Ricketts Glen Latitude/Longitude: 41.2719 N / 76.2794 W This area was settled by Colonel Robert Bruce Ricketts. He fought in the Civil War, leading Battery F during the Battle of Gettysburg. He was awarded the rank of colonel upon his discharge. At one time, he owned or controlled 80,000 acres of land around and including North Mountain. In 1878 he built a 50 feet high observatory at the top of North Mountain. He eventually built a second observatory nearby. On clear days, visitors could see the Delaware Water Gap from these heights. Kitchen Creek Falls - Early 1900's Colonel Ricketts' heirs sold 48,000 acres to the Pennsylvania Game Commission by 1924. They still held on to the land surrounding the Ganoga Lake, lake Jean, and the Glens area where two branches of Kitchen Creek cut deep gorges through the land. The area was once approved for purchase as a national park, but World War II ended this avenue for development. In 1942, the heirs sold 1, 261 acres to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a state park. Colonel Ricketts' son, William Ricketts, sold more land to the commonwealth in 1943 and 1949. Land was also purchased from other individuals, bringing the park to its current size of 13,050 acres in Luzerne, Sullivan, and Columbia counties. The first recreational facilities at the park were opened in 1944. The Glens Natural Area, encompassing the gorges of Kitchen Creek, Ganoga Glen, Glen Leigh and Ricketts Glen, has been a Registered National Historic Landmark since 1969. Here the creek cascades down more than 22 waterfalls, the highest of these being Ganoga Falls at 94 feet. Ricketts Glen State Park boasts 26 miles of hiking trails, 9 miles of bridle trails, camping facilities, and cabins. Lake Jean has a guarded swimming area in the summer, and is open to non-powered and electric powered boats and fishing. Anglers can also fish the streams within the park. Nearby are Mountain Springs lake, owned and operated by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Hunters can utilize nearby state game lands or the more than 9,000 acres of the park designated for hunting or trapping. Nearby Towns: Red Rock The town of Red Rock sits at the foot of North Mountain. The first tavern opened here in 1820. This area never saw much industry or agriculture, but it was once a very popular hunters' resort. The Susquehanna and Tioga Turnpike went through here on its way from Berwick to Elmira, N.Y. Drivers heading north often stopped at Red Rock for the night, or at an inn at the top of North Mountain, before heading through the Eight Mile Woods. Mossville or Maple Run This town was originally known as Maple Run because of the brook Maple Run that flows through this area. The name was changed to Mossville because of the number of members of the Moss family living there. It continued to be called either Old Maple Run or even Old Mossville for many years. Still today, local residents can be heard to call it by any of these names. The first settler was Peter Boston who settled there in 1820. He and Shadrach Laycock built a sawmill in 1837. Joseph Moss settled south of Boston's homestead along Maple Run, where the Moss Methodist Church and the Moss Schoolhouse still stand today. The schoolhouse is now an art gallery. by Tierney To learn more about the areas, click here to read an interview given by two local residents