Cultural Landscape Report Camp Round Meadow, Catoctin Mountain Park

University of Pennsylvania, Urban Heritage Project, Weitzman School of Design; Mason, Randall; Frisbie, Meg; Torkelson, Jacob; Lester, Molly; Parker, Annie; Wang, Zhijie; Jeter, Autumn

The purpose of this Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) for Camp Round Meadow within Catoctin Mountain Park is to help the National Park Service (NPS) develop an informed and consistent approach to managing change of the cultural landscape located in Sabillasville, Frederick County, Maryland. This guide builds on previous documentation efforts and offers holistic, coordinated management strategies. The project began with a kickoff and planning meeting in November 2022, and the final report was presented in 2025. RESEARCH Using primary and secondary sources, the team conducted research to understand the physical history of Camp Round Meadow. Key repositories and archives included: the existing documentation (including a National Register of Historic Places nomination and addendum and a Cultural Landscape Inventory); Catoctin Mountain Park photograph collections; National Archives at College Park; National Archives at Philadelphia; and other research collections. Based on the research, the team prepared a chronology and physical history to document the evolution of the historic site. DETERMINATION OF PERIODS OF SIGNIFICANCE Using the physical history and prior documentation as a guide, the period of significance was determined as 1936-1981 (refer to the Statement of Significance for an explanation of this period). FIELDWORK AND DATA COLLECTION The team conducted fieldwork and site visits during the project. An initial site visit with park and regional staff took place in June 2023. Fieldwork to document existing conditions and geolocate extant features took place in June through August of 2023. During this time, researchers collected and recorded GIS data using Eos Arrow equipment. The team identified, photographed, and recorded characteristic landscape features within the project area boundaries. MAPPING Maps for this CLR were produced following NPS National Capital Regional Office’s (NCRO) GIS standards. The team collected data in the field, including small-scale features, circulation features, structures, and vegetation. This data was then edited in ArcGIS Pro. ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION Based on our understanding of the Camp Round Meadow cultural landscape through research, fieldwork, and mapping, our team evaluated the current conditions and integrity of the cultural landscape features. This feature-by-feature assessment, contextualized within a larger study of each applicable landscape characteristic, comprises the Analysis & Evaluation section of the CLR. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT In order to gain first-hand perspective on the use, perceptions, strengths, and weaknesses of Camp Round Meadow, the project team interviewed several stakeholders including current and former Catoctin Mountain Park staff, user groups, neighboring entities, volunteers, and others. Virtual interviews were conducted in December of 2024 and January of 2025 and surveys were sent to user groups in December of 2024. These interviews informed our treatment recommendations. TREATMENT WORKSHOP Our team consulted with National Park Service staff throughout the project, including members of the National Capital Regional Office and the Catoctin Mountain Park administration. Most intensively, our team convened a treatment workshop on April 11, 2025, at Camp Round Meadow to present our findings-to-date and our preliminary treatment priorities TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the feedback received at the treatment workshop, and all other phases of work, the team prepared treatment recommendations for the historic site.

Cultural Landscape Report Camp Round Meadow, Catoctin Mountain Park

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