Take A Holiday Tour of Kings Gap’s Mountain Mansion

Like a land straight out of one of Tolkien’s masterpieces, Kings Gap Environmental Education Center of Cumberland County offers a panoramic view worthy of its name. Over 2,500 acres of forest atop South Mountain contain seventeen miles of hiking trails and the beautiful architecture of the Cameron-Masland Mansion. As an Environmental Education Center, Kings Gap is just one member of several state parks specialized to providing environmental education to all citizens of Pennsylvania. Its mission is to teach us the value of the natural world and provide a space to experience it with activities like picnicking, hunting, and hiking. The organization pushes us towards our roots—literally.

The drive up the winding road to the Cameron-Masland Mansion is one of the best areas to get a good look across Pennsylvania’s Cumberland Valley. It’s a jaw-dropping view that is guaranteed to amaze on any day, and just a warm-up to the destination at the end of the road. The 38-room mansion, inspired by Italian villa architecture, is almost castle-like, and its tenants were wealthy entrepreneurs. The Friends of Kings Gap holds its Holiday Open House event on the first two Sundays of December, the 4th and 11th from 12PM-4PM. Take a self-guided tour through the 38-room estate, fully ornamented in seasonal decorations for the Christmas holiday. Light refreshments are offered throughout the afternoon, so enjoy the relaxing walk around this historic stone mansion, with the anticipation of seeing that epic view again in the back of your mind.

Brandon Sherbo, Guest Blogger