Explore Gretna's Tiny Treasures

by Meagan Cassel

[Originally published in the Summer 2026 issue of Mount Gretna Magazine. View the complete issue to experience this story in its original design, along with additional photographs and content.]

Photo by Shannon Fretz Photography

Summer in Mount Gretna welcomes a bustling calendar of arts and entertainment, but its charm also invites us to take a breath, slow down a beat, and spend afternoons meandering paths among the trees. For those days, we offer you a list of tiny interactive spots you may have overlooked —  all free — tucked into the corners of town. How many have you discovered?

Campmeeting Community Garden and Scavenger Hunt

A pair of mailboxes in this woodland garden houses a hunt for young explorers. Find items like a bird bath, a bee house, and a sundial to receive a surprise.

Tip: Look for signs identifying native plant species so you can envision what to plant at home.

Fairy Garden

This imagination haven has inspired children for more than two decades with its miniature trinkets and tea sets. Last year, a new committee assumed the caretaking role and is busy creating a more educational vibe.

Tip: Check out new features like a colorful sentence-building station and a scarecrow in the fall.

Gretna Dog Library

Home to a different sort of collection, this station in Soldiers Field houses tennis balls, sticks, and toys for furry friends and neighbors.

Tip: Try the Chuckit! for the best throwing distance.

Interpretive Trail and Mud Kitchen

At Clarence Schock Memorial Park at Governor Dick, brand-new signs along Trail 16 describe trees, forest processes, mindfulness activities, and more. 

Tip: Save time by letting kids play with pots and pans in a mud sink, build with sticks, and climb on boulders.

Little Free Libraries

Discover a new read — or leave a book for others to enjoy — at one of three swap sites nestled into different neighborhoods.

Tip: For a more comprehensive selection, visit the Mount Gretna Community Library, open select hours daily.

Poetry Steps

Julie Herman lovingly paints a collection of rocks on the stone staircase by her cottage, inviting the community to mix and match words like embrace and friend and — her favorite — cattywampus.

Tip: Even if you’re a returning poet, look for this summer’s fresh new rocks.

Self-Guided Walking Tour

Stroll around town, and you’ll find QR codes linking key Gretna sites to their stories, complete with photos and audio context.

Tip: The Mount Gretna Area Historical Society has also introduced a guided walking tour, available on weekends this summer. Find information on both tours at MtGretnaHistory.org.

Visitor Information Center

This cozy yellow bungalow, packed with Gretna resources, boasts a refreshed interior this summer and expanded hours.

Tip: Look for new merch like Gretna charms, plus the return of ornaments and mugs.

Meagan Cassel lives in Mount Gretna with her family and is an active volunteer around town, including at the Mount Gretna Community Library. Admittedly, it’s her favorite tiny treasure.