Pen Mar Park

Glen Afton Spring, near Pen Mar Park, in the early 20th century

Pen Mar Park is a scenic area in Pen Mar, Washington County, Maryland. It is located on High Rock Road adjacent to the Mason–Dixon line.[1] In 1877, the site was opened as an amusement park and resort area by the Western Maryland Railway.[2] The railroad offered frequent train service to Pen Mar from Baltimore. The single day park attendance reached close to 20,000 visitors.[3]:8 Many hotels and over 100 boarding houses were built to accommodate the visitors to Pen Mar.

High Rock, c. 1916

When it was dismantled in 1943 the park contained a roller coaster, carousel, miniature train and railroad station, a dining hall seating 450 people, and a dance pavilion.[2]

Dining Hall in 1898

The park was reopened as a county park in 1977. In 1980 a group of citizens from both Pennsylvania and Maryland raised funds to build a multipurpose, public pavilion at the site.[2] Today, attractions include recreation areas in the county park and nearby High Rock Summit in South Mountain State Park. The summit is at an altitude of 1,800 feet (550 m), and provides an outlook from the top of Quirauk Mountain.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Pen Mar Park Cascade MD near Waynesboro PA Summer Dancing". Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  2. 1 2 3 "Pen Mar Park". Division of Public Works. Washington County, Maryland. 2016-03-02.
  3. ↑ Woodring, Franklin P.; Woodring, Suanne K. (2005). Images of America: Pen Mar. Charleston SC: Arcadia. ISBN 978-0-7385-1760-5.
  4. ↑ "High Rock Summit - Maryland Mountain Peak Information". Retrieved 2010-10-11.

Coordinates: 39°43′01″N 77°30′29″W / 39.71694°N 77.50806°W / 39.71694; -77.50806

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