McConnells Mill State Park — Attraction in Slippery Rock Township

My wife and I are in Pennsylvania visiting her family this past weekend. On the day that we decided to travel home she wanted to stop by this park. She said it had been 40 some years since she had been there but as a kid she and her brothers and her friends used to ride out to the park at night to look for the ghosts that supposedly haunted the red covered bridge. 😂👻🤣 Well, we didn't find any ghosts (of course it was daytime! Lol! 🤣) but this was a very interesting place to visit.

The McConnell Covered Bridge ghost story:

For many years folklore has told the tale of a little girl who was killed in a car accident near the covered bridge. It is said that if one parks in the center of the bridge at night, turns their headlights off, then honks three times, the eerie child will be prompted to appear in the rearview mirror. However, she disappears before anyone can turn around to look at her. (Note – Due to the danger of sitting on a covered bridge at night with headlights off, please don’t even think of trying this stunt or you might suffer a similar fate).👻

Some History:

Daniel Kennedy opened a gristmill on Slippery Rock Creek in 1852. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1868 and was quickly rebuilt. Ownership of the mill was transferred to the park's namesake, Thomas McConnell in 1875. He replaced the waterwheel with water turbines and the grindstones with rolling mills. This made McConnell's Mill one of the first rolling mills in the country. The mill processed oats, corn, buckwheat and wheat until it was closed in 1928. Ownership of the land transferred from Thomas H. Hartman to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in 1942. The conservancy then transferred the land to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1957 when McConnells Mill State Park was formally dedicated.

The McConnells Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1874. It is a Howe truss bridge. One of two covered bridges in Lawrence County, it is owned by the county, but is located on state land at McConnells Mill State Park. The bridge is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The interior of the meal is open to the public too. There are also State Rangers on hand to answer questions...

McConnell's Mill is a favorite place of mine to visit, especially in the fall. These are some photos I took this year in 2020. You can photograph from the other side of of the water like I did, but you have to be careful getting over there. Just cross the covered bridge and you'll see paths to your immediate right. Be careful! It can be dangerous if you don't pay attention.

For those that need to know I believe there are several restrooms near the parking lots above. Not the best to use, but they are there.

Bring a snack and some water and enjoy the nature. The are some great paths to walk and most are pretty hilly and bumpy. In some places you have to maneuver around giant rocks. Wear appropriate gear. And bring bug spray just in case you are susceptible to mosquitoes like I am. Be mindful of ticks as well. You're in the woods here if you go on the paths.

When you leave the mill area to head up to your car, I personally prefer going up to the left not the right. There are beautiful giant boulders with trees on top and it is sight to behold if you aren't used to seeing rocks like that. Just be careful of cars as this is a road, but they have to go slowly. It is like a curved wall of rock around the road at one point. If you parked in the huge lot when you first approach the hill that goes down to the mill, you can still get to you car by going up to the left road, it just loops around. There is a smaller parking lot at the top of this hill, just go to and turn right on the road and keep walking until you reach the larger parking lot. But it is totally worth it to go up that road.

Also, not too far away is Moraine State Park which is worth checking...

This park is a collection of non-contiguous pieces along the Slippery Rock Creek and the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail. The park features are spread out due to this. The Lime Kiln is way west on the trail and the Armstrong and Harris Bridges to the south. Coming in off Kildoo Road, you might believe this is a small park with a picnic pavilion and a play area. But if you continue to Kennedy Road, you'll find the park's main features, McConnell's Mill, the dam and covered bridge. A little further on is a tight pass through the rocks (see picture). Largely a hiking park, there are 3 short trails and the longer Slippery Rock Gorge trail. Additionally, there is the Rim Rock Climbing Area and a rougher are near Breakneck Bridge (use with caution). Water activities, though, are also a big feature of the park. Slippery Rock Creek can be a class IV river depending on water flow and has several non-motorboat launches. Fishing is active on the creek. Others come to enjoy the spray off the mill dam. The mill is open limited hours with volunteer guides. Call first for hours. The park currently has no modern bathroom facilities. For events at this park visit: events dcnr pa For more information: pa parks and...