Coudersport, Pennsylvania - Coudersport Ice Mine

I lived in Sweden Valley, about a mile from the ice mine, growing up in the 70's. In the summer time my sister's and brother's and I used to like to go visit it when we were bored. It was neat to look down in the hole and see the ice on a hot day. Local residence got in free so we could go as often as we wanted. Whenever we had out-of-town guest we would take then there. We were very proud of having the 8th wonder of the world within walking distance of our house. I'm am saddened to know it know longer exists. [Carol Wilcox Gilkey, 07/23/2009]

What I remember about the Ice Mine was that it forms ice in summer months. My grandfather took us as kids to see the mine sometime in the 1970s. I believe there was a fee and then you entered a door to the mine and there was a large ice formation. This was strange, since it was summer and hot outside the mine.

I used to have a small Ice Mine screwdriver set that my grandfather bought for me from the gift shop. Sad to hear that the landscape has been altered, which in turn has altered the mine. I would have enjoyed taking my kids to see this sight. I remember that the Coudersport Ice Mine was listed in a volume of "The World Book Encyclopedia" as the "8th Wonder of the World". [Rodger Claycomb, 07/04/2007]

I heard about the Ice Mine from some coworkers [in 2004] and, being an out-of-towner, wanted to see what it was like. My friend and I followed the directions given us, but could not find the mine. Disappointed, we asked a man on a bike if he knew about the mine. Amazingly, he was the present owner, and offered us a tour.

Although the mine's condition was terrible, there was some ice for us to see. We stayed and chatted with the owner to learn some history of the mine and what made it begin to collapse. I believe we may have been the last two people to visit the mine. [Jacqueline Pagan, 04/26/2007]

Found this image while going through old family photos. Photo is undated and unnamed. I believe it to be of the concession area of the Coudersport Ice Mine, Coudersport, PA. circa 1950's I tried to get a closer look at what they were selling for concessions [Mounds bars, spearmint gum, other candies]. [Randy Brockman, 06/29/2006]

Yes, sadly, the Ice Mine is now defunct. One of my first jobs was at the Ice Mine, in the mid-50's. I would stand in the driveway, and tell folks where to turn around and park. Some loved the bumper-stickers, and others were adamant about not putting one of those "things on my bumper"! I also had other chores, like feeding the raccoons, and cleaning out their cages. I think the pay was about 50-cents/hour. But it was a better job than caddying or trapping muskrats. All I've heard is that logging changed the dynamics of the mine. It's a real shame - what a cool (literally) place. [Bill Boyd, 05/11/2006]