Gaslight Campground provides easy access to a region
full of history and natural wonders! Explore the
Great Lakes Region of Northwestern Pennsylvania and
you’ll be surprised to discover a travel destination
truly unlike any other. From the lush and unspoiled
expansive wilderness of the Allegheny-Clarion Valley to
the soft sand beaches of Lake Erie to the North, it’s
easy to see why this tranquil region of farmland, lakes,
streams, and forests is often called “The Quiet
Northwest.” The Allegheny River Valley of Northwestern
Pennsylvania is also recognized as the Oil Region, “The
Valley that Changed the World,” and the Victorian
Region, thanks to the remarkable architecture in
historical mining towns like Foxburg, Emlenton,
Franklin, Titusville, and Oil City.
Explore on your own or take a guided tour of the area’s
historical neighborhoods to take in views of the
colossal Victorian homes and old-fashioned storefronts
that dot the streets. The Oil Region’s architecture
speaks volumes about the oil boom, which began in
Pennsylvania when the first successful oil well was
struck in Titusville, now part of the Oil Heritage
Region State Park. A great way to soak in the history of
the Oil Region is to take a historic train tour. The Oil
Creek & Titusville Railroad takes travelers through “the
valley that changed the world,” and back 150 years into
the heart of Oil Country history.
Once a prominent trading center, Emlenton is
known today for its antique shops, historic sites, and
museums. Built primarily with oil money, Emlenton once
had the reputation of housing more millionaires per
capita than any other place in the world. Without ever
really booming or busting during the oil craze, Emlenton
prospered because of its earlier days as an economic
center for lumbering, iron furnaces, and river traffic.
Emlenton has done well to preserve and celebrate its
rich history, and traces of its past can be found at
every corner. Just meander down to Main and Second
Streets, where America’s first steam-powered grist mill
stands, built in 1875, or marvel at the Emlenton Bridge,
the largest bridge East of the Mississippi.
There are plenty of other fine attractions within easy
driving distance from Gaslight Campground. Visit
Punxsutawney Phil and his family in their natural
habitat at the Groundhog Zoo, located off Barclay Square
at the Punxsutawney Memorial Library, or take a day trip
to Pittsburg. From breathtaking natural beauty and
unbeatable outdoor recreation, to intriguing historical
sites, one-of-a-kind galleries and museums, and the
quaint and exquisite remnants of the Victorian era,
Northwestern Pennsylvania offers hundreds of ways to
relax, adventure, and have fun. Use our list of
suggestions, below, as a starting point for your great
vacation!
Located in the
northwestern Pennsylvania counties
of Elk, McKean, Forest and Warren,
the Allegheny National Forest
consists of over 513,000 acres. It
is the only National Forest in
Pennsylvania. Its major features
include: Nationally designated
trails and rivers; Allegheny
Reservoir; road based recreation; a
premier ATV / trail bike riding
system that draws users from a
nine-state region; and heritage
sites and stories. The Allegheny
National Forest includes the
Allegheny River Islands Wilderness.
This unique 368 acre wilderness area
is comprised of seven islands
located between Buckaloons
Recreation Area and Tionesta.
Created by Congress in 1984 as part
of the National Wilderness
Preservation System, the Allegheny
River Islands Wilderness stands as
one of the smallest wilderness areas
in the United States.
The Allegheny
Valley Trails Association is an all
volunteer, non-profit organization
which was founded in 1990. The
AVTA’s mission is the acquisition of
abandoned railways in the Allegheny
River watershed and their
rehabilitation into multipurpose,
non-motorized recreational trails.
Over the past decade the
organization has had a good measure
of success in fulfilling that
mission. As of the spring of 2005,
the AVTA has taken title to a total
of 55 miles of abandoned railway and
has completed the construction of
two trails, the 20 mile Allegheny
River Trail and the 8 mile Sandy
Creek Trail. Additional trails are
scheduled for construction in the
near future.
Drake Well Museum
tells the story of the beginning of
the modern oil industry from the
location where in 1859 Edwin L.
Drake drilled the oil well that
launched the modern petroleum
industry. The museum features
orientation videos, exhibits,
operating oil field machinery, and
historic buildings in a park
setting. Visitors enjoy a variety of
special events, educational
programs, membership, volunteer, and
shopping experiences on site.
Recreational opportunities provide
family adventure when combined with
Oil Creek State Park bike and hiking
trails which begin at the museum.
Foxburg Country
Club was founded in 1887. It is
listed in The National Register of
Historic Places and is the oldest
golf course in continuous use in the
United States. Tucked into a grove
of ancient oaks, on an escarpment
high above the gentle Allegheny
River, a beautiful log clubhouse
commands an imposing view of the
valley below. Built in 1912 as a
private residence, it was acquired
by the Country Club in 1942 for the
sum of $5,000. It houses The
American Golf Hall of Fame on the
second floor, where visitors will
find a priceless collection of golf
clubs and other exhibits depicting
the 400 year history of golf.
Visitors are invited to play this
historic nine-hole course. The
fairways are narrow, the rough is
deep, and the greens are small and
fast.
Travel back in
time through the “valley that
changed the world” on the Oil Creek
& Titusville Railroad. From the home
station, at 1892-vintage freight
station in Titusville, a three hour
trip will take you to where oil
history began. Tour guides describe
the people and places that make up
Pennsylvania’s Oil Country. You’ll
travel down the winding rails,
alongside scenic Oil Creek, where
your family can share the fun of
train travel and relive history. In
addition to round trips, bicyclists
can enjoy a 10-mile return trip
along the bike path through Oil
Creek State Park.
Presque Isle
State Park is a 3,200-acre sandy
peninsula that arches into Lake
Erie. As Pennsylvania's only
“seashore”, Presque Isle offers its
visitors a beautiful coastline and
many recreational activities,
including swimming, boating,
fishing, hiking, bicycling and
in-line skating. A National Natural
Landmark, Presque Isle is a favorite
spot for migrating birds. Because of
the many unique habitats, Presque
Isle contains a greater number of
the state’s endangered, threatened
and rare species than any other area
of comparable size in Pennsylvania.
Rated as one of
the “Top 20 Outlet Malls in the
U.S.” by Value Retail News, Prime
Outlets – Grove City is the area’s
#1 shopping destination, home to 140
brand-name outlet stores. Here,
you’ll find tax-free shopping on
clothing and everyday savings of up
to 65% at COACH Factory, Juicy
Couture, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory
Store, Calvin Klein, and many more.
The center is conveniently located
at the intersection of I-80 & I-79 –
the “Crossroads of America.”
Industrial
progress has a way of leaving a
clean sweep in its wake. Sometimes
it creates ghost towns, other times
it expands over the ashes of its
origins. Rarely does a small
community retain many vestiges of
its vital past, while still
remaining alive and well - and
small. Emlenton has been unique in
the important part it played in the
early stages of the nation’s oil and
gas industries - without ever really
booming - or busting! It prospered
because of its earlier days in the
midst of lumbering, iron furnaces,
and river traffic. A business-savvy
generation of the late-1800s learned
the oil and gas industries
first-hand, and they soon saw ways
to become involved in organizing
what was a still-chaotic industry.
Emlenton today has preserved and
displays much of its history, while
remaining a picturesque and
surprisingly vital little village.
The Pumping Jack Museum’s mission is
to collect, protect, and display the
unique heritage of the town of
Emlenton and the surrounding area.
The Museum is located in the
Crawford Center in the former
Crawford Memorial School Building.
Current displays include memorabilia
from the early oil fields in western
Pennsylvania and the Emlenton
refinery. In addition, documents and
personal effects capture the local
vitality of the community through
its evolution. The displays provide
insight into a typical American
rural river community that had the
pleasure of hosting some of the
earliest formations of the oil
industry, while yet maintaining an
active farming community.
Local
Businesses & Services
Berry’s
Beverage, Inc.
Beer, snacks & ice
YupYup Blvd.
Emlenton, PA
Open Monday-Thursday - 10:00AM -
8:00PM
Friday & Saturday - 10:00AM - 8:30PM
Sunday - Noon - 3:00PM
(724) 867-9480
The Emlenton Mill Company
201 Main Street
Emlenton, PA
Food and antiques
in an historic setting.
Divani Chocolate Boutique
9 Main Street
Foxburg, PA (888) 763-4826
Fine chocolate.
Riverview
Canoe Rentals
Just 2 miles away in Emlenton
(724) 867-9480 or (814) 335-5433
Dale Smith’s
Camper Sales & Service
Brookville, PA
(814) 849-2911 Dennis
Trailers, Inc.
Harrisville, PA (814) 786-7959
Sales, service, parts and
accessories.
Little It Deli
615 Main Street
Emlenton, PA
(724) 867-8000 Go Foxburg!
Additional things to do in Northwest Pennsylvania
