Who knew? A majestic mountain right in the heart of Liberty

Developers hoped to make it ‘Mystic’

By Edward Lundquist | Manor Ink

There are places on Earth where only certain feelings can be felt. For example, the places where earth meets sky, mountains. At the peaks, there is a serenity, a stillness and a power in looking out across the rolling, fuzzy green masses as far as the eye can see. The clouds swirl above you still, and there is a smell in your nose, in your lungs like freshly fallen rain. All people feel this, but react to it in different ways. Some want to share it with others, make paintings, take photos or even camp. Others want to cut down all the trees and make a theme park to rival Disneyland.

That’s the case with Walnut Mountain in Liberty, a beautiful piece of land located just up the hill from the village’s downtown, off Rte. 55 on Walnut Mountain Road. In 1886, it was the site of a massive boarding house. The Walnut Mountain House, as it was known, was top-of-the-line, with fireplaces, hot and cold water, refreshing air, five stories and accommodations for one hundred and twenty people. By 1894, the estate had spread out to over 60 acres of trails, sports courts and croquet lawns.

In 1916, the entirety of the resort was taken over by new owners and fell into disuse. The foundation can still be found, huge shapes sunken into the ground at the peak of the mountain, with piles of flat stones for walls.

Various plans were contemplated for the property over the years, including two called Wonder and Mystic Mountain. These attempts, starting in 1959, tried to turn Walnut Mountain and its natural beauty into a plastic-and-metal playground for tourists. A place where visitors could “go back in time,” Mystic Mountain was designed to have rides devoted to dinosaurs and frontier America. Noah’s ark, carousels, “wish” tunnels and other “amusements” were also planned.

Due to rampant corruption, debt and other business and economic issues, the companies behind these theme parks fortunately never constructed them. The property was purchased by the Town of Liberty in 1966.

The mountain is now a grand park, covered with 13 miles of walking and hiking trails of various levels of difficulty, fun mountain biking trails and, at the main entrance to the park, baseball and soccer fields, a Frisbee “golf” course, a picnic pavilion and playground. It is an incredibly fun hike, with great views, dappled light, easy walks and a more challenging climb for those who choose to go up to the mountain’s top where the remains of the Walnut Mountain House can still be seen.