The Seal Salamander is found in three of our parks. They are typically found in the Laurel and Chestnut Ridge areas of southern Indiana County but this one lives at Blue Spruce Park, which is out of the range of Laurel and Chestnut Ridges. They had not been previously documented at the park until discovered in a steep ravine area of the park in 2014. Posted 4/10/15
When you visit Blue Spruce Park you will from time to time hear the train whistle calling in the valley below. The rail line was first established in the early 1900s to transport coal from our area mines to the Buffalo NY area on the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Line. The track was modernized several years ago with the installation of continuous track - no joints in the tracks means less chance of derailments and it also allows the trains to operate at a higher speed. Today the line brings coal into the county from other locations to service the Homer City Generating Station. The trains are operated by the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad. Ironically the line never did extend to Pittsburgh. Posted 4/9/15
Visit any swamp in our parks and you will see spring unfurling right before your very eyes. The leaves of skunk cabbage are beginning to unfurl and many leaves of our first spring wildflowers are beginning to peek through the leaves. Posted 4/9/15.