Thursday July 2nd, Mary and I drove up to northwest Pennsylvania to deliver a display of earrings to the Elk Country Visitor Center and to visit Kinzua Bridge State Park who has been carrying our product a number of years. Both recently reopened to the public and we were happy to see that both these locations were busy with visitors who were being safe and wearing masks. Our business will depend greatly on such locations opening up again and being able to stay open.
Elk county is home to a population of wild elk that were reintroduced to Pennsylvania about 100 years ago. The Elk Country Visitor Center orients visitors towards a network of backcountry routes as well as more assessable viewing areas. In the gift shop they are carrying our earrings for the first time. We did not see any elk because we arrived a little late for a hot summer day. But families of bluebirds could be seen out and about. Near the VC is a trail bordering a scenic meadow that is presumably frequented by elk. A number of nesting boxes are place along the way and the birds seem to find the habitat to their liking. We will be back to see the elk and will post some pictures then.
Kinzua Bridge was an engineering feat for the time it was build in 1882, and then distroyed by a tornado In 2003. The land is now a popular state park and pedestrians can walk out onto the intact side of the structure for a spectacular view. The park has much to offer to wildlife enthusiasts as well as history buffs. Mid day I could hear several kinds of birds including a winter wren singing from below while I was out on the bridge. It was my first of the season.
I’ve never heard of this park, that bridge wreckage is awesome!
It is definitely off the beaten path but if you find yourself in the Allegheny National forest, northwest PA, you should check it out.