Orangeville offers different reasons to visit: nature and education at Frank W. Kocher Memorial Park, the group of covered bridges known as the “Twin Bridges,” and a dirt oval track for open-wheel racing. If you’re looking for a vacation rental, asking yourself what matters most can help narrow down your options: are you more interested in nature, bridge history, or motorsports?

Nature and Education Area: Frank W. Kocher Memorial Park

Frank W. Kocher Memorial Park is a nature and education area in Orangeville. It offers a nature scavenger hunt. You can download the associated activity page or pick it up at the park kiosks; check the park’s website for currently available materials before your visit. The scavenger hunt ties in with the park’s nature and education focus, adding a specific activity to its broader offerings.

Johnson Flats is one of the park’s features: the name refers to an area about half a mile north of the main park on Route 487. This helps distinguish Johnson Flats from the main park when considering place names as you plan your visit.

The “Twin Bridges” and Their History

The East Paden Covered Bridge and the West Paden Covered Bridge make up the pair of bridges known in Orangeville as the “Twin Bridges.” They are considered the only pair of twin covered bridges in the United States. Both bridges were built in 1884. The name highlights the pairing of the two structures; their shared construction date is another defining feature of their history.

The West Paden Covered Bridge also has its own later history: the original structure was swept away by floodwaters in 2006, and the bridge was rebuilt in 2008. The dates therefore mark different periods: 1884 is the year both bridges were built, while the events in 2006 and 2008 refer to the West Bridge.

Greenwood Valley Action Tracks: Open-Wheel Racing

Greenwood Valley Action Tracks is a 1/5-mile-long, banked dirt oval track for open-wheel racing. Its surface, oval shape, and banking define the type of track; its racing format has a clear motorsports focus. This topic is therefore quite different from nature and bridge history. One-fifth of a mile is about 322 meters. “Banked” describes the track’s lateral incline; an oval forms a closed circuit. Open-wheel racing, on the other hand, refers to vehicles with exposed wheels, not to the shape of the track.

Campground and Self-Service Market

Forks Farm Campground offers guests access to swimming and fishing.

Forks Farm Market offers a self-service market. If you’re planning a visit, check the latest access information in advance.

Explore more destinations: Bloomsburg, Numidia, Centralia, Mifflinville, Lime Ridge, Berwick

For the broader travel overview: Columbia.