Follow Presidential Footsteps in the Allegheny National Forest Region

By Sandra Rhodes
Visitor & Member Services
Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau

The Allegheny National Forest Region may be hundreds of miles away from Washington, D.C., but still has had plenty of presidential connections throughout the years.

The Allegheny National Forest (ANF) was created in 1923 after President Calvin Coolidge signed a proclamation for federal purchase of available private lands for national forest purposes. Located in northern Pennsylvania, just 90 miles south of Buffalo, N.Y., the ANF now consists of more than 513,000 acres.

Decades before Coolidge, President Theodore, a forward-thinking conservationalist, developed a master plan for managing the nation’s natural resources. This plan included the ideals of developing ways to keep the Earth and its resources safe for generations to come. To help meet this goal, the federal government created the U.S. Forest Service in 1905. In 1911, when William Taft was president, Congress passed the Weeks Act, allowing the federal government to buy land in eastern states for the establishment of national forests.

The forest, whose motto is “Land of Many Uses,” is the only national forest in Pennsylvania. This northern hardwood forest is covered with black cherry, sugar maple, white ash and yellow poplar trees, among other trees. It’s the site of many activities four seasons out of the year. In February, to celebrate President’s Day, visitors can plan a getaway to the Forest and take to the trails – whether they are snowmobile, hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing trails.

Highlights of the forest include the Allegheny Reservoir, scenic overlooks, the Longhouse Scenic Byway and the North Country National Scenic Trail, the longest trail system in America. Sixteen campgrounds with more than 900 sites offer a variety of lodging options for visitors. Find out more about the Allegheny National Forest by logging onto www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/; online reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777.

The Kinzua Viaduct, located at the Kinzua Bridge State Park in Mount Jewett, has played host to millions of visitors throughout the years, including President Ulysses S. Grant.

Grant, who was a friend of Gen. Thomas L. Kane – famous for founding the Bucktail Regiment during the American Civil War - visited the historic landmark once billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

First constructed in 1882, the Kinzua Viaduct was once the highest and longest railroad viaduct in the world. Excursion trails crossing the Kinzua Gorge via the Kinzua Viaduct allowed visitors to experience the feeling of flight way before air travel became the norm.

This year will mark a rebirth of the viaduct, which was partially destroyed by a tornado in 2003. The Kinzua Sky Walk will open in the fall of 2011 and will allow visitors to once again walk in the footsteps of President Grant.

Long before George H.W. Bush became the 41st president of the U.S., he stayed at The Lodge at Glendorn, a Relais & Chateau property, a deluxe resort located in the forests surrounding the City of Bradford.

Glendorn’s luxurious accommodations are equally matched by its gourmet dining opportunities. Today, Glendorn is a haven for the outdoor enthusiast and features a variety of activities from snowmobiling to skeet shooting to fly fishing at the lakes on the property. Of course, you can also cozy up to the regal fireplace in The Big House or stay in one of the “cabins” located within the 1,280 acres of the resort. To book your stay, call 800-843-8568 or log onto www.glendorn.com.

Opera great Marilyn Horne, who was born in Bradford, has never been president, but has sung for one.

Horne, a world-renown mezzo soprano, sang at President Bill Clinton’s first presidential inauguration. When she was a child, Horne sang in Veterans Square, located on Marilyn Horne Way near Main Street in Bradford’s National Historic District.

When Horne returned to Bradford for a concert, she stayed at the Mountain Laurel Inn, located at 136 Jackson Ave. This colonial-revival mansion offers the elegance of 1894 with all of the amenities of today. A sweeping staircase greets visitors the moment they walk through the front door. Each room is eloquently decorated to make each person feel like a head of state.

To book your stay or for more information on the Mountain Laurel Inn, go to www.mountainlaurelbradford.com.

For more information on the Allegheny National Forest Region, log onto www.visitANF.com. To request a Travel Guide and Map, call the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau at 800-473-9370.

Pictured, from top, Minister Creek Trail;the Kinzua Viaduct, partially destroyed by a tornado in 2003, will be reborn in 2011 as the Kinzua Sky Walk.(Photo by Ed Bernik); and The Lodge at Glendorn, a Relais & Chateau property.