I-80 Frontier

February 16, 2024

The Golden Axe: Embracing the thrill of axe throwing

Clinton County’s entertainment scene has just been infused with a dose of exhilarating competition and shared laughter: The Golden Axe. This isn’t your rustic backyard axe toss! Located along the I-80 Frontier right in downtown Lock Haven is this state-of-the-art venue meticulously designed for an unparalleled axe-throwing experience. Owners Travis and Beth Moyer welcome both seasoned competitors and curious newcomers.

February 12, 2024

The Death Shout: A legend from the Pennsylvania Wilds

A legend in the PA Wilds says that when a Native American warrior was killed in battle, he would cry out a “Death Shout” which was heard in the afterlife and warned his predeceased friends that he was coming. Writer Lou Bernard shares the story of the Death Shout as told by Henry Wharton Shoemaker, a Clinton County writer and folklorist. Shoemaker wrote, “There were many strange stories clustered around the ‘Death Shout,’ some of them beautiful, others painfully sad.”

January 16, 2024

BIRD LORE: Winter birding in Lycoming and Clinton Counties

What is there to do on cold winter days in January and February? If you live in or are visiting Clinton or Lycoming Counties, how about a drive along Old River Road in South Avis, or a road trip to Cogan House Township to look for Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs in open farm fields! Or look for these songbirds wherever you see agricultural fields spread with manure. So what attracts these songbirds, as well as large flocks of Horned Larks, to these fields? In a word, seeds.

January 5, 2024

A First Day Hike at Parker Dam State Park

Just ten hours after watching the Times Square ball drop celebration on TV and ringing in the new year for 2024, I found myself at Parker Dam State Park to celebrate the start of a fresh year with their annual First Day Hike. What is a First Day Hike? They’re held on the first day of the new year at lots of Pennsylvania state parks. These free hikes are guided by staff and volunteers from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and they’re typically anywhere from 1 to 3.5 miles long.

November 28, 2023

My ‘failed’ trip with the dogs to Parker Dam State Park

I’ll be the first to admit that my latest trip to Parker Dam State Park did not go to plan. It rained pretty heavily the entire time, and one of our dogs barked until we ultimately decided to call it quits and go home. We never actually ended up staying overnight in the cabin, despite the fact that we had rented it for multiple nights at the end of October. That might be enough for some people to say that the trip was a disaster. Despite how I have titled this blog, I don’t actually think that our trip to Parker Dam was a failure.

November 16, 2023

The unique I-80 Frontier

Most people don’t notice this, but the I-80 Frontier is the only PA Wilds landscape named after a man-made landmark. All of the others are named after natural things: forest land, animals, or in one case, just darkness. Sure, they try to fool you with the “frontier” part, but it’s named for Interstate 80, which travels all the way across the PA Wilds. To reach a lot of places in the PA Wilds, you pretty much have to start by getting on 80.

October 2, 2023

Ghosts of the PA Wilds: Underground ghosts in the I-80 Frontier

Let’s face it - cemeteries are spooky places. It’s creepy and scary, and perfect for Halloween. But in the I-80 Frontier landscape of the PA Wilds, there’s one neighborhood where it’s not necessary to create a cemetery - it’s already there. In Lock Haven, the county seat of Clinton County, along the south side of Bellefonte Avenue, there’s a neighborhood where there was once a cemetery. And, in spite of what people think, some of it is still there.

September 19, 2023

Brewing in the PA Wilds: Rosko’s Brew House

Built in a renovated historic home in Williamsport along the I-80 Frontier landscape of the PA Wilds, Rosko's Brew House is a taproom and on-site brewery that focuses on high-quality beers and supporting the local community, commerce, and families. Rosko’s serves a seasonal, rotating beer menu crafted with high-quality, fresh ingredients as well as locally sourced wines, canned cocktails, and more.

September 5, 2023

Brewing in the PA Wilds: John Ryan Brewery

John Ryan Brewery, an artisan restaurant with an onsite brewery in a restored French Second Empire mansion in Old City Williamsport along the I-80 Frontier landscape of the PA Wilds, is a must-visit for travelers who want a historic location with an upscale but friendly atmosphere. The menu at John Ryan Brewery is anything but typical! Although there are certainly some common food foods and bar staples, the menu also includes items inspired by various cultures and cuisines, such as pierogi gyoza, takoyaki (deep fried balls of battered octopus), lobster bao buns, duck bento, and their popular collard greens.

August 31, 2023

Outfitting the PA Wilds: Sleepy Hollow Outpost

Located in Black Moshannon State Park along the I-80 Frontier landscape of the PA Wilds, Sleepy Hollow Outpost helps travelers find new adventures by renting out kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddle boards. Reasonable prices are important to Sleepy Hollow Outpost, as they want all travelers to be able to afford to explore. Because most customers want just a short ride on Black Moshannon Lake, the outpost rents kayaks, canoes and paddleboards out by the hour. Sleepy Hollow Outpost is one of a few outfitters in the PA Wilds located on public lands, within Black Moshannon State Park.