Bordner Cabin, situated beside Acrigg’s Falls along Rattling Run in Swatara State Park, is both a remarkable example of hand-built craftsmanship and a symbol of one man’s determination to remain on the land he loved.
Known as “Lebanon County’s Fallingwater,” Bordner Cabin is a secluded hideaway with a backstory as intriguing as its design.
The History of Bordner Cabin
The rustic retreat was constructed between 1937 and 1939 by Armar Bordner, a woodshop and industrial arts teacher at Northern Lebanon High School, who enlisted his students and friends to help build it by hand.
Using oak logs and stones gathered from the surrounding hillside, they created a sturdy cabin with hand-hewn logs sealed using horsehair chinking.
Bordner admired the work of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright and incorporated that inspiration into his design, adding a small cantilevered porch that extends slightly over the water.
The result earned the structure the nickname “Lebanon County’s Fallingwater.”
The cabin sits just steps from Acrigg’s Falls, named for Union Canal engineer Benjamin Aycrigg (correct spelling), who once owned the land where the cabin now stands.
Bordner Cabin and the Eminent Domain Battle
Decades later, when Pennsylvania began acquiring land through eminent domain in the 1970s to create Swatara State Park, Bordner refused to give up his home without a fight.
After a lengthy legal battle, he reached a rare compromise with the state, selling his 400-acre property while securing a life lease that allowed him to remain in the cabin for a small annual fee.
Bordner lived there until his death in 1994 at the age of 90.
When the state later considered demolishing the structure, the Swatara Watershed Association stepped in and secured a lease to preserve it, serving as steward of the cabin for the next two decades while repairing, maintaining, and advocating for its survival.
At the end of 2025, the organization returned responsibility for the structure to Swatara State Park, where it remains open to the public today as a roofed but windowless and doorless rest stop for hikers and cyclists along the Bear Hole Trail.
Directions to Bordner Cabin
Bordner Cabin is located along the Bear Hole Trail at Swatara State Park, at GPS coordinates 40.50455, -76.50194.
The closest trail head is located at the intersection of Sand Siding Road and the Swatara Rail Trail, at GPS coordinates 40.50396, -76.51036.
From this trail head, it is a 1.5 mile hike/bike ride (3 mile round-trip) to Bordner Cabin, all of it taking place on multi-use rail trails.
Starting out on the Swatara Rail Trail, procede west for 0.2 miles until you encounter a bridge on your left, which crosses Swatara Creek.
Cross the bridge, and continue to follow the Sand Siding Trail for 0.3 miles until it intersects with the Bear Hole Trail.
Turn left (east) at this intersection, and follow the Bear Hole Trail for 1 mile to Bordner Cabin, which will be on your right and marked by the sign pictured below.
Final Thoughts
Today, Bordner Cabin stands as one of the most picturesque and historically intriguing landmarks in Swatara State Park, where handcrafted architecture and natural beauty come together beside the cascading waters of Acrigg’s Falls.
Whether you arrive for the scenery, the story behind the cabin, or simply a peaceful stop along the trail, this remarkable spot offers visitors a memorable glimpse into both Pennsylvania history and the timeless charm of the forest.
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