Buena Vista Ice Company, Washington County, Maryland

The Buena Vista Ice Company was created by Thaddeus A. Wastler in 1900 after the land was sold to him due to a settlement of his father-in-law’s (Samuel T Royer) estate. Wastler first constructed two lakes; the lower, larger lake being named after Royer. When the lakes were completed, the construction of eleven massive ice houses began. They were built between the shores of the lakes, each with the ability to hold 30,000 tons of ice.