The Allegheny National Forest Bureau, along with local Pennsylvania tourism partners, recently hosted 34 individuals who represent and the run the various Pennsylvania Welcome Centers across the entirety of the state.
A group of five counselors from the Pennsylvania Welcome Centers arrived on Monday, Oct. 28, 2019, for a four-day long familiarization tour of the Allegheny National Forest region. This initial group of six were treated to a demonstration at Acme Ammo by Dale Phillips, a tour of Crook Farms and then the Bradford Flatiron Airbnb building. In the afternoon, the group traveled out West Washington Street for a hike along the beautiful Marilla Trail, around the Marilla Reservoir, and then moved onto park at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Bromeley Theater so the group could complete their day with a short hike along the Tunagawant Creek on the Richard McDowell Trail in downtown Bradford.
The next day, Tuesday Oct. 29, the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau hosted a full bus of 34 Pennsylvania Welcome Center staffers. Staffers along this leg of the tour were given a homework assignment; while visiting the Allegheny National Forest region, to have previously researched the area. To take photos of the area while visiting and then, in conclusion, produce and submit a sample itinerary they could utilize in the future to train staff about our region and what it has to offer, as well as, planning impending trips for guests visiting their Welcome Centers with interest in the Allegheny National Forest region.
The bus full of Pennsylvania Welcome Center staffers began Tuesday with a delightful tour at the Zippo/Case Museum, on 1932 Zippo Drive, hosted by Shirley Evers. Following their tour of the Zippo/Case Museum they progressed onward to visit and tour the Marilyn Horne Museum at 2 Marilyn Horne Way with Matthew Hileman. The group then broke for lunch and were given the opportunity to explore the National Historic District of downtown Bradford on their own to dine at A Slice of the 80’s or Beefeaters Restaurant.
Upon returning to the bus from their individual lunches they traveled on to Port Allegany to tour the architectural gem, Lynn Hall, with owners Rick Sparks and Adam Grant. Lynn Hall was followed by a tour of the Old Jail Museum in Smethport, highlighting the haunted dungeon; which is rumored to be haunted by the last prisoner ever hung in the Old Jail – that prisoner was convicted murderer Ralph Crossmire. The tour then took a leisurely drive along scenic Routes 59 to Route 646 and then Route 770 to showcase the beautiful fall scenery within the Allegheny National Forest region.
The following morning, on Wednesday Oct. 30, the familiarization tour, with all 34 representatives from the Pennsylvania Welcome Centers, began this day with a tour of Togi’s Playhouse, followed by a visit to the Penn Brad Oil Museum on 901 South Avenue. The group then moved on to the village of Mt. Jewett where they ate a scrumptious lunch at Kaffe Sol on 1 West Main Street.
Following lunch, the group proceeded to the Kinzua Bridge State Park Visitors Center, on 296 Viaduct Road, for a tour of the center and the Kinzua Sky Walk, conducted by park staffer, Holly Dzeyman. The group then traveled onward to the Kane Chapel and the McCleery Discovery Center for programs on the history of Kane and the Lobo Wolves. After a driving tour of Fraley Street in Kane, the next destination was Bell’s Meat & Poultry Shop. Samples were given to appreciative Pennsylvania Welcome Center staffers, which inspired one member of the tour to spend over $300 purchasing Jack Bell’s famous “Grillers,” and other tasty items.
To conclude the day, the bus journeyed along the Longhouse National Scenic Byway while Linda Devlin, executive director of the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, provided highlights and interesting facts about the Allegheny National Forest (ANF), which enveloped them along their drive. The Longhouse National Scenic Byway is a 36-mile loop from Kane located high within the Allegheny Plateau along Routes 321, 59 and Longhouse Drive.
The final day of the tour, Thursday Oct. 31, was a smaller group. Traveling with the original five counselors from the Pennsylvania Welcome Centers the tour visited the ANF Visitors Bureau, first thing in the morning, to pick up and order materials for their centers, across the state, and tour the facility. The group then journeyed through Bradford to visit two local shops – the Sportsman’s Outlet on 500 Chestnut Street and Cummins Country Charm on 24 Main Street. During the venture between both shops they toured downtown Bradford’s National Historic District, before being treated to a delicious and informative “Bake & Take” at John Williams Pastry Shop on 20 Mechanic Street.
Each person in attendance at the familiarization tour was able to use their knowledge and photographs, gathered by the end of the adventure, to create the traveler’s itinerary requested of them, utilizing the attractions and lodgings of the ANF region. Due to this familiarization tour the ANF Visitors Bureau has a very high level of anticipation of increased referrals to the ANF region, coming from the entirety of Pennsylvania Welcome Centers across the state.
For more information about this familiarization tour, attractions, lodgings and places to grab a delicious meal in the Allegheny National Forest region call (800) 473-9370 or VisitANF.com.