These Fascinating Pennsylvania Kilns Have Been Abandoned And Reclaimed By Nature For Decades Now
By Beth Price-Williams|Published February 08, 2023
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
We have no shortage of abandoned places in Pennsylvania to explore, and each has its own fascinating tale to tell. A trip to this Pennsylvania state park offers a glimpse into the rich history of the mining of limestone in the state. Get the behind-the-scenes details on educational placards, and visit what remains of these limestone kilns in Pennsylvania. But that’s just the beginning of the fascinating experience that awaits.
A unique adventure awaits when you visit Canoe Creek State Park in Hollidaysburg, and it begins with a visit to the abandoned limestone kilns.
Once the site of a bustling operation, the limestone kilns today stand silent, plants growing around them, although the grass nearby remains neatly manicured.
Sat in front of the most prominent limestone kilns - there are others hidden by the foliage in the park - are educational placards that tell the story of these former kilns.
During the beginning of the 20th century, the land where the park now sits, which was abundant with limestone, was home to the Hartman Kilns and the Blair Limestone Kilns.
The park spreads over 961 acres and if you follow its Canoe Lake and Beaver Pond Trail Loop, keep an eye out for other kilns and parts of the quarry operation that are partially covered by moss, plants, and other foliage.
Wear your hiking shoes, because you're definitely going to want to check out the trails.
You can also enjoy a rare wildlife-watching opportunity on summer evenings from June through August. The park is also the home of the Frank Felbaum Bat Sanctuary.
During the winter, the bats hibernate at the sanctuary, which serves as a nursery in the summer.
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Special programs are held through the summer with bats coming out of the sanctuary and flying overhead. It's a popular event that you really have to experience at least once.
Have you seen these Pennsylvania kilns at Canoe Creek State Park? What did you think? Share your experience in the comments! Has it been too long since you’ve been on a road trip? Set off on this road trip to the nine most abandoned places in Pennsylvania.
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