But it's not much of a view, really. If there's one thing the Coalfield Parson loves more than stumbling across an empty house or cabin in the forest, it's stumbling across a whole gaggle of them. The western stretches of Raccoon Creek SP have several dozen abandoned cabins, a few old-but-maintained cabins, and a handful of newly constructed ones. This remote area can be reached by the 50-some-mile-long backpacking trail that encircles the whole enormous park. Only a few state parks have actual overnight backpacking trails, so it is a pretty nice feature--except that it does occasionally run alongside country roads. Or you can hike into this area, like the Parson did, on a utility easement. The roads that appear on the map have been leased out to a private school, and much of this section of the park--though technically the property of the PADCNR--is off limits to anyone but a sneak. (Good thing there was one of those on hand.) The Linsly School, which wards off interlopers with vaguely threatening signs, claims to be the oldest private school west of the Alleghenies. They keep a very nice "outdoor center" in this part of Raccoon Creek; it reminded the Parson of the grounds of Cherry Run Campmeeting, a crazy-ass Methodist summer colony in Clarion County where his fundamentalist grandmother liked to take him long ago. (Not at all the kind of place for a dour young Calvinist.) The Parson's goal was King's Creek Cemetery, which is also on park property that seems to be leased to private interests. Raccoon Creek is a huge park, but is it so big that the PADCNR can't maintain it without making large portions of it off limits to the general public?
Monday, April 4, 2011
A Room with a View
But it's not much of a view, really. If there's one thing the Coalfield Parson loves more than stumbling across an empty house or cabin in the forest, it's stumbling across a whole gaggle of them. The western stretches of Raccoon Creek SP have several dozen abandoned cabins, a few old-but-maintained cabins, and a handful of newly constructed ones. This remote area can be reached by the 50-some-mile-long backpacking trail that encircles the whole enormous park. Only a few state parks have actual overnight backpacking trails, so it is a pretty nice feature--except that it does occasionally run alongside country roads. Or you can hike into this area, like the Parson did, on a utility easement. The roads that appear on the map have been leased out to a private school, and much of this section of the park--though technically the property of the PADCNR--is off limits to anyone but a sneak. (Good thing there was one of those on hand.) The Linsly School, which wards off interlopers with vaguely threatening signs, claims to be the oldest private school west of the Alleghenies. They keep a very nice "outdoor center" in this part of Raccoon Creek; it reminded the Parson of the grounds of Cherry Run Campmeeting, a crazy-ass Methodist summer colony in Clarion County where his fundamentalist grandmother liked to take him long ago. (Not at all the kind of place for a dour young Calvinist.) The Parson's goal was King's Creek Cemetery, which is also on park property that seems to be leased to private interests. Raccoon Creek is a huge park, but is it so big that the PADCNR can't maintain it without making large portions of it off limits to the general public?
Hello again,
ReplyDeleteI haven't been back lately so it's been enjoyable catching up on where you have traveled in the last few months. The pictures seem to capture the bleakness of the cabins' existence...they are simply waiting to crumble into bits and pieces.
I wanted to give you an update on the empty house on Rt. 978 in South Fayette Twp. that you blogged about some time ago. The last time I drove by I noticed that the roof is falling down. You had mentioned you would be interested in going inside but it doesn't look like a safe thing to do.
Have a blessed Easter, Joni
Thanks for the heads-up, Joni. Sometimes I console myself with empty promises, which is partly what I was doing when I said I'd go back to revisit the house on 978. Iappreciate your concern, but if I do end up going back, no need to worry. I'm a seasoned trespasser, and I know when to stay the heck out!
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