| |
|
Photo Copyright James Fitzpatrick
|
Whether you are planning a return visit or your first
trip, we welcome you to our community! Located in Tioga County in
the north central mountains of Pennsylvania, Wellsboro is an outdoor-lovers
paradise. The area also offers a variety of shopping, ranging from
a department store to boutiques, antique
shops, clothing stores and
outfitters. The Gmeiner
Art & Cultural
Center’s monthly exhibits showcase beautifully
handcrafted items from local artists. The Green
Free Library and
the
Tioga County Historical Society are also interesting places to visit.
The Gmeiner, Library and Historical Society are located on Main Street
in Wellsboro.
Another form of entertainment is our local movie theatre, The
Arcadia
Theatre, which shows first-run movies and hosts dinner-and-a-movie
events. Hamilton-Gibson
Productions, our local
community theatre, is well known for its talented musicians and performers.
The Great Outdoors
Pennsylvania is home to 2.1 million acres of certified forest
land, the largest tract of certified forest in North America. Click
here for state forest maps. Several state parks are located
in the Wellsboro area. A source of natural beauty is the 50-mile
long Pennsylvania Grand Canyon,
located 10 miles west of Wellsboro. The Grand Canyon is made up
of approximately 300,000 acres of mostly state-owned land. Two
state parks are located here. On the west rim of the Grand Canyon
of Pennsylvania, the 368-acre Colton
Point State Park resonates with the rustic charm
of the Civilian Conservation Corps era of the 1930s. The rugged
overlooks offer great views of the
canyon. On the other side of the canyon is Leonard
Harrison State Park.
The best way to see the Grand Canyon is on foot. Leonard
Harrison offers 4.6 miles of hiking trails including the popular 2-mile
Turkey Path. There is also a scenic overlook and a modest waterfall.
Colton
Point is more rustic and wild. It also has a 3-mile Turkey
Path which descends 1.5 miles to the base of the Canyon. The highlight
of this trail is the 70-foot waterfall ½ mile down the path.
|
Photo Copyright James Fitzpatrick
|
Another popular way to see the Canyon is on horseback and on a
covered wagon. Click
here for a list of all recreation members
including those that offer these activities.
Also located in the area is Hills
Creek State Park, covering 396 acres located midway between
Wellsboro and Mansfield. State Game Lands #37, which is made up
of approximately 13,000
acres, is located within walking distance of the park’s campgrounds.
Running through the base of the Grand Canyon 1,000 feet below is
Pine Creek. Well known and regarded for its fishing and native
trout streams, Pine Creek is also home to a variety of wildlife
including deer, bear, grouse and turkey. Each year, the Pennsylvania
Grand Canyon Snowmobile Club hosts its annual Upper Pine Creek
Trout Tournament. Click
here for more information about this event.
For additional information about fishing in the area, click
here.
For additional information about fishing in Tioga County, Pennsylvania,
click
here.
For general information about licenses, regulations, stocking,
and the variety of fish in area stream and lakes, click
here.
The Pine
Creek Rail Trail (also called Rails
to Trails) was constructed on an abandoned railroad line.
Currently 60.5 miles in length, the trail is made up of crushed
limestone. Since motor
vehicles and horseback riding are prohibited from the trail,
it is a popular form of recreation for bicyclists, joggers, and
casual walkers. Bikes are available for rent. Click
here to link
to our recreation members including outfitters.
The area also boasts several public golf courses, including the
Tyoga Country Club in Wellsboro
and Corey Creek Golf Club in Mansfield.
Winter sports such as skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing are
also popular. Since these are weather-dependent, click
here for weather and snow conditions.
Events
The Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce hosts several events through-out
the year. In addition, other local communities, churches, schools
and civic organizations host a multitude of events. Many of these
are held every year and generally speaking, are held at approximately
the same time each year. Refer to our Community
Calendar for a list of upcoming events.
The annual events sponsored by the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce
are listed below. Please refer to the Community
Calendar for this
year’s dates. Please note that these activities
are very popular and can draw thousands of visitors to our area.
You may wish to plan ahead and make reservations for lodging.
State Laurel Festival - June
Every year in mid-June, the community of Wellsboro celebrates the
blooming of our state flower with the annual PA State Laurel Festival.
This week-long series of events includes a variety of musical concerts,
a pet parade, bike race, firemen's carnival, a 10-K footrace, a
juried arts & craft fair, queens pageant, and the traditional
two-hour Laurel Parade.
The Festival was first held in 1938 and was the brainchild of
a local businessman named Larry Woodin, who was hoping to boost
a sagging economy by promoting the beautiful Pennsylvania Grand
Canyon. The festival was originally organized by the Lions Club,
but today's festival is sponsored by the Wellsboro Foundation Inc.,
administered by the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce, and is
organized by a committee of volunteers who work year ‘round
to ensure its success. Various activities have been added throughout
the years, making it a week of fun for the entire family. Whether
your preferences are for classical, gospel or country music, arts
and crafts or sporting events, you're sure to find something to
please everyone.
Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally – June
STPR is a form of auto racing in which the cars race
against the clock, one at-a-time, on closed public roads of the
Pennsylvania State Forest, at times bordering on the famous "Grand
Canyon of the East" near Wellsboro. Each car has a driver,
plus a co-driver, or navigator, who reads from a route book and
barks out instructions while the driver is negotiating the course
at high speed. The teams compete on ten different roads - or stages
- covering 125 miles of racing over a 14 hour period, with the
team having the fastest time over the whole course winning the
event. The excitement of two and four-wheel-drive cars traveling
on gravel roads at more than 100 miles-per-hour - especially on
a blind course where no practice has been allowed - is exciting
both for spectators and competitors.
The drivers meet their crew every couple of stages for service
on the cars, and drivers must obey all local traffic regulations
when their cars are not actually driving on the closed stage road.
Unlike traditional racetrack driving, where repetition on the same
course can lead to the "best line" or "best setup" for
each corner, rally drivers must react to blind conditions at racetrack
speed.
For more information about STPR’s Wellsboro event, click
here.
Dickens of a Christmas - December
Join us in Wellsboro on the first Saturday of December as we take
a step back in time and celebrate the community's annual "Dickens
of A Christmas." Wellsboro’s Main Street and the surrounding
side streets will be closed to traffic and will become an early
Victorian marketplace featuring all types of delectable wares for
eating and drinking, as well as delightful gift items.
Beginning at 9:00 a.m., the food and craft vendors, strolling
musicians and singers, dancers, and street-corner thespians will
spread up and down Main Street, extending onto Waln and Crafton
Street, and a portion of Central Avenue. Performers and vendors
will be appropriately costumed and decorated to create a Victorian
atmosphere that fits so well with our gas-lighted Main Street.
It’s not uncommon to stumble upon a little match girl, or
even old Scrooge himself! The Dickens Players, "a diverse-but-talented
assortment of amateur strolling performers," will be on hand
to entertain and delight shoppers with their renditions of Christmas
readings and carols. The Wellsboro Men’s and Women’s
Choruses will perform in front of the Arcadia Theatre, and several
other local musical groups will offer strolling performances.
Many local businesses host open houses with entertainment and
refreshments. In addition, many of our local churches will host
luncheons, concerts, tours or special services throughout the day.
Hamilton Gibson Productions will present “A Christmas Carol” at
the Arcadia Theater, and The Hamilton Gibson Choirs will also perform.
Each year, more than 175 craft and food vendors line the streets
dressed in Victorian garb to present many unique gift-giving options
which included hand-crafted Christmas ornaments, wooden toys, jewelry,
quilted items, furniture, wrought iron, homemade cheese & meats,
pet treats, heirloom Santas, stuffed animals and dolls for the
children on your list. In addition, several indoor craft shows
are held at the United Methodist Church, the Wellsboro Senior Center,
and the Firemen’s Annex. Numerous food vendors are always
on hand with delectable delights such as hot chocolate, homemade
soups and chowders, bread pudding, hot beef sandwiches, fresh roasted
peanuts, hot cider and coffee, kettle corn, baked potatoes, and
apple dumplings...just to name a few.
Bring a candle and join us for the Peace Walk from Packer Park
to the Green for the annual community Christmas tree lighting and
carol sing. Santa always visits with special treats for the youngsters.
Parking will be available at several lots throughout the town,
along with a shuttle which will be operated continuously.
Lodging
Our area has a wide variety of accommodations to meet every lifestyle
and budget, from hotels and motels to bed & breakfasts and
vacation rentals. Some lodgings allow pets, while others restrict
children and smoking. Please click
here for a list of our lodging
members.
Restaurants
From continental dining to fast food, the Wellsboro area offers
many dining choices. Several restaurants in the area are smoke-free,
and many offer legal beverages. Some also offer brunch and smorgasbords
in addition to their regular menu. Please click here for a list
of our member restaurants and taverns.
Back a Page
|
|
