Raccoon Creek: Frankfort Mineral Springs, Canoeing, and Janoski Farms

What a difference a season makes at Raccoon Creek State Park and the ruins of the Frankfort Mineral Springs, of which you can learn about in this previous post.

A centered look at the falls. The falls were really gushing this weekend compared to typical flow. 

A video of the springs. This was once the site of a resort that touted the "healing powers" of the old mineral springs.

We went to spend the afternoon canoeing on Raccoon Creek Lake. The boat rentals are very reasonable, with them costing 10 dollars for the first hour, and five dollars an hour for each additional hour. They offer canoes, kayaks, and hydrobikes and are very friendly. I highly recommend spending a relaxing day at Raccoon Creek State Park. 

Raccoon Creek State Park is a great place to visit on a Lincoln Highway adventure.

We started the day at Janoski's Country Restaurant and Farm Market. This is a great complex with fantastic locally sourced food with a nice Diner menu. They offer delicious and reasonably priced entrees. Definitely take a day or spend a weekend in this nice area. It is located less than an hour from the Pittsburgh metro area and provides for a great and reasonable getaway. The state park also offers camping and cabins for those looking to spend the night. 

Raccoon Creek State Park Part 2: Frankfort Mineral Springs

In part one of our exploration of Raccoon Creek State Park, we visited the park's lake. Last year I showed you some photos of Raccoon Creek from a warmer time of the year. Today we are going to look at the site of the former Frankfort Mineral Springs with a wintry touch. For an overview of the resort from that previous post, here is what I wrote about the old resort:

Frankfort Mineral Springs was once a thriving resort based around a mid nineteenth century idea that these mineral springs had healing powers. Folks from far and wide would go visit these mineral springs to cure them from their different ailments. A similar resort still remains in Bedford at the Bedford Springs Resort, the summer resort for the only president to ever come from Pennsylvania, James Buchanan, the man who oversaw the splintering of the union and uprising of the Civil War, but I digress.  

These mineral springs resorts were very popular in the Victorian era, but tastes changed in the early to mid 20th century. There are a few things remaining from the resort including this cut out area where the mineral springs were located and the shells/foundations of a few buildings. The resort used to have things like a dance hall, hotel building, stables and more. The remains of the resort are pretty cool to check out. The state park is very beautiful. The place is wooded, has a wonderful campground and a nice little lake. It is a great place to lose yourself for a day or two and just relax. 

It takes a very short hike to get to the site, but it is well worth it.

 It amazes me when a large tree just uproots in this manner.

 Now for

Now for the main sight, a cut out made by the resort for the mineral springs. In the summer a little waterfall pours out from where the thickest ice is in this photo. 

 Hemlock Trees, the state tree, flourish in this state park.

 The icicles are breathtaking.

 In the summer this is a very gentle waterfall.

 The bright orange on the rocks shows the mineral/iron action in the water. 

A spring pours out into a little stone bowl.

 Inside the cave...

 This place is so peculiar and awesome

Be sure to venture out to this peculiar place at some point. I highly recommend it. Raccoon Creek State Park is also very beautiful.

Raccoon Creek State Park Part 1: Frozen Lake

Last weekend we decided to go out for a drive in the afternoon to the beautiful Raccoon Creek State Park. We were there for sightseeing, but if you are planning to do anything on the ice, I would highly advise against that for there is not full ice coverage. Multiple holes like this were present throughout the lake.

Yeah, no boat rentals today...

Here you can see the lakeside lodge. This place has accommodations that can house a large family.

Very serene

It looks like someone was attempting to make a snowman out on the lake

I can't tell what this thing is. Is it a beehive or some sort of spiderweb thing?

Tomorrow we will talk about the reason we made the journey, checking out the Frankfort Mineral Springs.

Raccoon Creek State Park: Former Frankfort Mineral Springs

Yesterday on the Facebook page I posted this mysterious photo.

We got several cool responses. They were all plausible but not correct.

These are the remains of the Frankfort Mineral Springs at Raccoon Creek State Park. Frankfort Mineral Springs was once a thriving resort based around mineral springs that were believed to have healing powers. In the mid 19th century the idea that these mineral springs had healing powers swept across the nation. Folks from far and wide would go visit these mineral springs to cure them from their different ailments. A similar resort still remains in Bedford at the Bedford Springs Resort, the summer resort for the only president to ever come from Pennsylvania, James Buchanan, the man who oversaw the splintering of the union and uprising of the Civil War, but I digress.  

These mineral springs resorts were very popular in the Victorian era, but tastes changed in the early to mid 20th century. There are a few things remaining from the resort including this cut out area where the mineral springs were located and the shells/foundations of a few buildings. The resort used to have things like a dance hall, hotel building, stables and more. The remains of the resort are pretty cool to check out. The state park is very beautiful. The place is wooded, has a wonderful campground and a nice little lake. It is a great place to lose yourself for a day or two and just relax.