Uncovering Shenks Ferry rich history and ghostly legend

• Asia Tabb
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  Asia Tabb is the Host and Producer for WITF’s The Spark.
  
  She began her start in radio when she joined legendary radio/ host producer, Doc Christian. She worked closely with Doc for her role on “The Gospel Express, on WHOV 88.1 FM and was a host for “Unrestricted Praise” at Praise FM.
  
  Previously she was an anchor in Shreveport, Louisiana at KTAL/KMSS. Asia also worked as a Multi-Media Journalist at WHP-TV here in Harrisburg, PA.
  
  Asia got her break into news at KTVO in Ottumwa, Ia. While the 2020 caucuses were gearing up. Asia followed many candidates through their campaign trail from Senator Cory Booker, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and 46th President of the United States Joe Biden.
  
  Asia was born and raised in Norfolk, Va. She graduated from Old Dominion University in 2018 with a major in Communications.
  
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photo courtesy of Uncharted Lancaster

Aired; April 2nd, 2025.

When most people think of Shenks Ferry, they picture spring wildflowers, a beloved spot under the Lancaster Conservancy. But as Adam Zurn, Executive Director of Uncharted Lancaster, reveals, the area holds much more than just natural beauty—it is steeped in rich history, industrial remnants, and even a ghostly legend.

Zurn, who runs Uncharted Lancaster, a platform dedicated to exploring local history through adventure, is set to give a presentation on April 12th that will shine a light on Shenks Ferry’s intriguing past. “Hundreds of people visit Shenks Ferry in the spring just to see the wildflowers,” Zurn explained. “But it’s really easy to forget that there’s a lot of history in that area.”

Long before it became a nature preserve, Shenks Ferry was a hub of industrial activity. “The forest that we see today is relatively new—dating back to about the 1970s,” said Zurn. “But if you go further back, the wildflower trail used to be a narrow-gauge railroad.”

In the mid-to-late 1800s, an iron master named Grubb established an iron mine in the area, and the railroad served to transport iron ore closer to the Susquehanna River, where it could be loaded onto the main train line. “It’s amazing—just walking on this trail, you’re actually walking on what used to be a railroad,” Zurn noted.

Beyond the railroad, the area once housed hotels to accommodate travelers and even a dynamite factory. “Because people could only travel about 20 miles a day by horse, they needed places to stay,” Zurn explained. “There were hotels right in Shenks Ferry, and even a dynamite factory that supported the industrial operations in the region.”

Although the original structures have disappeared, remnants of Shenks Ferry’s past can still be found. “There are stone abutments along the trail,” said Zurn. “A lot of people assume they were meant to cross Grubbs Run, but in reality, they were part of the old railroad infrastructure.”

During the winter months, when the foliage is sparse, visitors can see evidence of chiseled and dynamited rock faces, proof of the efforts to widen paths for train travel more than a century ago. “While you won’t find intact houses, there are still some foundations off the trail, if you know where to look,” Zurn added.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST TO HEAR THE FULL CONVERSATION. DURING THE PODCAST, ZURN ALSO DISCUSSED THE GHOSTLY LEGEND OF THE TUNNEL AND THE FINAL TEASRE HUNT.