the war path. Bravely she joined the women of
the tribe in sending the warriors forth on their mission, and many were the prayers which rose to the Great Spirit for His guidance and protection. But alas! In spite of all, when the warriors returned, he was not among them. He had fallen prey to the ferocity of the enemy.