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1.27.2015

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.

1 comment :

  1. Moon high school used to run a week-long environmental camp for 5th and 6th graders at Raccoon in the late 70s/early 80s. I was a camper, then a counselor, at the camp. Mineral Springs was one of our hikes. At that time, people would still come to the Springs to get water for whatever ailed them. For years, whenever I would go back to PGH, I'd stop by the Springs and get a canteen of water just for the heck of it. Not too much, as the water was very high in iron! I'm not sure if people still 'take the waters.' Pretty spot, great park!

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