Columcille Megalith Park

This was part of our "Sunday Drive" ROAD TRIP."  

You can read all about that trip, and see the route I recommend, HERE

"Eye Of Iona"

http://www.columcille.org/

The website describes this as "a land of myth and mystery located in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania. a park rooted in Celtic spirituality and inspired by the Isle of Iona off the coast of Scotland. An outdoor sanctuary open to the public as a sacred space for quiet meditation."

ST ORAN Bell Tower, and "The Circle"

The geocache located here calls this "Pennsylvania's Stonehenge"

Molly and me on the stone seat inside the bell tower

I just knew it was a place with some really neat rocks, stacked and displayed in fun ways, and I wanted to see it!

The full size map is online here:

http://www.columcille.org/images/1997ColorColumcilleMap.jpg

This is a really neat place.  Unique, and interesting.  There's a short, mostly flat, hiking trail through the woods with "castle ruins" and the "Eye of Iona" structures, and near the front gates, along with the signs with all the rules no one bothers to follow, is "stonehenge" and another interesting stone tower, The St Oran Bell tower,  that you can walk into.  There's also the St Columbus Chapel, and Thor's gate, that you will not want to miss - and there's a meditation circle too.

The meditation circle is located through Thor's gate, off to the left.

Thor's Gate

While we were there, it looked like a school field trip - although I don't think it was, as there were no buses, and the children were too many different ages.  Mostly between 4 and 8 I'd guess.  There were children climbing over the rocks, running in and out of the chapel (slamming the door) playing games, and hollering back and forth through the wooded area separating the chapel and thors gate..  and there were no parents paying any attention to them.   Groups were picnicking near the No Picnicking signs.     It felt a lot more like a playground than "an outdoor sanctuary open to the public as a sacred space for quiet meditation."  If you read the descriptions on AllTrails, many others have had a much more peaceful experience here - so hopefully the day we visited was a one time, abnormal, day.  https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/pennsylvania/columcille-megalith-park-trail

Because the chapel was full of small children playing (with no adults anywhere nearby...), I did not take photos, except of this gorgeous window.  Inside the chapel is a huge stone - I believe it may be coal?  It is in the center of the building, and takes up nearly half the floor.  There are carvings in 3 areas of the floor, around the rock.

Most of the 1.1 mile loop trail was very flat - this is an easy walk.

The "castle ruins" along the trail

 

In the glen of the temple area, St David's Stone & what appears to be a fire pit

Another structure in the glen of the temple area.

There is a documentary video about the creation of this park that looks REALLY interesting!  You can view a preview of it here - http://www.columcille.org/preview.html

Dancing With The Stones

It's here! The Documentary DVD Dancing with the Stones: From the Beginning to the Beginning. Shot entirely on location in Columcille Megalith Park, the film features William "Bill" Cohea, Jr. who shares the story of the visions and promptings that drove him to create the Park we have today. This DVD is full color and runs over 45 minutes. The Myth, Mystery and Trivia of Columcille Megalith Park for your very own. Makes a great gift! The DVD is now available by mail using the Buy Now button below or stop by the Columcille Voyager's Lounge to get your copy for a donation of $15.00. Copies by mail are $15.00 with a multiple copy discount that includes postage and handling.

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I took a few more photos that are not included here - you can see them all here:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/FieldsOfHeatherPhotos/photos/?tab=album&album_id=905947749607640