PA Wilds in the News: Quarter 4 2019
- by LaKeshia Knarr
- December 12, 2019
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Incredible natural assets and unique entrepreneurial endeavors of the Pennsylvania Wilds are often featured in the news. Here’s a quick look at some of the recent headlines and excerpts.
TIME
World’s Coolest Places 2019: TIME for Kids picks 50 fun places for families
Cherry Springs State Park | Coudersport, Pennsylvania
Can’t see the stars where you live? Try Cherry Springs State Park. It has been designated one of the best places for stargazing in the eastern U.S. by the International Dark-Sky Association. The 82-acre park is surrounded by a sparsely populated forest. Hilltops block light pollution emitted by urban centers in nearby valleys. This lack of light pollution is what makes the park’s exceptionally dark skies possible. What celestial sights might you see in Cherry Springs? Meteor showers, asteroids, and the glow of the Milky Way, to name a few. —Rebecca Mordechai
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pennsylvania’s Pine Creek Gorge is grand, especially in fall
By Gretchen Mckay | September 23, 2019
WELLSBORO, Tioga County — First settled in 1806, this cute little town snuggled in the northern tier of Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Mountains has long charmed visitors with its gas-lit streets, landmark buildings and classic barrel-roofed diner. But let’s be honest: History here plays second fiddle to the picturesque gorge that twists and turns for some 50 miles through nearby Tioga State Forest.
Celebrated for its awesome natural beauty 20,000 years in the making, Pine Creek Gorge just a few miles to the west — known colloquially as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon — draws close to 200,000 visitors each year. It’s especially inviting in fall, when its many birch, aspen, oak and and other deciduous trees paint the canyon walls in a stunning display of gold, orange and fiery red.
Penn State News
North Central PA LaunchBox announces winners of BIG Idea Competition
By Steve Harmic | November 22, 2019
DuBOIS, Pa. — Joe Lanich with Laughing Owl Press, of Kane, who is developing software that brings digital convenience to high-end letterpress printed products, took first place in the BIG Idea Competition at the North Central PA LaunchBox, following presentations by the eight finalists to a panel of judges. He will receive $30,000 to develop his business.
David Conklin with Wilds Sonshine Factory, also in Kane, took second place in the competition. Conklin is distilling a new spirit derived from a sunflower plant grown solely in the Pennsylvania Wilds region. He will receive $20,000 in funding to develop his business idea.
PennLive
Kinzua Bridge State Park ranked among nation’s best destinations
By Julia Hatmaker | September 12, 2019
A Pennsylvania road trip isn’t complete without a stop at Kinzua Bridge State Park. But you don’t have to take our word for it. The American Bus Association’s “Destinations” magazine included the park in its “2019 Best of Best” list, which honors attractions nationwide in categories that include adventure, culture, entertainment and lodging. Kinzua was in the culture category. Kinzua is home to the Kinzua Sky Walk which takes visitors high above the Kinzua Creek Valley Gorge. The skywalk also provides a view of the destroyed Kinzua Viaduct, which was the victim of a tornado in 2003.
Rolling Stone India
Exclusive Premiere: Pennsylvania Act Heron’s Poignant Video for ‘Gravity Shift’
By Anurag Tagat | September 13, 2019
Members of Pennsylvania post-rock band Heron are based in a part of the U.S. known as the Pennsylvania Wilds, in rural towns. With lesser light pollution, the clear night skies seem to have led them to write an album like Sun Release, which is inspired by space travel. Guitarist Boyd Lewis tells us, “We can see the Milky Way from our backyards.” Sun Release coincidentally has a bigger connection to space travel. It was released on July 19th, a day before the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing by Apollo 11, which occurred on July 20th, 1969. The band, who have been active since 2016, took it one step ahead with their ambitious music video for the emotive track “Gravity Shift.”
The Mirror
Best places for stargazing revealed – including Atacama Desert and Death Valley
By Shivali Best | October 12, 2019
Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania has incredible dark sky conditions, and is known for its Overnight Astronomy Observation Field, which offers 360-degree views of the sky
(Photo at right by Curt Weinhold)
