Holts Landing State Park, on Indian River Bay, has long been a center of crabbing, fishing, hunting, and farming dating back to the Pre-Columbian history of what is now southeastern Delaware.

They were driven out by war and disease and were displaced by people of European ancestry who began farming the land on the southern coast of Indian River Bay.

These colonists continued the practice of harvesting seafood from the bay and expanded their farming operations slowly over the years.

It was removed and replaced with an updated, two-lane concrete ramp leading to a newly dredged channel.

[3][4] Holts Landing State Park has 2,000 feet (610 meters) of shoreline along the south coast of the Indian River Bay.

[5] The park encompasses 204 acres (83 hectares) of upland forest,[2] within which are several hidden fresh water ponds which have evolved naturally from borrow pits left behind by the Delaware Department of Transportation after road construction.

A pavilion with a large grill and a seating capacity of 80 people[2] is available to rent for events such as family reunions, church gatherings, and company picnics.

[9] Last dredged in the 1950s, the canal is no longer deep enough to handle the boat traffic that once passed through it when it was part of the Intracoastal Waterway.

In 2016, the Friends of Holts Landing State Park volunteer group took over sponsorship of the Family Fun Nights and their associated concert series.

[10][6] The small ponds that evolved when the abandoned road construction pits filled with fresh water have created habitats for local animals and plants.