Entry No. 85 — the New York City file — filed under: ruins
Pine Meadow Lake Pump House Ruins
These stone ruins are the remnants of a water pumping station built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s during the creation of Pine Meadow Lake. The facility was abandoned shortly after the reservoir was completed and the surrounding land was integrated into the state park. Today, the roofless stone walls and remnants of the old machinery stand quietly along the lake's northern shore, slowly being reclaimed by the forest.
The story
In the 1930s, federal workers with the Civilian Conservation Corps carved out Pine Meadow Lake inside what is now Harriman State Park. To handle water management for the new reservoir, crews put up a pump house along the shore, stacking heavy local stone around heavy mechanical infrastructure. But almost as soon as the lake filled in and the surrounding acreage was integrated into the state park system, the facility became obsolete. The state walked away, leaving the pump house to sit unattended in the growing forest.
Decades after the abandonment, the roof has rotted clear away, but the square stone walls still hold their ground on the lake's northern shore. Inside the roofless shell, rusted iron pump machinery sits right where the workers left it, slowly being swallowed by leaf litter, moss, and pine needles. It stands as a silent relic of New Deal engineering whose utility vanished almost as soon as the mortar dried.
What it's like
Reaching the site requires a legitimate hike along the Pine Meadow Trail through Harriman State Park. The ruins sit right along the northern shore, where the open-air stone box and its rusting mechanical guts frame views of the water. Because Pine Meadow Lake is a popular destination for hikers in the region, expect company on sunny weekends; start early on a weekday if you want to photograph the stonework without a crowd. Stick to the marked trails, leave the remaining machinery as you found it, and bring out all your own trash.
The move: Go on a scenic hike along the Pine Meadow Trail to the northern shore of Pine Meadow Lake, where you can safely view and photograph the historic stone ruins from the trail before enjoying a lakeside picnic.
📍 Before you go The ruins are located on public land within Harriman State Park and are legally accessible to hikers via marked park trails.
- 📍 Pomona
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Pomona, NY 10970, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- ORAK Mansion Ruins — Pair one set of Rockland County ruins with another by heading slightly northeast to inspect the crumbling 1920s estate built by a syrup executive.
- Boston Mine — Stay within Harriman State Park to swap 1930s masonry for a stark 19th-century iron mining cut carved directly into the hills.
- Ringwood Iron Plant Mine — Extend your trail-side rust tour across the state line at an abandoned 500-acre iron mining district that once supplied the Revolutionary War.
Good to know
Where are the pump house ruins located?
They sit along the northern shore of Pine Meadow Lake within Harriman State Park, near Pomona, New York.
Who built the pump house and when?
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) crews built the stone facility in the 1930s during the creation of Pine Meadow Lake.
Is it legal and safe to view the ruins?
Yes. The ruins sit on public land inside Harriman State Park and can be legally and safely viewed directly from marked park trails.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: woodtrekker.blogspot.com · njhiking.com
last checked: 2026-07-20