When Wetipquin Creek State Park opens, Wicomico County will become the final Maryland county to have a state park, marking a statewide milestone in access to public lands.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently celebrated the acquisition of the 445-acre Wetipquin Creek property, which will become Maryland’s newest state park. Located along Wetipquin Creek near the Nanticoke River, the property includes marshland, forests, and the historic Long Hill house, a mid-18th century home listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“Places like Wetipquin Creek State Park remind us that conservation is about more than protecting land. It is about protecting memory, culture, and opportunity for future generations,” said Maryland DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz.
Currently in the planning phase, Wetipquin Creek State Park will be managed to conserve the Delmarva Peninsula’s natural resources while providing educational and interpretive programming highlighting the region’s environmental and cultural history. Planned programs will explore the history of Indigenous communities, the lives of enslaved people who lived and worked at Long Hill, and the area’s agricultural heritage.
DNR completed the $3.3 million acquisition earlier this year after receiving approval to purchase the property in 2024. The land has long been recognized for both its historical and environmental significance, with much of the property protected under a conservation easement established in 2016.
So, what does the future look like for the new state park? The Maryland Park Service plans to develop tours, educational programs, and community events that highlight both the property’s natural features and its complex history. Once open, the park will be a source of recreational and educational opportunities while preserving one of the Lower Eastern Shore’s most significant historic landscapes.
Wetipquin Creek State Park is part of Maryland’s ongoing effort to expand access to public lands and preserve places that reflect the state’s natural, cultural, and historical heritage. Upon its opening, every Maryland county will be home to at least one state park!
