The Prison That Never Was ~ Mt Gretna Maximum Security Prison

[@HD-J.R.]

Great hike! This project was considered due to the state already owning the land and it was thought of as a works project, that would have good jobs after completion. The state, at the time, didn't have 100 prisoners that classified as maximum security. The prison was being built for 600. Cost per cell was $6000 each. The average 3 bedroom suburban house at the time was much less than the cost of one cell.

[@briangrodnesky5240]

Due north toward the turnpike, from the rebar, is a large structural foundation. It actually sits against the retaining fence of the turnpike. The walls are several feet high, and several rooms are visible. This is believed to be the water treatment facility. There is a broken trail that leads back to the octagon water tower stand, that contains several raised manholes, and a piping system. They have been filled with concrete to avoid entry.

[@cafdnw]

Great hike Cliff!! Love your history hikes Thank You 👍🏻❤️

[@asilversurfer4372]

Always enjoy your videos of you walking through the county side.

[@edithdavis2848]

Great explore. Stay inside and just watch the blizzard. Safe and warm.

[@lindamccaughey8800]

That was fantastic. We saw plenty today. I just love history and you always have it makes viewing quite exciting for me. Thanks so much for taking me along

[@j-hutt7189]

I spent a lot of time in my teen years in colebrook/mt. Gretna. I even rode that trail a time or 2 and never noticed or heard of that! Then again, I wasnt as much into history then as I am now. That is a really cool explore!

[@karenpacker8862]

Awesome before pics and very cool explore. You always find interesting ruins and history. Thanks.

[@BrynnCasey]

Hey Cliff! My family and I live in Bucks County PA and we love watching your videos :) thanks for the great content!

[@lindaberg9960]

Great Explore👍 I just love going along with you to see these places, even if nature is taking over!🤗 You do a really nice job with filming and showing us what you are seeing and experiencing. Thank you!

[@christinet.4159]

I know it's cold and a lot of there area is overgrown, but if it were summer and all that brush had leaves, you may not have been able to see some of those remnants. Great explore. Be careful out there.

[@martyjones9374]

Very cool gift from John. Interesting to see the book & hear the history of what almost was. Enjoyed seeing the remains you found. Great explore, thanks! :)

[@carlavision6143]

Cliff, really enjoy your little adventures and they're really interesting. Looking forward to your next one.

[@emilyfeutz3674]

Greetings from your neighbor Ohio!!! I just found your channel and I am hooked! You have a great voice and are very knowledgeable about your area. I can't wait to get out there this spring!

[@susanorr7535]

This exploration hike is interesting. You found quite a bit of the prison through the thorns and the well.

[@debbieblaylock9997]

Awesome video Cliff I love your videos 🙂

[@edwardbrady1698]

The rough poured concrete is possibly from the day the project was canceled. Just dumped off to clean the mix truck.

[@elainecooksey5338]

Loved the video Cliff, love the outdoors nature, ruins and wildlife. Waterfalls are my Favourite.Love when you go to the waterfalls, the sound of water is so calming.

[@saigenrose1032]

Hey Cliff, good to see you back at it! I hope all is well & you are having a great day. Take care & thank you for making this video. 🙂👍

[@steel5886]

Great history Cliff , If it was built you would most likley be walking through showing us the ruins of prison this many years later . The concrete /rebar you found below approximately 4' is a footing ,and the beginning of a reinforced concrete wall was above ground with the rebar bent over to continue in height ,or could have been perimeter concrete base for a building floor/slab to be formed on top of wall especially with the concrete & rebar you found inside wall area . A possible research suggestion if you want to investigate further is to go to the town hall of buildings records possibly they may have construction plans of the prision in archives ,or at least a record of the project . Obviously that takes a great deal of time ,but could find some awesome history for a part 2 ,or even better you can write a book as well ... Great stuff my friend as always ,and a big thanks to John for the book .

[@KryptonCougars2539]

There is a foundation of a small building on the right side of the road before you get to the octagon water tower(?) base.

[@KryptonCougars2539]

lebtown.com/2019/12/05/pennsylvania-alcatraz-the-maximum-security-prison-planned-for-mt-gretna/

[@ontimethatsme]

new sub here. I must say young man I do like your work, thank you!

[@faithseidel1512]

I think your a cool dude and I'm 61 yrs old thank you for sharing your travel with us 😃😃😃

[@eileenmoyer6239]

Just by that rendering of what the prison would look like it wouldn't of worked especially as a maximum security prison. Great explore as usual Cliff

[@crystalfabulous]

Thanks for sharing

[@johnmurray4918]

Once again something very interesting, thank you.

[@RusticVentures]

Cool find and explore! Octagon foundation is cool! I got to get more books for sure. Those iron rebar-type bars are very interesting. I never seen anything like those.

[@glendad4526]

The woods view is great. I like hearing the story behind where you adventure types go 😃. Even tho I'm not from those parts, the back story is interesting. Thank you & just be careful wandering out there by yourself.

[@SueGirling68]

Hi, it just goes to show that if you take a little time to research these things then hopefully your persistence will pay off. I think you did a great job in finding the parts of the old building that you did find, thank you for sharing this and I hope you didn't get torn up with all of those nasty thorns. x

[@eckhal2]

Nice thanks,, brush busting is tough😉

[@maljcross4634]

You have a great eye Cliff for finding stuff even through overgrown foliage and brambles. Have you ever returned home with deep scratches after bushwacking through that mess of woods? I wonder how deep that well was?

[@thewanderingwoodsman7227]

Once in a while

[@sh393]

@@thewanderingwoodsman7227 The Harrisburg Paper August 10 1937 has a photo of the design. The Evening News page 1

[@chrisgray8774]

Fascinating history

[@nancystrand1920]

Thumbs up great tutorial

[@ronaldpage2005]

I think the two round pipe like things you found were where the water came into and out of the water tower.

[@kateclark7250]

Interesting place. This place really overgrown. Nature reclaimed her own with a vengeance.

[@57Banjoman]

Maybe the re-bar footer was the base of one of the walls-very interesting-thank you!

[@willsmitty8820]

WTG Cliff ==== Prince of Pennsylvania Great vids. Pennsylvania is actually a country within a state imho. What other state offers a greater location, all 4 seasons that can be enjoyed at your front door.... mountains, forests, waterfalls, caverns, people, history! Endless enjoyment! It surely is the keystone state. Beaches east, mountains west, Canada north, Fla south! Don't get much better!!!

[@themacz1671]

Great vid 💪💪 ty for sharing

[@katiefyock9607]

Kept hearing the tree limbs creaking together. Sounded like squeaky doors opening.

[@aaronk534]

Hike in PA with no traffic? Is that possible? Go into the biggest patch of woods in PA and trip and youll fall on a road. Youre always 100yds from a road in Pa.

[@Dime.Society]

I live palmyra, never knew this. Cool

[@nickmad887]

Thanks

[@richardromano8128]

How much interesting history n Pennsylvania.... I really never knew. About this security prison of course I'm trying to catch up to some of your older videos I had to laugh when you say snow was coming it really never did come this winter... the Alcatraz of Pennsylvania interesting... you might not be teaching ....but nevertheless your teaching us about things that at least I never knew here in Pennsylvania thank you...cliff

[@faithseidel1512]

Never knew that was there 🤤💜

[@daveyjoweaver5183]

Too bad they didn't spend all that money on rehab! If they spent millions then, that was a huge amount of money in the 30s when people were starving. Sure is nice to see trees and under growth than prison walls and razor wire. Thanks for the tour WW! I didn't know about this place at all. Guess they've done their best to hide it. The land should have been reclaimed. I guess the miltifloral rose was their answer. Happy sole wearing WW and Thanks Again! DaveyJO

[@walterglowacki2185]

Once again I lived in Myerstown for 26 yrs and never heard of this !

[@timfrederick7983]

Hi Walt! How is everyone?

[@walterglowacki2185]

@@timfrederick7983 Now retired, moved to Eastern Tennessee 16 months ago,life is good!

[@marleneestabrook1999]

interesting video would have brought jobs and money to the area the project was just left thanks for taking me along

[@hartleyhomesteadmichigan6041]

Very interesting

[@faithseidel1512]

My dad took us to see when we little foundations on the road to Mt Gretna lake just as your going around a small curf there also used be a spring where you could stop and get water coming out of a pipe they since capped it off . I think if I remember correctly the foundations had to do with Indian town gap ? Do you know I'm curious if he was right ?

[@irenegaripoli1453]

You said State Game Lands #154, I tried to locate that, but couldn't find it in that area. I think you meant #145? That's in the Mt Gretna area.

[@thewanderingwoodsman7227]

Got my numbers mixed up

[@chelseydeetta2847]

Don't feel bad about the failure, every State does that type of game I live in Minnesota, and we do a lot of stupid things before thinking threw.That was strange where the re-bars were (candy canes) that was very strange.

[@bekleidungu.ausrustung7068]

I'm always surprised you don't wear a safety vest, especially during hunting season. Oh well, I guess I'll quit yappin, lol

[@JamesRobertSmith]

I love that the only reason you didn't crawl into those holes was that "they're just a little bit too small"!!! Lots of the horrible requisite traffic noise throughout the video. Interstate nearby?

[@samanthab1923]

James Smith, The Quiet Hiker PA Turnpike 😊

[@thewanderingwoodsman7227]

Turnpike..

[@trickychristopher]

Hey Cliff great video. I really enjoy your peaceful hikes maybe you should start carrying a machete to cut down all the briars. Thanks for taking us with you on your explore.

[@sharonfleming2729]

Why didn't they build the prison in the end ??

[@catpatrick3838]

New Governor was elected. It was also toward the end of The Great Depression and nearing the start of WW2. When the cost of the prison was calculated to be around $6000 per cell, the new governor scrapped it as a cost saving measure. At the time Pennsylvania had an estimated 100 maximum security prisoners, the new prison was being built to house 600, so there was also a fear they couldn't fill it.

[@Jason_Phillips3679]

Yeah still interesting though... 👍

[@skatpak2967]

its in the historical records..it was a big fail..thank goodness

[@buddylight2191]

With all those thorns the prison wouldn't need barbed wire.

[@wvmontani]

I think you mean PA State Game Land 145; Game Land 154 is up along the New York border.

[@thewanderingwoodsman7227]

Got my numbers mixed up

[@truenorth7553]

How did that Hathorn tree feel ? Good stuff , stay safe👍👍👍👍

[@donnasilver940]

Cool

[@willsmitty8820]

@ 4:52 looks like a bigfoot taking a dump over your left shoulder.

[@montneymon-ta-knee6810]

you are being watched

[@edithdavis2848]

Oh the Great Multi-floral Rose, the farmers New carefree livestock fence of the 40s or 50s,or so the government said . another big Goverment. Fail.

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

Gt Man will get back time out now my Friend brian Ireland

[@Figgatella]

Those holes are the remains of an outhouse or latrine I imagine. I wouldn’t jump in there. Lol

[@jgwood10]

Tamara Figge at the time it would have been built there was indoor plumbing.

[@RevengeOfTheApocalypse]

iron candy cane lol

[@justincassidy4512]

Cool explore dude, glad it was not built prefer to see woods than some ugly crowbar hotel. Dude get a cutlass hanging on your waist pull it out and hack and slash your way through like Indiana Jones that would look cool.😀

[@JamesScott-lc8md]

I am glad you did not crawl into those little holes because you would have been in solitary confinement and not doing vids anymore, LOL

[@heatherk.9937]

We really should get you a machete and a tetanus shot! Way to persevere as always!!

[@burymedeep-be7dm]

Prison is my plan B if life gets too tough.

[@jdjd7127]

They get cable TV laundry service dining service free gym membership no electric bills... sounds like a wonderful vacation in my eyes... smh cutting hauling wood tending fire laundry dishes no cable taxes taxes taxes what's so wrong about prison??? No wonder why so many go back once they get out...

[@burymedeep-be7dm]

@cloudtoground maybe I need a new plan B

[@jdjd7127]

I'm female totally could make it work... forgot about the whole dude part lmao

[@jgwood10]

JD JD women get rough too. I wouldn’t trust that.

[@vikkinicholson2300]

@@burymedeep-be7dm ya think?