Deer Park's existence began in 1870 when two Philadelphianseased a small piece of ground near the spring spill way for a fish hatchery and equipped it with ponds and spawning beds. People were charged twenty-five cents for admission to the hatchery. That first year they raised one hundred thousand shad, sixty to seventy thousand brook trout, nine thousand salmon and one hundred terrapin for stocking.

Trout farming continued through 1873 and the fish hatcherys success prompted the incorporation of the Beaumont Deer Park Association, in September 1871, for the propagation of game as well as fish. Two land purchases brought the holdings of the Deer Park Association to over 75 acres, at which the tract remains today.

Construction of an auditorium with music gallery, probably in 1871, soon made Deer Park a popular recreation spot. As of 1872, elk, buffalo, racoon, deer and rabbits resided there. An ice house, a refreshment stand and a ram for forcing water into a cistern were added and in February 1876 the Association borrowed $4,000 to construct a new, 16 sided auditorium which remains a centerpiece of Deer Park today.

The Association sold the Park in 1879 to three local businessmen and the park was renamed Solebury Deer Park Association. Social and cultural activities flourished. Events such as concerts and recitations, Chautauqua and other lectures, political rallies and debates, hay rides, horse shows, other agricultural fairs and school graduations often drew over two thousand people. A typical Deer Park Day in 1899 consisted of games, picnic supper and dancing until two o'clock in the morning. The last Deer Park Day was held in 1914.

After the turn of the century the park no longer drew sufficient crowds to finance its operations. As the buildings and grounds deteriorated, the park fell out of use and into disrepair.

In 1921 members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints discovered Deer Park while searching for a location to hold Church Reunions. The property was purchased for $5,000 and improvements worth $18,746 began in February 1921. On July 2, 1921, a special reunion train ran from Wayne Junction in Philadelphia; specific cars on the regular trains from New York City and other points were connected to this train, transporting passengers to Deer Park. The Reading Railroad ran just inside the southern edge of the park, so a request from passengers halted the train short of the scheduled Reeder Station stop. Reunion-goers then climbed down the embankment, across the creek, and up the hill to the campgrounds.

The first Deer Park Reunion lasted two weeks and included a Fourth of July celebration that attracted over 5,000 people for the church and community.

Improvements to the park did not come easily and dreams were stopped short with the Great Depression. The economic recovery after the Depression was short lived due to World War II. It wasn't until the late 1940's that major improvements started to take place. By the mid 60's cabins had been erected, utilities were upgraded, a swimming pool installed, and accessory buildings constructed for food service, rest rooms, shelters, and classes.

Improvements continue and those entrusted, today with Deer Park remain committed to preserving historical significance while striving to maintain and upgrade facilities. We recognize the sacrifice that so many people made to preserve Deer Park and we are thankful for the vision of those that have helped direct its course.