“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.” –Zig Ziglar
Exhibit Details
Anyone who camped, worked or just visited Camp Horseshoe prior to the construction of the current Camp Road knows that a road cannot be taken for granted. This exhibit is dedicated to those who worked tirelessly to keep the old camp road open and made the new camp road a reality.
The original entrance to Camp Horseshoe followed along the Octoraro bringing you into Camp Horseshoe past the Bend in the Octoraro and Kindness Center. Much of the road was extremely narrow requiring Scouts with flags to direct one way traffic on Sundays.
Camp Road
1928 – Contributed by Anonymous
The old camp road, Horseshoe Road, followed the Octoraro Creek heading upstream from Maryland to Kindness Center.
Old Road
Contributed by Anonymous
These Scouts appear to be taking a break from some activity along the old Camp Road.
Old Camp Road
Contributed by Anonymous
A vehicle heads into Camp on the old road.
Old Road and Octoraro
Contributed by Anonymous
This early photo of the old Camp Road with the Octoraro in the background was found in the Council archives.
Old Camp Road
2008 – Contributed by David B. Woodward
Today the Yellow Trial follows the path of the Old Camp Road along the Octoraro. Sections of the macadam road are still in place while other sections have reverted to a more natural state.
Road Washout
Contributed by Anonymous
A long stretch of macadam was lost during this storm.
Road Washout
1978 – Contributed by Anonymous
Mother Nature and the Octoraro Creek could be brutal on the old Camp Road. Even this drain pipe could not handle the amount of water running down the hillside during this particularly heavy storm.
Major Road Damage
1978 – Contributed by Anonymous
A long stretch of macadam was lost during this storm.
Assessing the Damage
1978 – Contributed by Anonymous
Complete sections of road were washed out during the winter of 1978 when 15 inches of rain and snow fell.
Old Camp Road Entrance
1968 – Contributed by Tom McCabe
The old camp road entrance near the Blue Bridge in 1968.
New Camp Road
Display Details
This road has alternatively been called Horseshoe Road, New Camp Road, and Ernie Heegard Road, as he was honored with that distinction in 1999 at the Chester County Council Gala. However, subsequent galas have auctioned off the naming rights of the road for one year, but many still refer to the road as Ernie Heegard Road.
Horseshoe Road was named for G.E. Heegard at Chester County Council gala in 1999.
Horseshoe Road
2005 – Contributed by Andrew Coe
The Horseshoe Road sign, dedicated to G. Ernest Heegard for his many years as Camp Director of Horseshoe, got a facelift several years after the 1999 unveiling.
New Camp Road is Born
1980 – Contributed by G. Ernest Heegard
Too many washouts on old camp road…we then cut a new road over Flag Pole Hill!
New Road Paving
2026 – Contributed by Pete Motel
The Allan Myers company is providing the labor here to pave the entire hill at Camp Horseshoe on the new camp road.
Road Paving
2026 – Contributed by Pete Motel
The entire hill on the new camp road at Camp Horseshoe was paved in Spring 2026.
Videos
Heegard Road This video is the entire road into camp from the Camp Horseshoe gate to the parking lot. 2011 – Contributed by Andrew Coe
New Camp Road Construction
Display Details
After 50+ years of wrestling (and losing) with the natural forces of the Octoraro, it was decided that the time was right to replace the old Camp Road. The new road would come in off of Ridge Road past the Lane farm on high ground near Flag Pole Hill.
Cutting the Path
1979 – Contributed by Anonymous
Octoraro Lodge 22 stepped up and took on part of the task of clearing trees for the High Ground Access Road.
Downing Trees
1979 – Contributed by Anonymous
Clearing the way for the new road involved clearing the path through the heavily wooded hills.
Lots of Timber
1979 – Contributed by Anonymous
A trail of stumps and logs started to lead the way to Camp.
Lumber Pile
1980 – Contributed by Anonymous
Logs lined the path of the new road waiting to be hauled of to the mill.
Stump Path
1980 – Contributed by Anonymous
Undergrowth tries to move in amoungst the fallen trees and stumps along the new path to camp.
New Road Construction
1980 – Contributed by Anonymous
A large section of smaller trees are cut out on the path of the new camp road.
Clear Path
1980 – Contributed by Anonymous
At this point it does not take much imagination to envision the new High Ground Access Road into Camp.
Big Equipment
1980 – Contributed by Anonymous
After the trees were down and the logs shipped out, the big equipment could come in and start to grade the new road.
Big Dozer
1980 – Contributed by G. Ernest Heegard
New road over Flag Pole Hill?
New Camp Road Taking Shape
1980 – Contributed by Anonymous
Once the big equipment took care of the remaining stumps and rocks, the road started to really take shape.
Other Roads
Display Details
Lots of smaller roads adorn the Horseshoe Scout Reservation: here is their story.
Boat Dock Road
Contributed by Anonymous
Camp Road in back of McIlvaine Lodge to the low water bridge in the Octoraro.
Loop Road Sign – The Coes
2021 – Contributed by Evan Ellwanger
The 2021 year’s Camp Horseshoe signs are dedicated to Cindi & Alison Coe.
Road Damage
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe
The road from the Athletic Field to the pool was severely damaged at Camp Horseshoe during the flood of May 7th, 2014.
Road to Athletic Field
2022 – Contributed by Evan Ellwanger
The road to athletic field, seen here at the 95th Anniversary Camporee in 2022.
