Near Palm Coast in Flagler County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Lehigh Trail
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 17, 2013
1. Lehigh Trail Marker
Due to an unprecedented construction boom after World War II, Lehigh Portland Cement Company expanded its Allentown, Pennsylvania operation. To curtail the cement shortage they opened new plants across the United States, Bunnell, Florida being the location of their south east operation.
In 1952, track was laid creating a rail spur from the cement plant just east of present day Colbert Lane, heading west tying into the Florida East Coast Railway in Bunnell. An average of one hundred and fifty rail cars of cement were transported daily. One lone stack remains today as a sentinel over the land where the plant once stood.
The eastern end of the Lehigh Trail is located in what was once the switchyard for the cement plant. The switchyard was busy enough for the Florida East Coast Railroad to maintain a switch engine on the premises.
After operating since 1952, labor disputes and economic uncertainty forced the Lehigh Cement Company’s plant and rail spur to close in 1965.
Erected by Flagler County Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce
this page online
Location. 29° 29.955′ N, 81° 9.483′ W. Marker is near Palm Coast, Florida, in Flagler County. Marker is on Colbert Lane south of Harbor View Drive (Road 100), on the left when traveling north. Marker is located at the trailhead in the southeast corner of the Graham Swamp Conservation Area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5875 Colbert Lane, Palm Coast FL 32137, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Lehigh Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial Park (approx. 2.2 miles away); Operation Desert Storm (approx. 3˝ miles away); Flight Of Life Sculpture #7 (approx. 4.3 miles away); Bulow Sugar Mill (approx. 4˝ miles away); Slave Cabin Site (approx. 4.6 miles away); The Bulow Plantation House (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palm Coast.
Also see . . .
1. Lehigh Greenway Rail Trail. TrailLink website entry:
The railroad spur once carried cement and other materials to and from the Lehigh Portland Cement Plant in Flagler Beach. The trail
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 17, 2013
2. Lehigh Trail Marker (side view)
2. "Lehigh Portland Cement plant included railroad spur". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online website entry:
During the Florida building boom, Lehigh Portland Cement Company built a cement plant at Flagler Beach, according to a report on Flagler County's website. Construction of the plant cost $20 million, and opened for production in 1952. The Lehigh Railroad spur was built to transport the finished product to market and to bring supplies to the plant, the report states. (Submitted on March 1, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, January 8, 2013
3. Lehigh Trail Marker (trail map)
Trail map shows satellite aerial view of old cement plant ruins along east side of Colbert Lane (map bottom right corner). This map is on the obverse side of the historical marker.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 23, 2009
4. Former Portland Cement Plant Smokestack
Former Portland Cement plant ruins and smokestack are visible from the marker, across Colbert Lane to the south and east.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 17, 2013
5. Lehigh Trail Boardwalk
Boardwalk connects trail across the swamp to actual site of former railroad spur.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, January 8, 2013
6. Lehigh Trail Milepost
Old railroad mile post along the trail.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, December 17, 2013
7. Lehigh Trail Canal
Canal adjacent to old railroad spur
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, February 15, 2012
8. Lehigh Trail Segment through Graham Swamp
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, March 25, 2010
9. Lehigh Trail: Overgrown Track & Rail Remnants
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, March 25, 2010
10. Lehigh Trail: Tree Inside Old Railroad Tracks
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, March 25, 2010
11. Lehigh Trail: Railroad Switch Remnant
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, March 25, 2010
12. Lehigh Trail: Railroad Switch Remnant
Credits. This page was last revised on May 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 796 times since then and 116 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 1, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7, 8, 9. submitted on March 2, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 10, 11, 12. submitted on March 3, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
