{{Short description|State park in Pennsylvania, United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox park | name = Caledonia State Park | image = CaledoniaFurnace.JPG | image_caption = Reconstruction of Caledonia Furnace | image_alt = Furnace | image_size = 280 | location = [[Franklin County, Pennsylvania|Franklin]] and [[Adams County, Pennsylvania|Adams]] counties, [[Pennsylvania]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|39.9089|-77.4783|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref name="caledoniasp"/> | area = {{convert|1125|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="caledoniasp"/> | elevation = {{convert|1096|ft|m|abbr=on}} | established = 1903 | administrator = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] | free_label = Named for | free_data = Caledonia Furnace | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | website = {{Official website}} | module = {{Infobox protected area | map = USA Pennsylvania#USA | label = Caledonia State Park | label_position = top | map_caption = Location in Pennsylvania | relief = 1 | module = [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania State Parks]] }} }} '''Caledonia State Park''' is a {{convert|1125|acre|adj=on}} [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania state park]] in [[Greene Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania|Greene Township]], [[Franklin County, Pennsylvania|Franklin County]] and [[Franklin Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania|Franklin Township]], [[Adams County, Pennsylvania|Adams County]] in southern [[Pennsylvania]]. It is named for the Caledonia Furnace, an [[bloomery|iron furnace]] that was owned by [[Thaddeus Stevens]] beginning in 1837. The park is known for its recreational activities and the Totem Pole Playhouse, a summer stock theater.
==Geography== Caledonia State Park is in a [[valley]] between [[Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)|Blue Mountain]] and the [[South Mountain (Maryland and Pennsylvania)|South Mountain Range]] of the northern [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] System.
The park is at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 30]] and [[Pennsylvania Route 233]] in Fayetteville, between [[Chambersburg, Pennsylvania|Chambersburg]] and [[Gettysburg, Pennsylvania|Gettysburg]].
==History== Caledonia State Park was once the site of an iron furnace owned by Thaddeus Stevens, a native of [[Caledonia County, Vermont|Caledonia County]], [[Vermont]]. Stevens began operation on the furnace in 1837. He was a member of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]], a noted [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]], and is known as the father of the [[Public school (government funded)|public school]] system in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The iron furnace was destroyed during the [[American Civil War]] in June 1863 by the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] cavalry under the command of General [[Jubal Early]]. Some historians believe that the furnace was destroyed not just to slow the industrial power of the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] but also because of Stevens' views opposing [[slavery]]. The furnace frequently employed formerly enslaved people, including residents of the nearby [[Underground Railroad]] stop at Africa, now known as Brownsville. The pastures surrounding the furnace were used as [[field hospital]]s during the [[Battle of Gettysburg]] later in July 1863.
The furnace was rebuilt following the war, but was closed by 1902 when the land was sold to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Caledonia State Park was opened in 1903.<ref name="caledoniasp">{{cite web |url=https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/caledonia-state-park |title=Caledonia State Park |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=December 23, 2025 }}</ref>
The land was leased to the Chambersburg and Gettysburg Trolley Company for a number of years. It became a popular tourist destination for visitors to the [[Gettysburg Battlefield]]. The trolley company built various amusement rides at the park that have long since been removed.<ref name="caledoniasp"/>
A nine-hole [[golf course]] was opened in 1922, and has since been expanded to 18 holes. The Pennsylvania Alpine Club paid for the reconstruction of the stack of the old furnace and built a monument. A [[blacksmith]] shop, the stack, and numerous charcoal hearths and charcoal roads are visible reminders of the iron-making days. Many of the roads and facilities used today at Caledonia State Park were built during the [[Great Depression]] by the young men of the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] (CCC).<ref name="caledoniasp"/>
==Recreation== Caledonia State Park has {{convert|10|mi}} of [[hiking]] trails, a swimming pool, golf course, a [[summer stock theater]], and is open to [[hunting]] and [[fishing]] to provide recreation and entertainment for park visitors.<ref name="caledoniasp"/>
===Campground=== Caledonia State Park has a total of 184 [[tent]] and trailer campsites at two [[campground]]s. They open in mid-April for the first weekend of [[trout]] season and close in December at the conclusion of [[white-tailed deer|deer]] season. The camping area has hot showers, flush toilets, and a sanitary dump station. A large area for organized group tenting accommodates up to 100 people. The large group camping area has [[picnic table]]s, fire rings, and flush toilets.<ref name="caledoniasp"/>
Two year-round cabins are available to rent. Both cabins can sleep up to 10 people. They have central heat, modern [[kitchen]]s and [[bathroom]]s, three [[bedroom]]s, and a [[living room]].<ref name="caledoniasp"/>
===Fishing=== [[File:Caledonia State Park 3.jpg|thumb|A creek in Caledonia State Park]] Fishing is a popular recreational activity at Caledonia State Park and the surrounding Michaux State Forest. Three streams, [[East Branch Conococheague Creek]], [[Rocky Mountain Creek]] and [[Carbaugh Run]], flow through the park and forest. The streams are home to some warm water fish as well as [[brown trout]], native [[brook trout]], and [[rainbow trout]]. The brown and rainbow trout are [[fish stocking|stocked]] by the [[Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission]].<ref name="caledoniasp"/>
===Hiking=== The [[Appalachian Trail]] passes through Caledonia State Park as it traverses the [[Appalachian Mountains]] between [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Maine]]. Ramble Trail ({{convert|2.2|mi}}) is a trail that passes the old millrace left over from the days of the Caledonia Iron Furnace. There are ten other trails in the park that pass through a variety of [[habitat (ecology)|habitats]] and historical sites.<ref name="caledoniasp"/>
===Hunting=== [[File:CaledoniaFallsPA.jpg|thumb|left|Caledonia Falls.]] There are about {{convert|740|acre}} of woods open to hunting at Caledonia State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the [[Pennsylvania Game Commission]]. The common game species are [[Eastern Cottontail|rabbits]], [[Eastern Grey Squirrel|squirrel]]s, [[white-tailed deer]], and [[Wild turkey|turkeys]]. The hunting of [[groundhog]]s is prohibited. Hunters may access the adjoining [[Michaux State Forest]] by using the parking lots at Caledonia State Park and hiking in on the trails.<ref name="caledoniasp"/>
===Totem Pole Playhouse=== [[File:Caledonia State Park Totem Pole Playhouse.JPG|thumb|Totem Pole Playhouse]] Totem Pole Playhouse, a summer stock theatre at Caledonia State Park, is nationally known for attracting high quality actors and for having a wide variety of theatrical performances. The playhouse began operation in 1950 under the direction of [[Karl Genus]]. At that time it was in a concrete block building about 7.5 miles north of Caledonia on the Pine Grove Road near the intersection with the Shippensburg Road before moving to a better location at Caledonia. That building still stands, obscured by trees that have grown in front of it. In the late 1950s that building was used by Duffy Mott Company in Aspers, Pennsylvania as storage.
The Totem Pole Playhouse began to come to national prominence under the direction of [[William H. Putch]], the husband of actress [[Jean Stapleton]]. She also acted in many of the playhouse's productions. Putch directed the playhouse for 30 years and was responsible for the production of 270 plays. Famous actors and actresses such as [[John Ritter]], [[Sandy Dennis]], [[Curtis Armstrong]], [[Eric Szmanda]], [[Granville Van Dusen]], [[Betsy Randle]], [[Michael Learned]], [[Meredith Baxter]], and [[Michael Gross (actor)|Michael Gross]] have worked with the resident company of performers over the years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.totempoleplayhouse.org/pages/history.asp |title=Totem Pole Playhouse |access-date=December 20, 2006 |publisher=Caledonia Theater Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909033134/http://www.totempoleplayhouse.org/pages/history.asp |archive-date=September 9, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/scavengeradvanced/scavad12caledonia.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040308234252/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/STATEPARKS/scavengeradvanced/scavad12caledonia.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2004 |title=Additional History about Caledonia State Park |access-date=December 20, 2006 |publisher=[[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]]}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Caledonia State Park}} {{Portal|Pennsylvania}} *[https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/caledonia-state-park Caledonia State Park] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources *{{cite web |url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd1/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_004834.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902193711/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd1/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_004834.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 2, 2012 |title=Caledonia State Park official map}} {{small|(577 KB)}}
{{Protected Areas of Pennsylvania}} {{Adams County, Pennsylvania}} {{Franklin County, Pennsylvania}}
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[[Category:State parks of Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Adams County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Franklin County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:South Mountain Range (Maryland−Pennsylvania)]] [[Category:Campgrounds in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1903]] [[Category:1903 establishments in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Adams County, Pennsylvania]]