Cook Riverside Cabins History - A Chronology
The original tract of land occupied by Cook Riverside Cabins was first purchased in 1826 by John Cook. Land was given to Anthony Cook and through his efforts, large tracts of land were preserved later to become Cook Forest. The acreage, now Cook Riverside was owned by Thomas Cook. He built the first of many Cook Forest cabins in 1929. By the time they were done, Mr. Cook and his crew built 18 cabins.
In 1968 Donald and Patricia Andrews purchased eight of the 18 cabins naming them “Forest View Cabins. 1969 saw Clarion Judge Robert Filson, Harold Heffner Caroline Hetrick, J. Jerome Heffner and Eugene Van Dale take possession of the remaining 10 keeping the name “Cook Riverside Cabins.” During the ensuing years the old Store moved to its present location, formerly cabin #7. A new log structure was built in the 1972 at its present location as the Post Office and Cooksburg Dry Goods. In 1972 Hurricane Agnes flooded Cooks Forest and with that the new Post Office. The year 1974 cabin #13 built. In 1991 Mike and Cheryl McMurray purchased Cook Riverside Cabins. Shortly thereafter the small motel was remodeled entirely and made into cabin #15 now one the favorites. 1994 saw the purchase of four cabins from Forest View Cabins - #8, 7, 14, & 18. Cabin #16 which stands alone was purchased from a private individual in 1996. Those acquisitions made Cook Riverside the second largest cabin rental in Cook Forest.