Between 1931 and 1956 the property was owned by Fred McFeely, grandfather of Fred Rogers of children’s television fame. McFeely, a wealthy industrialist from Latrobe, PA, utilized the property as a retreat. His estate featured a cottage, horse stables, a three car garage, outbuildings and a swimming area in the creek above the falls. Mr. Rogers often visited the site as a child. Stone foundations and retaining walls from the estate are visible at the site. Several photos of the McFeely estate from the 1940’s were provided to Indiana County Parks courtesy of Rita Nist. Check them out in our McFeely Estate Gallery. Visit the official Fred Rogers Biography page to learn more about one of western Pennsylvania’s most cherished son.

Waterfalls the scale of Buttermilk Falls are uncommon in western Pennsylvania. Falls occur when a stream wears away an easily erodible layer of rock, but then encounters a resistant lay

er. The resistant layer erodes at a slower rate than the surrounding rock, forming a waterfall. At Buttermilk Falls, a resistant layer of sandstone underlays easily erodible shale. Buttermilk Falls is in the Hires Run valley, a tributary to the Conemaugh River.

Buttermilk Falls is located at 570 Valley Brook Rd, New Florence, PA 15944.

Announcement

PLEASE NOTE……Indiana County’s Buttermilk Falls is open year-round.The visiting hours are from 8 am to sunset. These falls are located at 570 Valley Brook Road, New Florence, PA. There are many waterfalls in Pennsylvania called Buttermilk Falls, make sure you know which one you are going to!

We do not maintain the steps and platforms to the lower falls in the winter for snow or ice removal, enter this area at your own risk.