Summertime picnics in Upper Buttermilk State Park

Many people fondly remember Upper Buttermilk State Park as the site of regular picnics for LGBTQ community members. Some gay bear groups also held events here. In gay culture, a bear is often a larger, hairy man who projects an image of rugged masculinity.

Its location near the relocated Common Ground bar on Comfort Road meant it was close and convenient to hold community barbecues and then later, for those who wanted, head over to the bar. State parks as a locus of important, organized LGBTQ community social interaction and connection are not frequently discussed, yet "queers in state parks" as one local individual put it, are a large part of our history.

Please visit the two Common Ground stops on this tour for more information about its history and role in the community