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Washington Heritage Trail
 
 
Jefferson County, WV
About Jefferson County
Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Jefferson Rock
Shenandoah Canal
Shepherdstown
Entler Hotel
Rumsey Monument and Tobacco Warehouse
Morgan's Grove Park
Peter Burr House
Charles Town
Jefferson County Courthouse and Museum
Zion Episcopal Church
Happy Retreat
St. George's Chapel Ruins
Harewood
Cedar Lawn
Claymont Court/Blakeley
Middleway Historic District
Berkeley County, WV
About Berkeley County
Martinsburg
B&O Roundhouse & Station Complex
Belle Boyd House
Berkeley County Courthouse
Triple Brick Museum
General Adam Stephen House
Green Hill Cemetery
Van Metre Ford Bridge
Bunker Hill Mill
Morgan Chapel
Morgan Cabin
Gerrardstown Historic District
Hays Gerrard House
Mill's Gap
Sleep Creek Wildlife Management Area
Hedgesville Historic District
Mt. Zion Episcopal Church
Snodgrass Tavern
Morgan County, WV
About Morgan County
Spruce Pine Hollow Park
Berkeley Springs
Dutch Cemetery
Throgmorton's Inn
Bath Historic District
Berkeley Springs State Park
George Washington's Bathtub
Roman Bath House & Museum of the Berkeley Springs
Washington's Lots
Sir John's Run
Panorama Overlook
Great Cacapon
Camp Hill Cemetery
Paw Paw
Paw Paw Tunnel
Coolfont Manor House
Cacapon State Park

Washington Heritage Trail

 

SPRUCE PINE
HOLLOW PARK


George Washington rode past this site traveling the noted 18th-century Warm Springs Road which went from Alexandria, Virginia to the country’s first spa in Berkeley Springs another 12 miles west. Today, there is an inviting roadside park, pavilion and limited primitive camping nearby.

The Meadow Branch of Sleepy Creek runs through the area. It shows archeological remains of a mill run on land once owned by James Rumsey’s brother. Inventor of the steamboat, Rumsey eventually held patents on more than a dozen innovations for mill machinery. In 1784, Washington contracted with Rumsey to build a house on his lots at Berkeley Springs. This sawmill was a likely source for the necessary boards.

The Tuscarora Trail, a 252-mile sidebranch of the Appalachian Trail marked with blue blazes, is accessed just east of Spruce Pine Hollow then climbs south more than 1000 feet up Sleepy Creek Mountain on old logging roads through the public wilderness and around Sleepy Creek Lake. Spruce Pine Hollow has parking making it an ideal base for a strenuous day hike.

“Unfortunately the sawmill took fire in the night and . . . was entirely
consumed with a great part of the plank and this stroke put it entirely
out of my power to proceed with your large house . . .”

James Rumsey to George Washington – June 24, 1785

 



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