{{Short description|State park in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = Archbald Pothole State Park | image = Archbald Pothole State Park panorama 2.jpg | image_caption = The pothole | image_alt = Pothole | image_size = 280 | location = [[Archbald, Pennsylvania]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|41.51305|-75.5757|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref name="apsp"/> | area = {{convert|150|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="apsp"/> | elevation = {{convert|1122|ft}}<ref>{{cite gnis|id=1201476|name=Archbald Pothole|entrydate=August 1, 1989|access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref> | established = 1964 | administrator = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | website = {{Official website}} | module = {{Infobox protected area | map = USA Pennsylvania#USA | label = Archbald Pothole State Park | label_position = | map_caption = Location in Pennsylvania | relief = 1 | module = [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania State Parks]] }} }} '''Archbald Pothole State Park''' is a {{convert|150|acre|adj=on}} [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania state park]] in [[Archbald, Pennsylvania|Archbald]], [[Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania|Lackawanna County]], [[Pennsylvania]]. The focal point of the park is Archbald Pothole. The [[Giant's kettle|pothole]] is a remnant of the [[Wisconsin Glacial Period]], {{convert|38|ft|1}} deep with a largest diameter of {{convert|42|ft|1}} by {{convert|24|ft|1}}. It has drawn tourists since just after it was discovered in 1884. Archbald Pothole State Park is on [[U.S. Route 6 Business (Scranton, Pennsylvania)|U.S. Route 6 Business]] in the [[borough]] of Archbald.
==History== A [[coal miner]], Patrick Mahon, discovered Archbald Pothole in 1884. Mahon was extending a mine shaft. When he set off a blast of [[explosives]], water and stones came pouring into the mine shaft. He and the other miners fled the scene fearing for their lives. The manager of the mining company, Edward Jones, came to investigate. Jones ordered that the area be cleared of the fallen debris. Almost 1,000 [[ton]]s of small rounded stones were removed and Jones soon realized that the vertical tunnel discovered by the coal miners was a large [[Giant's kettle|pothole]].<ref name="apsp">{{cite web | url = https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/ArchbaldPotholeStatePark/Pages/default.aspx| title = Archbald Pothole State Park | access-date = February 12, 2023 | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources }}</ref>
After serving as a ventilation shaft for the mine, the pothole was fenced in by the owner of the land, Colonel Hackley, for tourists. The pothole soon became a renowned tourist attraction. Edward Jones led the tours for the locals and famous [[geologist]]s. Archbald Pothole was turned over to public ownership in 1914, when the [[widow]] of Colonel Hackley deeded {{convert|1|acre|m2|adj=on}} surrounding the pothole to the Lackawanna Historical Society. [[Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania|Lackawanna County]] gained ownership of the pothole and the surrounding {{convert|150|acre}} in 1940. Archbald Pothole was a county park until 1961 when the property was transferred to the [[Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]]. Archbald Pothole State Park was formally opened in 1964.<ref name="apsp"/>
While the pothole and surrounding park were long a popular tourist attraction, by the 1990s attendance had fallen and the facilities were in need of repair. The park was closed for a $170,000 "facelift" and when it reopened in 1997 it had been repaved and had new landscaping and new trash receptacles.<ref name="amarillo">{{cite news |url = http://amarillo.com/stories/080202/usn_pothole.shtml |title = Biggest pothole falls on hard times |date = August 2, 2002 |access-date = April 7, 2008 |publisher = [[Amarillo Globe-News]] / [[Associated Press]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110522060835/http://amarillo.com/stories/080202/usn_pothole.shtml |archive-date = May 22, 2011 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref> Despite the improvements, attendance remained low and litter thrown into the pothole was still a problem, including "bottles and paper bags... a parking meter, a park bench and a "Wet Floor" cone".<ref name = "amarillo"/> Another problem was the park's "unsavory reputation" as a place for "men looking for sex", with plainclothes police arresting 29 men there for "lewd behavior" in one 2002 sweep.<ref name = "amarillo"/> In an attempt to address these issues, in 2002 the Pennsylvania State Legislature approved more improvements to the park, including "least two soccer fields, a basketball court, a tennis court, a walking trail, a playground, roads and parking areas".<ref name = "amarillo"/>
==Geology== Archbald Pothole is {{convert|38|ft|1}} deep and {{convert|42|ft|1}} wide at its maximum [[diameter]]. The pothole cuts through layers of [[sandstone]], [[shale]] and [[coal]]. A pothole, in geologic terms, is a hole that is worn into the [[bedrock]] of a stream in strong [[rapids]] or at the base of a [[waterfall]]. The force of the water spins rock fragments, sand and gravel into a small indentation in the bedrock. After years and years of constant spinning, the stones and sands carve out an elliptical hole. Potholes are also formed by the action of [[Glacier|glacial]] meltwater. Archbald Pothole is an example of just such a pothole.<ref name="McGladeOthers2016a">{{ cite web | url = http://www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/DCNR_20032581.pdf | last = McGlade | first = William G. | year = 1969 | title = Archbald Pothole State Park, Archbald Pothole, Lackawanna County, Trail of Geology 16–003.0 | access-date = February 12, 2023 | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources}}</ref><ref name="Stuart2016a">{{ cite web | url = https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=1752513&DocName=TG16-003_GeoGuide_ArchbaldPotholeSP.pdf | last = Reese | first = Stuart O. | year = 2016 | title = Outstanding Geologic feature of Pennsylvania: Archbald Pothole, Lackawanna County, Trail of Geology 16–025.0 | access-date = February 12, 2023 | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources}}</ref>
Archbald Pothole was formed during the [[Wisconsin glaciation|Wisconsin Glacial Period]]. As the glacier melted, a stream that flowed on top may have fallen into a crevasse and then fell to the bedrock. The force of the falling water created a pothole in much the same way that a [[waterfall]] creates a pothole. The pothole was filled by falling sand, rocks and gravel as the glacier retreated and created other potholes. Archbald Pothole was preserved underground for nearly 15,000 years until its discovery by Patrick Mahon.<ref name="McGladeOthers2016a"/><ref name="Fleeger">{{ cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/gsaabstr/archbald.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120805015559/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/gsaabstr/archbald.aspx| url-status = dead | archive-date = August 5, 2012 | title = Plunge into the past or go with the flow: multiple hypotheses for the origin of the Archbald Pothole, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania | access-date = August 5, 2012 | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources}}</ref>
===Nearby glacial formations=== *[[Hickory Run State Park]] - Hickory Run State Park is in the nearby [[Pocono Mountains]]. There are {{convert|14|acre}} of jumbled stone caused by the actions of the glaciers during the latest glacial period. The glacial [[moraine]] crosses the park.<ref name="hrsp">{{cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/hickoryrun.aspx | title = Hickory Run State Park | access-date = March 26, 2007 | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070317030526/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/StateParks/parks/hickoryrun.aspx| archive-date= 17 March 2007 | url-status= dead}}</ref> * [[Seven Tubs Natural Area]] - The Seven Tubs Natural Area is about four miles (6 km) southeast of downtown [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania| Wilkes-Barre]]. Also known as Whirlpool Valley, Seven Tubs is a series of potholes eroded into the bedrock. A hiking trail passes by the seven tub-shaped potholes. Seven Tubs Natural Area is owned by [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne County]]. It is a popular, but dangerous swimming hole for the daredevils of the area.<ref name="seventubs">{{cite web | url = http://www.greentreks.org/watershedstv/old_cattails/seventubs.asp | title = Seven Tubs Natural Area, Luzerne County | access-date = October 25, 2006 | publisher = Green Treks Network, Inc.}}</ref> * [[Tannersville Cranberry Bog]] - Tannersville Cranberry Bog is in [[Pocono Township, Pennsylvania|Pocono Township]], [[Monroe County, Pennsylvania|Monroe County]]. This bog, owned by [[The Nature Conservancy]], is the southernmost low-altitude [[hemiboreal]] [[bog]]. The bog is home to rare [[orchids]] and some [[carnivorous plants]] like [[sundew]] and the [[pitcher plant]].<ref name="bog">{{cite web | url = http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/pennsylvania/preserves/art828.html |title = Tannersville Cranberry Bog |access-date = October 25, 2006 |publisher = [[The Nature Conservancy]]| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061027054418/http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/pennsylvania/preserves/art828.html| archive-date= 27 October 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref>
==Recreation== [[File:Archbald Pothole State Park Sign.jpg|thumb|Park entrance sign]] A small loop trail follows an old coal mine tram road for hiking. The trail passes along a rock ledge and through a forest.<ref name="apsp"/>
Hunting is permitted on over {{convert|100|acre}} of the park. The most common game species are [[eastern gray squirrel|squirrels]], [[wild turkey|turkeys]] and [[white-tailed deer]]. The hunting of [[groundhog]]s is not permitted. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania State Game Commission.<ref name="apsp"/>
Some of the parkland was stripped off in the past by [[strip mining]]. This land is currently undergoing a reclamation process and there are plans to use the reclaimed land for recreation and to build athletic fields.<ref name="apsp"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Archbald Pothole State Park}} {{Portal|Pennsylvania}} *[https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/archbald-pothole-state-park Archbald Pothole State Park] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
{{Protected Areas of Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:State parks of Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1964]] [[Category:1964 establishments in Pennsylvania]]