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Lebanon County, PA - Lebanon, PA - Mount Gretna, PA Mount GretnaLebanon County, PA
Things to See & Do in Mt. Gretna
Parks & Recreation in Mount Gretna, PA
A Bit of HistoryMt. Gretna was developed as a Chataqua community, a lifestyle philosophy coming out of New York’ s Chataqua area in the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s. Communities, such as Mt. Gretna were designed to combine art, music, literature, and learned discussion with the beauty of nature. A lecture hall would allow the summer and year-round denizens the opportunity to hear lectures or musicians of national fame. During the turn of the 20th Century, the railroad would bring people into Mt. Gretna to enjoy the healthy and educational activities the area could provide.Nature- woodlands, wildfowl wetlands, crystal springs, rolling hills- have long typified Mt. Gretna. Hiking up Governor Dick Hill has been one way to gain a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding beauty. The hill was named for a Black collier (someone who burns wood and oversees the process of charcoal-making) named Dick, who lived and worked on the hill during the height of iron production at Cornwall Iron Furnace. Local residents started referring to him as “Governor” and after his death, honored him by calling “his” hill Governor Dick Hill. The hill was later incorporated as part of Clarence Schock Memorial Park. Clarence Schock was a Pennsylvania petroleum baron, whose philanthropic legacy continues to fund not only this park, bu provides scholarships at several of Central and Eastern Pennsylvania colleges a universities. For the past few decades, the Mt. Gretna Outdoor Art Show has been the siren-call for visitors. Originally a forum for local artist to exhibit their work, it now brings in a few hundred artists and musicians from all over the states. Thousands of visitors come to browse and shop for that one-of-a-kind painting, sculpture or clothing accessory.
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