1910 postcard of Rocky Springs Park in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

This old postcard, which was made in Germany and has a thick crease down the middle, features the Rocky Springs Park and People's Bathing Resort in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Rocky Springs Park has a storied past. According to the history page on the current website for the park, its tale began in 1855, when butcher Michael Trissler bought land along the Conestoga River, dubbed it Rocky Springs, and built a hotel.

In 1899, the site went under the management of Herman Griffiths. During this time, again according to rockyspringspark.org:

"Many amusements were planned throughout the summer months including water shows on the river, rough riding and horse training shows, dancing in the pavilions and bathing in the resort area by the Conestoga River. A 2,000 seat auditorium was built and hosted vaudeville, music and variety shows."

This is the period of Rocky Springs Park pictured on this postcard.

During the 20th century, the park's history came to include a trolley station, a roller coaster, a carousel, shaved ice and other concessions, a fun house, a miniature train and a roller rink. Read all about it here. You can also learn more about the site's history via these LancasterOnline.com articles: "Lancaster That Was" and "Picnicking was popular at Rocky Springs/Demuth's Park" by Cynthia Douts Roth.

The park is currently owned by the Stoltzfus family. They have a bed & breakfast and plans to renovate portions of Rocky Springs.

For more Papergreat posts on Lancaster history, start with last month's post on bingo cards from Rebman's carnival supply house. It has, at the bottom of the post, a directory of Lancaster-themed posts.

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Turning to the back of today's postcard, it was postmarked in Lancaster in September 1910 and mailed to a Dr. E.G. Regennas in some darn place in Indiana that I can't figure out from the handwriting or Google searches:

Heopa. Heapa. Heoka. I am stymied! Help!

Finally, here's the message on the postcard:

"Dear Papa: Many thanks for $$$$$$$. I expect to come home. I mean start the 16th of Sept. Will let you know for sure later. Will write soon. Love to all. Your daughter [unreadable]."