733 Lake Road, South Fork, PA 15956
Phone: 814-495-4643
Fax: 814-495-5571
Open All Year
Overview. In the afternoon of May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam, strained by heavy spring rains and weakened by a poorly considered and improperly engineered enlargement, gave way, dumping 20 million tons of water and debris on the population of Johnstown. Over 2,200 people lost their lives in the flood, which took only 40 minutes to level the town of 30,000. Two eroded abutments are all that's left of the South Fork Dam, once the world's largest earthwork dam. The South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, a sportmen's lodge owned by a group of industrialists from Pittsburgh who decided, ill-advisedly, to enlarge the reservoir, suffered little damage in the collapse. Today, visitors may stop by the inn that occupies the building and share in the opulence once reserved for a privileged few. What to see and do. You'll find the visitor center close by the clubhouse, where you can watch a 35-minute film recounting the history of the Johnstown flood and view exhibits about the disaster. Schedules of interpretive talks and ranger-led tours are posted at the visitor center. There is a bookstore on site; other facilities include a picnic area, a nature trail, and trails that lead along the remains of the abutments. The site is handicapped-accessible throughout. Each spring, the anniversary of the flood is commemorated in the "Tales of the Great Flood" program. Living history demonstrations are presented throughout the summer months. The memorial is 10 miles northeast of Johnstown and is open from 9 AM to 5 PM daily, with longer hours in the summer. It is closed on Christmas. Fees: A nominal park entrance fee is charged.
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