It’s 1910 and Anthony Wayne Cook has just inherited his family’s land. Over the last 80 years, the Cook family had made their money off the land. It started with his grandfather John Cook - who purchased the land in 1828. He built a sawmill on the property to process the timber he was harvesting from the forest.

Andrew Cook – Anthony’s father - would go on to build three sawmills, one flouring mill, one planning mill, a boat scaffold, several dwellings and a store on the property. While much of the beautiful landscape had been forested, some of the most stunning examples of ancient forests remained.

Andrew passes away in 1891 and now it’s Anthony’s turn to take over the family business. But he had plans of his own. Anthony Cook wanted to preserve the 300-year-old towering hemlocks on his land for future generations. He wanted everyone to sit at the alter of the so-called “Forest Cathedral.”

Over the next 16 years, Anthony Cook and others campaigned to preserve this magnificent landscape. In the 1920s, the Cook Forest Association was formed to save the few areas of surviving old growth timber.

Endorsed by national natural resource groups and Governor Gifford Pinchot, the association raised $200,000, which helped the commonwealth purchase 6,055 acres from A. Cook Sons Company in 1927 for $640,000.

Cook Forest became the first Pennsylvania state park acquired to preserve a natural area and was later designated a National Natural Landmark.

Now, we have the Cook Forest State Park. with its 11 different old growth forest areas. It’s been called “The Best Old-Growth Forest” in America.

On this episode, I speak with Dale Luthringer. Dale is the environmental educational specialist at Cook Forest State Park.

Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers

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Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.

Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis

In the 1930s, a beautiful forest in northeast Pennsylvania was set to become a national park. Which made sense. The area was special, even to those that purchased the land to timber it.

In a time when forests across the Commonwealth were being clear cut to feed the growing nation of raw materials, this forest received some reprieve. As a result, 300-year-old trees were allowed to continue to grow – providing the forest with mature trees and the viewing public with examples of ancient forests.

These magnificent trees stood 100-feet tall with diameters of almost four feet. But between these arboreal giants hid a collection of natural wonders found nowhere else in Pennsylvania.

Two creek branches cut through deep gorges creating a series of unbelievable waterfalls. These waterfalls united and flowed through a glen among massive pines, hemlocks and oaks.

Unfortunately, World War II brought an end to the plan to make it a national park. However, thousands of acres were purchased in the 1940s to preserve this incredible landscape and its otherworldly glens.

In 1969, the glens became a registered National Natural Landmark and was later made a State Park Natural Area in 1993. We now know this property as Ricketts Glen State Park.

Ricketts Glen reminds me of a quote I once heard. "And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul." That’s how many feel when they visit this special place. That is, if the park isn’t filled with other people trying to do the same thing.

On this episode, I speak with Scott Wilson. Scott is the manager of the Ricketts Glen State Park.

Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers

Support the show

Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.

Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis

Welcome, fellow explorers. My name is Christian Alexandersen and I’m the host of Hemlocks to Hellbenders, a podcast highlighting Pennsylvania’s parks, forests and great outdoors.

We have an incredible lineup of parks, forests, guests and topics that we will be exploring during our third season in 2025. Park and forest managers, outdoor educators, historians, authors, conservationists and recreationalists are just some of the guests that will be sharing their passion and expertise with us this season.

The topics that’ll be discussed cover a wide range of areas including outdoor recreation, conservation, historical figures, indigenous peoples, backpacking, plant and wildlife management, volunteerism and so much more.

If you love discovering Pennsylvania’s wonderful natural habitats, this is the podcast for you. We’ll help you plan trips and find hidden gems throughout Pennsylvania’s stunning public lands.

I created Hemlocks to Hellbenders in 2023 to inspire listeners to spend time in Pennsylvania’s parks and forests, to advocate for their preservation and to make the outdoors a more welcoming place for everyone. We hope you’ll join us in that mission.

I’m also excited to announce that we have four sponsors for our third season – the Keystone Trails Association, Purple Lizard, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundations and Sisters’ Sunflowers. You’re going to be learning about their awesome services and products throughout the year.

Our third season kicks off on Jan. 1 with an episode on Ricketts Glen State Park – Pennsylvania’s waterfall oasis. I look forward to sharing our new guests and episodes with you in 2025.

Support the show

Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.

Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis