Rocky Springs dates back to 1855 and began as a small inn and picnic grove on more than thirty acres along the Conestoga River, southeast of Lancaster. Toward the end of the 19th century and into the 20th it expanded into a more serious amusement park. In its heyday, folks traveled by trolley from downtown Lancaster or by boat along the Conestoga River to enjoy a day in the country. At its height there was a substantial wooden roller coaster, a swimming pool, a carousel, a miniature railroad, and all sorts of refreshments and games available.

The site largely shut down by the 1960s except for a brief effort to restart in the 1980s. The roller coaster was scrapped, along with much of the other equipment that didn't attract any purchasers. The carousel itself was sold and moved away to Dollywood in Tennesee. The original building at Rocky Springs remains as quite a spectacular example of fancy framing. In 1998 there was some idea that the carousel might return but so far that has not happened.

The original brick inn building was restored in the early 2000s and operates as a B&B today. About 2/3 of the original property was divided off and populated with condos, the remainder offers B&B guests trails and woods to enjoy.

There are some interesting videos out on YouTube that provide some information and glimpses of what the place was like.

• Rocky Springs via the Conestoga Transportation Co. circa 1944
• A look at the carousel
• Some info on the Conestoga River
• A CGI simulation of Wildcat, the roller coaster
• Another look at the trolleys in Lancaster, including some views at Rocky Springs (7:43)
• And Rocky Springs in song, with old views of the park