Mission
The Friends of Kings Gap is organized to encourage community involvement and enjoyment of Kings Gap State Park. Its intent is to support, assist, and promote the park’s activities, and to help maintain the park’s natural and historical resources on South Mountain.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation
The Friends of Kings Gap is a nonprofit organization formed and managed by local volunteers to promote and support Kings Gap State Park.
The Friends of Kings Gap is a chapter of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation (PPFF). PPFF is a private, non-profit organization that works to develop resources that complement the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) in the areas of State Parks and Forests through the actions of people and assets.
History Section
Please check out the History Section to learn more about the Kings Gap mansion and its many phases over the years, including the person who built the mansion in 1906, James McCormick Cameron, and the person who purchased the mansion in 1951, Frank Masland Jr. Other topics will include such things as the Three Babes in the Woods story, the history of Irish Gap Hollow, and many others. Feel free to send us your ideas if you have a story to share!
James M. Cameron was born into a prosperous family that had much to do with Republican party politics in Pennsyslvania. James assumed management of the family business, but he declined to enter politics. This must have been a big decision, since his father and grandfather were both US Senators. His grandfather in particular was key figure in the Republican party around the time of Abraham Lincoln, serving as Lincoln’s War Secretary for a time, in addition to his four terms as a US Senator. On James McCormick Cameron’s mother’s side were the McCormicks, a prominent family of inventors and businessmen who were also influential in politics, on the Democrat side. Explore the History Section to learn more.
Frank E. Masland Jr. was born into a prosperous family that manufactured carpets, textiles, and various types of machinery. While the Great Depression nearly destroyed their business, WWII proved to be a bonanza of government contracts, allowing Frank to retire a wealthy man post-war and devote himself to a decades-long career as a wilderness preservation advocate. He was a great lover of the outdoors, particularly river rafting adventures. He fought to preserve wilderness area in the American West and other places, primarily as a member of the National Parks advisory board.
Environmental Education Center
Kings Gap Park is one of four parks in the state to feature an Environmental Education Center. Please visit this page for more information.
Please feel free to contact us to make suggestions or comments.
Friends of Kings Gap Board Members
| Jane Conley | Chair |
| June Morgan | Vice Chair |
| Lori Braderman | Secretary |
| Lori Hegedus | Treasurer |
| Scott Braderman | Director |
| Paul McIlhenney | Director |
| Jim McNaney | Director |
| Becky Smith | Director |
| Judy Wiser | Director |
| Peter Tocco | Director |
| Josie Ranck | Director |
| Burr Beard | Director |
Board Meetings
The Friends of Kings Gap Board meets the second Wednesday of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Members are welcome to attend. Meetings are usually held at the Kings Gap Education Center. Please contact us to confirm the location of the meeting.