Potomac Heritage NST - Ohiopyle SP Visitor Center

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Ahh! Another Memorial Day is upon us and today we decided in our gardening habit to head to the local state park to pick up some native plants that the friends group has for sale as a fundraiser. Not realizing for the recent years that I have had my DCNR and NPS Passports, I just never got them stamped here. Since having them almost two years ago, I have been to this park a handful of times, to be precise, the visitor center where you go to stamp them. Most of the time, I forgot the passport. So today, I had this in mind, but first we had yet another mission, the Constance Ranson Native Plant Sale. We have been wanting to come up here and buy some native flora ever since this event began a few years back, but you know there are other priorities, right?

Meanwhile, after completing the sales, the Friends of Ohiopyle (FOO) had a clearance sale. We looked at the various half priced items, and I decided to purchase their Flora and Fauna Guide. It was $2 and for a good cause and useful as it has all the flora and fauna in the massive park. After this, we meander to the older overlooks, they (except for the northernmost one) is inaccessible to those with mobility impairments, as it is necessary to navigate stairs on either side to access the middle/lower and southernmost platforms, after doing this and taking video, we head towards the Visitors Center where I go to the counter and their is a clerk ready to assist. It was about 10:00 AM and I was the first user of the day. First with the Potomac Heritage NST stamp as she had to check the date, as I am OK with. There is also a seasonal clerk there that she is training in this process as well. We do that stamp thing and then I proceed to ask for the DCNR one, she said there are two and I proceeded to become unfocused, all I remember was the Train Station, liking that one, she also clears it as ink as has built in ink and park patrons prior used the stamp pad from the NPS one and didn't realize it, anyway, did the stamp thing and gone.

After visiting the visitor center (we did not linger as I have I think every picuture necessary inside and out of the Falls Area/Visitor Center, I, now in need of hydration, remember that water fountains are to the side exterior of the Visitor Center. As I approach, there is wayside signage that was not there last year. First, I hydrate (I wish I bought the FOO bottle now,) then photograph the signage of about water use and adjacent signage relative to the Free Local Phone for park patrons. We retrace our steps to the parking area, where I see new Gateway Signage and I photograph it. We decide to go to explore some of the shops in town, but we will park there. As we pull out of the Falls Area, I decide to photograph the new Signage near the entrance and do so.

We proceed to the business district and park in front of the United Methodist Church in town and do so with ease. We proceed to the market and find out we have thirty minutes until business hours begin, so looking puzzled, we photo shoot some photos of the United Methodist Church, a Little Free Library and a Veterans Memorial in town before retreating to our usual Ice Cream Hangout for an Ice Cream and Soda while waiting. About a quarter of an hour and we are ready to do something, we decide to visit the old Visitor Center as it is across the street and we are in need of comfort facilities, of which this place has five or so single-user restrooms, usually requiring standing in line to use, regardless of gender. Alas, there is no line, we do our thing, browse the literature racks, answer a question a park patron has about the Pinkerton Tunnel and by now it is time for the market to open for business hours.

Once in the market, we spend a great deal of time looking around and pick up some of their famous mustard as it is not sold anywhere else. As we are checking out, the customer asks the clerk as if they have any maps. Myself being observant while browsing and the cashier describing as to where they are, I easily explain where and it is now known that I have a niche for maps. While we were waited on, the clerk said they track their customers as they visit on both national and international maps that they have hanging on the wall and that last season when the store was open (April - October, ) they had customers from all 50 states of the USA and 50 Countries around the world right here in Fayette County. 

As we proceed to get in the car and head out of town, we hear the train come and as we head north on the main road and across the bridge we have to wait at the railroad crossing. This is just one of SEVERAL adventures we have had had in this State Park and this park is huge, 19,025 acres to be exact, the second largest in PA. Pymatuning is the largest and has a huge water acreage. There are 1.5 Million visitors that descend on this tiny borough every year and it has a year-round population of only 70. There are a plethora of shops, but no gas station, school or fast food chain, although there used to be a Dairy Queen before the state took back that building. Yes,there is a US Post Office

NST Synopsis

The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHT) is a diverse network of trails and routes connecting five geographic provinces, two major watersheds, three states and the District of Columbia, and outstanding places in one of the most significant corridors in the United States.

Linking the tidal Potomac and upper Youghiogheny river basins, the evolving Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail network lies within a corridor rich in historic pathways and waterways. You can travel this historic corridor today—on foot, bicycle and horse and by boat—exploring contrasting landscapes between the Chesapeake Bay and the Allegheny Plateau

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An enterprise of many partners, the evolving Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail network celebrates the heritage of the corridor between the mouth of the Potomac River and the Allegheny Highlands and offers opportunities for hiking, bicycling, boating, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. Though availability can change, the list is verified annually; please contact us to suggest corrections.