The Meadow/Phase 3

Many of the visitors who end up in this meadow do so accidently. Generally, they mistake the gravel path for the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail, get here, realize they are in the wrong place, and promptly head back to the trail center for directions. However, we invite you to explore this part of the river park a little further with this tour.

Columbia was a bustling, industrial community by the 1800s. In the 1870s, a large roundhouse (a building that allowed trains to turn around) was built for the Pennsylvania Railroad near this spot. Today, the oddly-shaped intersection of front street and bridge street is the only remnant of that structure. However, the Norfolk Southern rail lines still runs several trains through Columbia a day on the tracks to your right.

One of the many businesses that has operated along the waterfront in Columbia over the years was the Columbia Washing Machine Co., open on Bridge Street from 1891 until the 1960s. According to local sources, bootleggers ran an illegal distillery inside of the building during prohibition, hence the name of Bootleg Antiques, which operates out of the building today. The storm water system under your feet supposedly provided tunnels that bootleggers used to transport gin or moonshine from the distillery to waiting boats on the river!

There are plans for future expansion of Columbia River Park into this area, including construction of an amphitheater, pedestrian walkway on the old bridge piers, walking paths, and improved access to the Northwest River Trail.