Mount Holly Park was a summer resort developed along Mountain Creek in Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania. The park opened in 1901, but went into decline from 1918, and closed c. 1928–30.[1][2]

History

Mount Holly Park was originally opened in 1901 by Harrisburg entrepreneur Patricio Russ, serving as the attraction for his "Trolley to Holly" line. The park began near the Holly Inn and continued south for approximately 1 mile along Mountain Creek.[3]

In 1904, Russ leased additional property, including an artificial lake. The lake was originally created in the 1880s by damming Mountain Creek and had been used to supply water and generate power for the nearby paper mills. Russ extended the trolley line to provide direct access to the lake. Visitors would disembark near the present-day Deer Lodge restaurant, and the park ran along the road connected to the restaurant's parking lot.[3][2]

The trolley line peaked in 1906 with a maximum ridership of 212,605 passengers.[1] Thousands of people attended events at the park, such as the Harvest Home Picnic of Cumberland County.[3]

Attractions

  • Restaurant[3]
  • Bandstand -- located on the creek[3]
  • Dance Pavilion -- measured approximately 80 feet long by 40 feet wide, different kinds of dances were held depending on the day of the week[1][3]
  • Bowling Alley[1][3]
  • Ferris Wheel -- the first Ferris wheel in Cumberland County[3]
  • Roller Coaster[1][3]
  • Observatory -- located at the top of South Mountain, featured a telescope[3]
  • Baseball Field[1][3]
  • Tennis Courts[3]
  • Flower Gardens[3]
  • Mineral Springs -- noted at the time for having health benefits[3]
  • Boating[1]
  • Dining Area[3]
  • Hiking Trails[1]

Rollercoaster Fatality

In 1912, Thomas Blair of Newville, PA was killed when he stood up on the rollercoaster and fell out of his car. Another car crashed into the car he had been occupying, crushing Blair's breastbone and jaws. He died later at a local hospital.[4]

This accident prompted the closure of the ride, and contributed to the closure of the park itself.[1]

Closure

The popularity of Mount Holly Park decreased with the increased adoption of personal automobiles, the onset of the Great Depression, the rollercoaster fatality, and damage to the dam due to flooding.[1] Trolley service in Carlisle and Mount Holly Springs ended December 1, 1930.[3]

It is still possible to view the remains of the restaurant's foundation, one of the springs, and the upper and lower dams. The upper dam was demolished in 1989, but the concrete spillway foundations and earthen wall remain.[3][2]

Mount Holly Springs Marsh Preserve

The property today is known as The Mount Holly Marsh Preserve. It was acquired by The Nature Conservancy in 1992 with help from the Holly Gap Committee, a group of local community members who raised funds to permanently preserve the land. Cumberland County currently owns the land, managing it in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy. Activities within the preserve include hiking (with over 7 miles of trails) and bird watching.[5][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Of Paper and Parks: A Varied History of Mount Holly Springs". Pennsylvania Historic Preservation. 19 February 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Mount Holly Marsh Preserve | Cumberland County, PA - Official Website". www.ccpa.net.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Sentinel, Joseph Cress The. "Mount Holly Springs once hosted a popular summer resort". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "Mount Holly Springs Park coaster death 1962". The Gettysburg Times. 31 July 1962. p. 6.
  5. ↑ "Mount Holly Marsh Preserve Trail Map & Guide".

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