Visitors on the Ghost Town Trail make a stop at the historic Buena Vista Furnace to admire the stonework of the pyramidal structure. It was here that pig iron was produced from 1848 to 1856. The furnace is located a short distance off the trail at a location about 3 miles east of Heshbon.
The Buena Vista Furnace is one of three iron furnaces that once operated in the Blacklick Creek Valley. The furnace was constructed in 1847 and operated on and off until 1856. The cold blast furnace produced 400 tons of pig iron a year. About 61 men and boys and 30 mules labored at the furnace. The furnace is located 1/2mile downstream of the Route 56 Bridge and about 3 miles est of the Heshbon Access Area.
The Valley & Ridge Salamander is a special species found in several of our parks and throughout Indiana County. They are known for their very long tails and gold flecking on their backs. This salamander is found in Pennsylvania only in the valley and ridge province which includes about 20 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. They prefer dry, well drained soil with abundant surface rocks. They are a woodland species that does not live in the water at anytime during their life. A mature adult can reach lengths of 5 1/2 inches.
