Catoctin Mountain Park is significant to our national fabric because it:
• is a prime example of the resiliency and diversity of the Eastern deciduous forest, and provides outstanding scenic beauty for all to enjoy at the transition of the Blue Ridge and Piedmont geologic provinces.
• provides resource-compatible, outdoor recreation opportunities for visitors from the local region, several nearby metropolitan areas, and throughout the United States, as well as international visitors.
• hosts the Presidential Retreat, Camp David. Catoctin Mountain Park is a place where international leaders have convened to discuss world peace and international diplomacy.
• plays an important role in the ecological health of the watershed for the Monocacy and Potomac rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.
• was one of 46 Recreational Demonstration Areas established in the 1930s, and represents an outstanding example of a New Deal Era program to recast the landscape for recreation and conservation purposes.
• preserves and provides for continued use of Camp Greentop, home to the oldest operating camp for the disabled in the nation. Camp Greentop and Camp Misty Mount are both Historic Districts on the National Register of Historic Places.
• includes diverse cultural resources that range from American Indian tool production to the Nation’s first Job Corps Center.
• played a supporting role in World War II in providing training areas, rest and relaxation opportunities, and Office of Strategic Services training facilities.