The rustic landscape of the Southern End is a treasure trove of lost history and a sanctuary for natural beauty. The thick forests and rolling hills conceal several destinations that served as the backdrop for some of the most significant events in Lancaster's past, even if many historical sites remain buried under native flora or repurposed plots of land. One such location is Drumore Mill, a former grist mill located on Harmony Ridge Road in rural Drumore Township.

In 2022, Drumore Mill officially opened its doors as a scenic venue for weddings and corporate retreats. The 30-acre property contains multiple buildings that have been used to produce a number of resources since the first mill was erected in the mid-17th century. The estate also includes multiple vistas of the Peach Bottom Slate Waterfall and Fishing Creek. Although Drumore Mill now serves as a place for newlyweds to exchange vows and for project managers to escape their offices, historians claim that the idyllic setting was once a Civil War-era outpost and a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Drumore Mill's current owner, Thuy Hoang, stumbled upon the property in 2015 while she was searching for a new home with her husband. At the time, Hoang and her husband were working in the medical field, but Hoang said she had a vision of converting the estate to a wedding venue upon discovering it. The endeavor posed many challenges, and the process of bringing the residential buildings up to par as a commercial property took roughly eight and a half years. "We wanted to do it the right way, and we tried to make sure we reserved as much of the mill's history as possible," Hoang said.

One by one, Hoang completed renovations in each building on the property, salvaging as much of the Drumore Mill's original architecture and character as possible. Hoang also installed rocks to define several old trails and pathways scattered in the woods on the property. Since the renovations were completed and Drumore Mill opened for business, the venue has been primarily rented by patrons who travel from other states to experience a slice of Southern End beauty. "The main appeal is the waterfall, as well as the hiking trail, cliffs and the chapel," Hoang said. "It's just a place to come together and to be with nature."

Adam Zurn, a local history buff and educator who runs the website Uncharted Lancaster, visited Drumore Mill for the first time during its grand opening event a few years ago. After taking a guided tour of the estate that mentioned Drumore Mill's supposed ties to the Underground Railroad, Zurn started digging into old archives to see what other secrets the property might contain. Many lifelong residents of the area shared stories about an outpost near the waterfall; according to legend, the cliff was used by soldiers during the Civil War, and there is a carving somewhere on the rockface that reads "Union Forever, Death to Traitors." Zurn said he has yet to see the carving with his own eyes, but perhaps he'll put on his adventuring fedora and scale the cliff someday to find out.