The Borough of Factoryville, Pennsylvania is a small town in Wyoming County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,146. In fact, there is more than one thing to do in this quaint town. You can enjoy the Christmas Market, the Discovery High Ropes course, the Keystone Walking Trail, and a Ghost town.
Christmas Market
The Christmas Market in Factoryville, Pennsylvania, is a family-friendly event that features European-style vendors, a children’s area, and live music. The town’s Christy Mathewson Park will be decorated with twinkling lights and festive holiday decor. The market will feature unique and handcrafted items, as well as local food and drink.
If you’re looking for an easy way to spend a Sunday afternoon, why not make a day of it? There are crafts and food vendors and a visit with Santa Claus. There are also music performances and horse-drawn carriage rides. What’s more, admission is free.
Discovery High Ropes course
The Discovery High Ropes course in Factoryville is a great place for families with children to spend some quality time together. The course has various obstacles that guests must overcome, including walking, swinging, and zipping along wires. The course is rated for people between 50 and 250 pounds.
Keystone Walking Trail
The Countryside Conservancy, an organization that protects wildlife, has been working with Keystone College to complete the Keystone Walking Trail in Factoryville, Pennsylvania. The trail connects Conservancy nature preserves in Wyoming and Lackawanna counties. Executive director Bill Kern credits the Factoryville municipality with helping the nonprofit develop the trail.
The trail winds through plantations of table mountain and white mountain pines. It also passes through farm fields and large chestnut oak trees. You can spot forest birds and butterflies while you walk. The trail is also dog-friendly. While visiting, make sure to take in the town’s annual Christy Mathewson Day celebrations. This event is held on August 12 each year to honor the renowned baseball player.
This trail is an ideal place to get some exercise. There are parking areas and benches along the way, and it is accessible for wheelchair users. The Countryside Conservancy is working to finish a section that connects Dalton with Clarks Summit, and the trail winds through the campus of Keystone College. The trail also connects La Plume with Factoryville and eventually ends at Lake Winola.
Keystone College has two sections of the Keystone Walking Trail. The southern segment, beginning in Clarks Summit, is 2.5 miles long and continues into Dalton. A 1.8-mile segment winds through the campus of Keystone College. The trail is mostly gravel, and it is a nice place to take the whole family. The trail is also well-maintained by the Countryside Conservancy.
Ghost town
If you want to learn about the history of Factoryville, Pennsylvania, you’ve come to the right place. The town’s beginnings can be traced back to two families who settled here around 1800. These families came from Rhode Island and built houses and schools in the area. Eventually, the town developed and became well known. The town had seven general stores and a school, the Keystone Academy, one of three higher education institutes in the state.
In the early 20th century, the town was a bustling coal mining center. Then, in 1962, a coal seam beneath the town caught fire. The town nearly died out, but a few hearty souls managed to stay on. Today, only a few old buildings remain, and many of the streets have been razed to the ground. Landowners also destroyed the Graffiti Highway, which ran through town.
Today, the town still holds annual Christy Mathewson Day to celebrate the famous baseball player who was born in the town. Mathewson attended Keystone College and Keystone Academy, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. He was a right-hand pitcher who played for the New York Giants. He also made his last appearance in the MLB in 1916 for the Cincinnati Reds.
Ghost town in Factoryville, Pennsylvania is a great place for a family outing or a romantic getaway. The area is dotted with abandoned coal mining towns. The Ghost Town Trail is part of the Trans Allegheny Trails and passes through these abandoned communities. This trail has been in place since 1991. It is recognized as a national recreation trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Lake Winola
Factoryville is a borough in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,146. It is home to Lake Winola, a manmade lake that is located in the center of the city. There are also several parks and other recreation areas in the area.
The Scranton, Montrose and Binghamton Railroad, also known as the Northern Electric trolley line, built a branch line from Factoryville to Lake Winola. The line also built a dance pavilion and an amusement park. Visitors could also take a boat ride on the lake during the summer months. Boat rides cost 45 cents one way, and a full trolley ride lasted about two hours. The line operated until the fall of 1930, when it was replaced by bus service.
The property has 130 feet of lake frontage, a 1000-square-foot dock and beautiful paving bricks. The main house is three stories with a walkout lower level. It has five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. The detached two-car garage includes additional living space, a bedroom, full bathroom, and an open loft. The home also has two utility sheds.