P. Joseph Raab County Park

From 1854 to 1888, the 72-acre site known as the York Iron Co. Mine was one of 170 iron ore mines in York County, part of the region's 19th-century iron ore boom. This mine was especially known for producing "Codorus Ore," a highly prized type of iron ore. After mining operations ceased in 1888, the land was used for agriculture, and later, seven acres served as a landfill. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the landfill was reclaimed, and the property was donated to the county by Modern Landfill and Recycling, a Waste Management company-- later to become part of Raab Park.

Features

• Bat Inhabitants

• Trails

Bat Inhabitants

Today, the former iron ore mines provide a unique habitat for wildlife. Four species of bats use the abandoned mine shafts for hibernation during the winter months. To protect these bat populations year-round, special bat doors were installed in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, ensuring the preservation of both the site’s historical significance and its ecological importance.