The Coudersport Ice Mine opened for the season over Memorial Day weekend, and saw a record number of visitors. Through Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the ice mine attracted people from 14 states, Canada, the Bahamas and India.

“Throughout the summer we will usually get visitors from all across the world,” said Gary Buchsen, whose parents own the mine. The entire Buchsen family is involved in keeping the beloved local attraction up and running.

“I am retired now so I like to come down here and help my parents out a little bit,” said Buchsen.

The mine was discovered by Billy O’Neil in 1894. O’Neil was an adventurer with an eye for silver but, sadly, no nose for it. Instead of silver, he found a mine shaft full of layers and layers of ice. The shaft was more than 10 feet long, 8 feet wide and over 30 feet deep.

“This is the largest one that exists on the east coast,” said Buchsen.

The scientific term for the ice mine is a “glacière naturelle” meaning a natural refrigerator. Each year, the ice begins to form in April and often lasts until October. Paradoxically, the ice begins to melt just as the surrounding area begins to experience winter’s chill.

“The science behind it is that the mountain absorbs cold air in the winter time that is released in the spring and early summer,” said Buchsen. “The ice grows throughout the early summer, starts to melt in the middle of summer and it will all be gone by late autumn.”

The ice mine fell into disrepair and closed in the early 1990s. But the Buchsen family always had a soft spot for the beloved local attraction.

“Mom and dad have always loved this place,” said Buchsen. “Dad always said if he had the opportunity to buy the property he would get it up and running again.”

When it came up for sale in 2013, the Buchsens decided to purchase the lot. However, the place was in bad shape at the time.

“Dad always said he didn’t care if he ever made a dollar on this place but it is an important part of Potter County history and he wants to share it with others,” said Buchsen.

It took the family a year of hard work to get the place up to shape.

“When dad bought the property it was in a total state of disrepair — you couldn’t even really get here because the roads were in such bad shape,” said Buchsen.

The mines remain a fascinating natural phenomenon even today and a major point of interest for those exploring the Pennsylvania Wilds. Each year, the mine continues to draw the interests of visitors from around the world. The ice mine has been described as a true natural refrigerator. Even though it is small, it is nationally recognized as the most impressive ice mine in the eastern United States.

The mine continues to be a popular tourist attraction from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday on Ice Mine Road in Sweden Township.

“I recommend people come when the weather starts to get really hot because that is when it is most impressive,” said Buchsen. “Once the temps get up to the 70s and 80s outside and you go into the mine, it is literally like walking into a freezer.”