# Caledonia State Park

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State park in Pennsylvania, United States

Caledonia State Park Reconstruction of Caledonia Furnace Interactive map of Caledonia State Park Location Franklin and Adams counties, Pennsylvania, United States Coordinates 39°54′32″N 77°28′42″W / 39.9089°N 77.4783°W / 39.9089; -77.4783[1] Area 1,125 acres (455 ha)[1] Elevation 1,096 ft (334 m) Established 1903 Administrator Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Named for Caledonia Furnace Website Official website Caledonia State Park Caledonia State Park Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Caledonia State Park Caledonia State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States Pennsylvania State Parks

**Caledonia State Park** is a 1,125-acre (455 ha) [Pennsylvania state park](/source/List_of_Pennsylvania_state_parks) in [Greene Township](/source/Greene_Township%2C_Franklin_County%2C_Pennsylvania), [Franklin County](/source/Franklin_County%2C_Pennsylvania) and [Franklin Township](/source/Franklin_Township%2C_Adams_County%2C_Pennsylvania), [Adams County](/source/Adams_County%2C_Pennsylvania) in southern [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania). It is named for the Caledonia Furnace, an [iron furnace](/source/Bloomery) that was owned by [Thaddeus Stevens](/source/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](/source/Valley) between [Blue Mountain](/source/Blue_Mountain_(Pennsylvania)) and the [South Mountain Range](/source/South_Mountain_(Maryland_and_Pennsylvania)) of the northern [Blue Ridge Mountains](/source/Blue_Ridge_Mountains) System.

The park is at the intersection of [U.S. Route 30](/source/U.S._Route_30) and [Pennsylvania Route 233](/source/Pennsylvania_Route_233) in Fayetteville, between [Chambersburg](/source/Chambersburg%2C_Pennsylvania) and [Gettysburg](/source/Gettysburg%2C_Pennsylvania).

## History

Caledonia State Park was once the site of an iron furnace owned by Thaddeus Stevens, a native of [Caledonia County](/source/Caledonia_County%2C_Vermont), [Vermont](/source/Vermont). Stevens began operation on the furnace in 1837. He was a member of the [U.S. House of Representatives](/source/U.S._House_of_Representatives), a noted [abolitionist](/source/Abolitionism_in_the_United_States), and is known as the father of the [public school](/source/Public_school_(government_funded)) system in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The iron furnace was destroyed during the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War) in June 1863 by the [Confederate](/source/Confederate_States_of_America) cavalry under the command of General [Jubal Early](/source/Jubal_Early). Some historians believe that the furnace was destroyed not just to slow the industrial power of the [Union](/source/Union_(American_Civil_War)) but also because of Stevens' views opposing [slavery](/source/Slavery). The furnace frequently employed formerly enslaved people, including residents of the nearby [Underground Railroad](/source/Underground_Railroad) stop at Africa, now known as Brownsville. The pastures surrounding the furnace were used as [field hospitals](/source/Field_hospital) during the [Battle of Gettysburg](/source/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.[1]

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](/source/Gettysburg_Battlefield). The trolley company built various amusement rides at the park that have long since been removed.[1]

A nine-hole [golf course](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Great_Depression) by the young men of the [Civilian Conservation Corps](/source/Civilian_Conservation_Corps) (CCC).[1]

## Recreation

Caledonia State Park has 10 miles (16 km) of [hiking](/source/Hiking) trails, a swimming pool, golf course, a [summer stock theater](/source/Summer_stock_theater), and is open to [hunting](/source/Hunting) and [fishing](/source/Fishing) to provide recreation and entertainment for park visitors.[1]

### Campground

Caledonia State Park has a total of 184 [tent](/source/Tent) and trailer campsites at two [campgrounds](/source/Campground). They open in mid-April for the first weekend of [trout](/source/Trout) season and close in December at the conclusion of [deer](/source/White-tailed_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 tables](/source/Picnic_table), fire rings, and flush toilets.[1]

Two year-round cabins are available to rent. Both cabins can sleep up to 10 people. They have central heat, modern [kitchens](/source/Kitchen) and [bathrooms](/source/Bathroom), three [bedrooms](/source/Bedroom), and a [living room](/source/Living_room).[1]

### Fishing

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](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=East_Branch_Conococheague_Creek&action=edit&redlink=1), [Rocky Mountain Creek](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rocky_Mountain_Creek&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Carbaugh Run](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carbaugh_Run&action=edit&redlink=1), flow through the park and forest. The streams are home to some warm water fish as well as [brown trout](/source/Brown_trout), native [brook trout](/source/Brook_trout), and [rainbow trout](/source/Rainbow_trout). The brown and rainbow trout are [stocked](/source/Fish_stocking) by the [Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission](/source/Pennsylvania_Fish_and_Boat_Commission).[1]

### Hiking

The [Appalachian Trail](/source/Appalachian_Trail) passes through Caledonia State Park as it traverses the [Appalachian Mountains](/source/Appalachian_Mountains) between [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state)) and [Maine](/source/Maine). Ramble Trail (2.2 miles (3.5 km)) 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 [habitats](/source/Habitat_(ecology)) and historical sites.[1]

### Hunting

Caledonia Falls.

There are about 740 acres (300 ha) of woods open to hunting at Caledonia State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the [Pennsylvania Game Commission](/source/Pennsylvania_Game_Commission). The common game species are [rabbits](/source/Eastern_Cottontail), [squirrels](/source/Eastern_Grey_Squirrel), [white-tailed deer](/source/White-tailed_deer), and [turkeys](/source/Wild_turkey). The hunting of [groundhogs](/source/Groundhog) is prohibited. Hunters may access the adjoining [Michaux State Forest](/source/Michaux_State_Forest) by using the parking lots at Caledonia State Park and hiking in on the trails.[1]

### Totem Pole Playhouse

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](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Karl_Genus&action=edit&redlink=1). 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_H._Putch&action=edit&redlink=1), the husband of actress [Jean Stapleton](/source/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](/source/John_Ritter), [Sandy Dennis](/source/Sandy_Dennis), [Curtis Armstrong](/source/Curtis_Armstrong), [Eric Szmanda](/source/Eric_Szmanda), [Granville Van Dusen](/source/Granville_Van_Dusen), [Betsy Randle](/source/Betsy_Randle), [Michael Learned](/source/Michael_Learned), [Meredith Baxter](/source/Meredith_Baxter), and [Michael Gross](/source/Michael_Gross_(actor)) have worked with the resident company of performers over the years.[2][3]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-caledoniasp_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-caledoniasp_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-caledoniasp_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-caledoniasp_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-caledoniasp_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-caledoniasp_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-caledoniasp_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-caledoniasp_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-caledoniasp_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-caledoniasp_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-caledoniasp_1-10) ["Caledonia State Park"](https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/caledonia-state-park). Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved December 23, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Totem Pole Playhouse"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060909033134/http://www.totempoleplayhouse.org/pages/history.asp). Caledonia Theater Company. Archived from [the original](http://www.totempoleplayhouse.org/pages/history.asp) on September 9, 2006. Retrieved December 20, 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Additional History about Caledonia State Park"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040308234252/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/STATEPARKS/scavengeradvanced/scavad12caledonia.aspx). [Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources](/source/Pennsylvania_Department_of_Conservation_and_Natural_Resources). Archived from [the original](http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/scavengeradvanced/scavad12caledonia.aspx) on March 8, 2004. Retrieved December 20, 2006.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Caledonia State Park](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Caledonia_State_Park).

- [Pennsylvania portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Pennsylvania)

- [Caledonia State Park](https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/caledonia-state-park) Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

- ["Caledonia State Park official map"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120902193711/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd1/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_004834.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd1/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_004834.pdf) (PDF) on September 2, 2012. (577 KB)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Caledonia State Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonia_State_Park) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonia_State_Park?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.