Day Fifty-Nine to Sixty-Three - A Summer of Bluegrass, Camping and Friends - Wednesday 6/26/2024 - Saturday 6/29/2024

It's the first day of the festival, Wednesday June 26th. I had crazy weather for my walk. It was 73° at 7am, almost 10° warmer than yesterday! It's my 178th walk of 2024. I enjoyed my walk around the Grange Park and listening to a little pickin' goin' on at this hour.

We enjoyed a late breakfast at Earlystown Diner. We stopped her for lunch when we did our dry run to see the Grange grounds a few weeks back. The lunch was delicious, so I am sure breakfast will be just as good! 

The place was packed, which I love to see for a hometown family owned place! Charlie had eggs, bacon and taters. I had the Veggie Mess. It was unique that my mug was from a business in Buffalo NY!

The opening band of the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival was the Alex Leach Band. Alex is not only a musician, but he is also a bluegrass DJ on Knoxville radio station WDVX. He has been a DJ on this station since he was 6 years old! He played with the Larry Gillis Band and Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys. In 2019, he formed the Alex Leach Band.

The 2nd act today at the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival was The Baker Family. They are from central Missouri. We saw them at The Malpass Brothers Bluegrass Festival in Denton NC. They were on Season 12 of AMERICA'S GOT TALENT! They are a very talented family! All the kids are under 25. You can tell, because Tristen can climb the bass!

The 3rd act on day one of the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival was The Country Gentlemen Tribute Band. They are a tribute to one of the most influential bands in bluegrass history. I was astounded at hearing what I thought we would never hear again. This group continues to put their heart and soul into each performance. All three bands play again, starting at 7pm. So far, the rain has missed us!

We have a beautiful perch on the hillside. It provides us some shade and a good view and the sound is excellent.

Unpredictable weather in Pennsylvania at the base of this mountain. It was 63° at 7am, almost 10° cooler than yesterday, but I am not complaining! It's Thursday, June 27th and it's my 179th walk of 2024. I talk about being at the base of the mountain. Centre Hall is located on the east side of Mount Nittany. 

Mount Nittany is probably Centre County’s most famous geographical feature.  A ridge named Nittany Mountain first appeared on William Scull’s map of colonial Pennsylvania in 1770. However, the name was already known to the surveyors who ventured into this frontier area to establish boundaries when Pennsylvania was buying land from the Iroquois Indians in the 1750s. It is thought that “Nittany” derives from a Native American place name — Nekti-Attin.  The most accepted translation is “single mountain.” Whether it is of Shawnee, Iroquois, or Lenape (Delaware) origins is unclear.  

The first band of the day today at Remington Ryde Bluegrass Fest, after the open mics was Corey Zink. His band can be counted on for powerful musicianship combined with Zink’s smooth lead baritone vocal, which sounds just as much at home with a driving bluegrass tune as it does a tear-filled country weeper. I believe his son or nephew was on bass today!

The 2nd set for today was Edgar Loudermilk. We saw them at the Brantling Bluegrass Festival several years ago. Edgar is a bluegrass musician who spent years backing up several artists before moving up to lead his own group. Loudermilk first revealed his talent as a bassist working with Rhonda Vincent, Full Circle, and IIIrd Tyme Out, but with his solo debut, 2011's Roads Travelled, he made clear he was also a skilled songwriter who worked well in the classic bluegrass sounds. Their bus broke down in Arizona and they flew in from Vegas! Little Roy & Lizzie lent them instruments for their set!

The 3rd act at the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival was the award-winning Larry Stephenson Band. They have been entertaining audiences for 30 years. The group is led by Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame member and 5-time SPBGMA Male Vocalist of the year. With numerous IBMA and SPBGMA nominations and awards, Larry records on his own label, Whysper Records. We have chairs in the sun, close to the stage, but prefer our perch on the hill!

The 4th act of day one of The Remington Ryde Bluegrass Fest was Little Roy & Lizzie. They offer the best of bluegrass, gospel and old time music. For 70 something, Roy sure can play the banjo and entertain! They were kind enough to lend their instruments to the Edgar Loudermilk band, as they had bus trouble and had to fly in!

2nd set for the Cory Zink Band on Thursday at 2024 Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival. His 15-year old son Mason, is on the bass! We love the Florida styled shirts for their second set! We have an unobstructed view and it's plenty loud up here!

2nd set for the Edgar Loudermilk band at the 2024 Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival. The sun went down on the Larry Stephenson Band's 2nd set at the 2024 Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival. We enjoyed Little Roy & Lizzie's 2nd set at the 2024 Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival.

The last band tonight was Charlie's favorite, The Malpass Brothers. They are only playing one set! We were just at their festival in Denton NC. They are not bluegrass, more old country. Still they are very good! But they started at 10 pm and it's darn cold out now!

Today is Friday June 28th and I completed my daily walk around the fairgrounds. Ever changing weather, it was 56° at 8 am, even cooler than yesterday, but it warmed up quickly on my walk. It's Friday, my 180th walk of 2024.

Also today is the day that Centre Hall hosts its Town Wide Yard Sale Days event. There are yard and garage sales lining Pennsylvania Avenue from Old Fort to the foot of the mountain. We had a front row seat, as our RV faced Pennsylvania Avenue,  behind the Grange Park fence. Many residential side streets and even some alleys were crowded with shoppers. The event began when several local business owners formed the Centre Hall Business Owners Association in 1980 and decided to hold a community-wide yard sale. The first was held in 1981, and since then it has grown steadily in size and popularity. Now, it is estimated that nearly 200 sales are happening in the borough and surrounding area simultaneously, turning Centre Hall into a bargain hunter’s paradise.

We noticed the preparations for the sales beginning the weekend before the event. As we arrived at the Bluegrass festival on June 22nd, we saw canopies and folding tables going up around the town. 

The sales have become family traditions for many in Centre Hall. People who grew up in the town come back to the family home with loads of items to sell. The event has become large enough to attract outside food vendors. Several food trailers were set up along Pennsylvania Avenue, filling the air with the delicious aromas. Churches in town also get in on the act, turning front lawns into roadside cafes, serving sandwiches, soft drinks and ice cream to raise money for various charity and mission projects. Local businesses also benefit from the population boom.

We enjoyed watching the shoppers come and go. The Amish even hired drivers with trailers to carry their treasures back to the farms.

We noticed many brightly colored tops on the Amish ladies and wondered why. When most people think of the Amish, they think of stern and somber people dressed primarily in black and white. But that is absolutely not the case. Amish communities have a lot of latitude and variety in colors. And, really, the vast majority of color choices aren't dictated by theology but by tradition. 

Most Amish women are required to wear full sleeves and calf-length dresses, with plain fabrics made from one solid color. Color plays an important part in an Amish woman's wardrobe. Young boys and girls usually wear lighter colors than adults, and begin wearing darker colors as they get older. In some communities you will see brighter colors in women’s or girls’ dresses – yellows, pinks and even shades of red. In others, dark browns, dark greens, purples, and blues are the firm standard. 

Lavenders, purples, darker greens, mint greens, mauves, pinks, some yellows, white, black and beige are all colors that could be used in everyday dresses. Depending on the conservative nature of the Amish community, some colors acceptable in one community aren't acceptable in another. Black and White that's not a color you see Amish people wearing everyday, usually that is reserved for church Sundays or special occasions.

We also saw a group of Amish ladies that were barefoot. Yes, barefoot, walking on the road! I researched and learned that going without shoes has an even deeper, more spiritual significance for the Amish. It sets them apart from the vanity of this world and encourages the modesty called for in the scriptures. The Amish believe that going barefoot keeps them closer to the earth and nature, and therefore keeps them closer to God.

The first act of Friday 6/28 at the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival  is Larry Efaw and the Bluegrass Mountaineers! We were able to see one act, before we met friends from Florida at Duffy's Tavern for lunch! Larry and his wife Lisa are the hosts of this awesome festival!!! If you are nearby you should come! Even if you are far away, camping is great!

We had a nice lunch today with Bill & Dee Hull at Boalsburg Duffy's Tavern. It was a nice surprise when she said they would be in the area on Friday! We sat on the patio so Charlie could enjoy our time together!

We missed the 1st set of 2 bands, to enjoy lunch with friends in Boalsburg. The 4th band was Junior Sisk and his band, Red Camel Collective. Junior Sisk’s band is Heather Berry Mabe on guitar, Tony Mabe on banjo, Jonathan Dillon on mandolin, and Curt Love on bass. The band pays tribute to the man who brought them together with their name, taken from Junior’s song, The Man in Red Camels. It was a great set!

The 5th band up today at the 2024 Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival was The Lonesome River Band. Since its formation decades ago, Lonesome River Band continues its reputation as one of the most respected names in bluegrass music. Their 1st set today did not disappoint!

After the dinner break, we enjoyed extended sets by Larry Efaw and the Bluegrass Mountaineers. Followed by Danny Paisley and then Junior Sisk and the Red Camel Collective. Another solid set of awesome bluegrass! We still love our seats on the hill!

On Saturday June 29th, it was calm before the storm, it was 66° at 7am. It's my 181st walk of 2024 and the last day of the Bluegrass Festival. It's the best line-up and the worst weather forecast!

There was a great Kids Program at noon. These are the future stars of bluegrass!

Mother Nature is not on our side today. Remington Ryde is on the stage now. This is how they look from where we sit and from up close! 

Remington Ryde is a well-known name in the bluegrass community. 

The band, which originated from Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, is loved for its lively performances and authentic sound. Remington Ryde is a true testament to the enduring appeal of bluegrass music. The was founded by Ryan Frankhouser at 16. Ryan’s dedication to bluegrass and his talent as a songwriter and musician helped the band rise from local stages to national acclaim.

The 2nd act up today was The Feinberg Brothers, from Long Island, New York. The band features brothers Rourke and Patrick, along with their father and longtime bluegrass musician, Ronnie Feinberg. The brothers Rourke are among the top young bluegrass artists in the NE States. By blending their bluegrass roots with a classical training background, they have delighted audiences with their tight, soulful harmonies and masterful fiddle, mandolin, and guitar playing.

Back for another set today, Saturday 6/29, was Larry Efaw and the Bluegrass Mountaineers. Mother Nature gave them a break as they pushed quickly through their set! We can see the sunshine!!!

The 4th act was Gail Towle & Pat Stevens favorite, Nothin’ Fancy. 2024 marks their 30th year! They formed as a bluegrass band in 1994 to compete in a bluegrass competition. Since then, they have released 11 full length albums, and continue to perform at festivals across the US and internationally. They host their own Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Festival every year since 2001 in Buena Vista, VA. The band is known for their smooth vocal blends, stirring performances, and irrepressible humor.

We took what they thought was going to be a 15-minute break for a passing line of storms. The winds were gusting over 40 mph and the break lasted for 2-hours. We got into the car, just in the knick of time!

After the thunderstorm, Rhonda Vincent and The Rage took the stage at the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Fest! She began her professional music career at the age of five, playing drums with her family's band, the Sally Mountain Show. 

She picked up the mandolin at eight and the fiddle at ten, performing with the family band at festivals on weekends. Rhonda has had deals with Rebel Records, Giant, and Rounder Records. Her band, The Rage helps her with hard-driving, high-energy contemporary bluegrass. Rhonda Vincent's daughter, Sally is the guitarist and lead vocalist with US Navy Band Country Current. She joined her mother on stage, with Rhonda's granddaughter, Faye Monroe.

 

The  Feinberg Brothers, Remington Ryde, Larry Efaw & The Bluegrass Mountaineers, Nothin' Fancy and Rhonda Vincent and The Rage all played a second set. The rain was on and off, so Charlie and I went from our seats, to the car, back to our sets. So, pictures were not easy to get!

Stay tuned for more #TwoLaneAdventures

Day Fifty-Five to Fifty-Eight - A Summer of Bluegrass, Camping and Friends - Friday 6/21/2024 - Tuesday 6/25/2024

It's Friday June 21st, our last day in Ives Run for this trip. We will stop back for one overnight after the Bluegrass Festival. I enjoyed my morning walk. I stayed close to the water and enjoyed the views! We made a late morning move to Bellefonte State College KOA. We can't check in until 2pm and if you check in early there is a fee! So, we will take our time and stop at the grocery store on our way down.

We did a drive by this KOA a while ago. It is very spectacular looking from the road and as you drive to the office. There is a large "kids" area along the roadway into the campground. This area includes the traditional bouncing pillows, but it also includes a bike track and multiple swinging hammocks. The other side of the road includes volleyball courts and basketball courts.

We purchased a pull-thru 30-AMP FHU site. I have to admit, it was a moderately priced site. As soon as we started to pull down the one way street I knew we could be in trouble... all of the sites we passed went up a steep grade and then leveled off. As soon as Charlie started the turn into our site #25, I heard the dreaded noise. That is the sound of dragging along the road. I guess the good thing was it was a gravel road and not paved. We were able to get off the road and get the RV level, without unhooking the car. Unhooking the car, was the whole point of purchasing a pull-thru site. Don't even get me started on how close the neighbors were! Good thing we are only here for one night!

On Saturday morning June 22nd, I got my 4-mile walk in around the campground. I have grown to enjoy walking on the paved roads. That was not the case this morning, all of the roads are gravel, except the entry driveway. I did spend about a mile of my walk on that paved surface! The flowers near the entrance were beautiful! We waited until the last possible minute to leave. Check-out was 11am and I think we pulled off the site at 10:59am! We only have a 15 minute commute to our next destination and we can't gain access to the fairgrounds until noon.

We went directly to the fairgrounds and were surprised to not see a line of RV's lined up at the entrance. As we came up to the gate, we figured out why. We pay for our camping directly to the fairgrounds. There was a fair board member at the gate taking the money for camping and directing you into a line of RV's waiting to be parked by the festival organizers, starting at noon. We did not do too bad, we are 15th in line! We did not come early to get a certain camping spot, we have never been to this festival. We came earlier because the camping price was reasonable!

When we moved to where the parkers were taking campers to their sites, Charlie asked him if there were any spots with shade. He directed us to pull out of line and Charlie got on the golf cart with him. I pulled the car behind and waited. They came back and Charlie took us to a spot under a tree along the perimeter fence line. We are about 2/10 of a mile from the music, but with temperatures in the 90's, I'll take the shade over closer to the music. We enjoyed the shade of the tree for the rest of the day and planned some visiting for Monday. We met our neighbors in the other two rows along the fence line. Both are seasoned visitors to this festival. One side are friends of Little Roy & Lizzie and they plan on having many jams right by us. Gotta love that... music, music, music! 

On Sunday June 23rd, I enjoyed my first walk at the fairgrounds. I stayed on the paved roads! There were beautiful flower beds everywhere. This place is huge! Technically, it is called Grange Park. It is located in scenic Penns Valley on 264 acres. It offers 1,500 RV camping sites with water and electric hook-ups. But what is the history of this place? 

The fair originated as a local extension of the national Grange mission. In 1867, the Patrons of Husbandry, or Grange, organized as a national movement to improve the economic well-being of farmers, a group particularly hard hit by the aftermath of the Civil War and a later economic downturn. The Grange grew from local associations of farmers that met to discuss their problems and to seek solutions. In Centre County, Rhone was a key supporter of the Grange’s local efforts. Besides organizing the Granger’s Pic-nik, he helped shepherd the creation of the Progress Grange. By 1874, sixteen local granges were established in Centre Hall.

The first fair took place on September 24, 1874, in Leech’s Woods, near Centre Hall. Leonard Rhone organized the event and invited members of the local Granges to attend. About 3,000 people attended the event, which was called the “Granger’s Pic-nik.” There were eight or ten acres of the woodland were dotted with many hundreds of tablecloths and tents. In 1890, the event moved to Grange Park, a 26-acre site in Centre Hall purchased by the Centre County Pomona Grange. In 1890, organizers created a permanent committee to oversee the fair. Committee members were responsible for the fairground layout, as well as prioritizing and scheduling improvements and additions, including road and fence construction, tent placement, and new buildings. By 1914, the county granges and various rural groups could appoint a committee member. The use of tents and the inclusion of various exhibits were introduced to the fair in 1877. Initially, the Pennsylvania National Guard lent the organizers tents. Exhibits that year included pieces of farm machinery.

During the 20th century, the fair continued to expand. To meet the the increasing number of people who made the event an annual tradition, event officials needed to expand the park. In 1923, the park grew to about 70 acres after the Fair Board purchased an additional 45 acres. The number of tents increased from 28 in 1877 to 200 in 1910. Tents also were more sophisticated. Once primitive Army-style shelters, many tents had a wooden floor, bench, table, and bunk. Several tents shared cook stoves and firewood. Small grocery stores were opened to provide campers with food during the long stay.

By 1916, the fair had entered the electric age. The midway and main street of the park were illuminated with a 75-watt light bulbs powered by a 12-kilowatt transformer. Most tents continued to rely on kerosene lamps, but eventually campers could rent a light bulb for a dollar. The fair was equipped with electric lights before many surrounding homes and farms in Penns Valley. In fact, most of Centre Hall remaining without electricity until the 1930s when the Rural Electrification Act stirred projects that brought electric power to many rural areas. Public telephones were installed at the fair in 1928.

The fair persevered through wars and conflict, weather disasters, and economic upheavals. In 1890, the first year that the event was held in its expanded Grange Park, a series of rainstorms turned the newly cleared fairground into mud and caused tents to collapse. Yet, eventgoers continued to show up, confined mostly to a five-acre section that was adequately covered with roofs and canvas. The fair continued through World War I and in the economic uncertainty that followed. The Great Depression sent waves of unrest and economic repercussions throughout the area, the fair economy was relatively unscathed. A general admission ticket for the week-long event cost 50 cents, the same price as before the Depression. Event organizers actually lowered the cost of automobile parking to 25 cents in 1933. Even World War II thwarted but did not completely scuttle the event. The fair was cancelled in 1943, mainly due to gasoline rationing, but a one-day picnic was held instead. Like many things, the 2020 fair fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agricultural demonstrations and livestock exhibits are the picnic’s major attractions, but livestock sales generate interest. They also generate significant income. In 1998, for example, 268 animals were sold, raising more than $120,000. The first amusement ride — the Wave — was introduced in 1915. The organization now estimates that the park is home to about 1,000 tents and 1,500 recreational vehicles during the fair. The park also makes room for hundreds of concessions stands, 7,000 exhibit items, along with numerous amusement rides. 

We spent the day sitting out watching more campers arrive. We had to keep going inside because it was sprinkling rain. Then we would come back out and go back in. However, rain set in around 7pm, with severe thunderstorm warnings. We now have water front property along a creek... no extra charge! We are in for the night now. Tomorrow is another day!

On Monday June 24th, I took my regular walk around the Grange Park grounds. It was cooler, but the sun was shining and everything was very blue and green! Later, we are headed to see Jack & Jackie Laubach in Sunbury. 

We took Route 45 most all the way from Centre Hall to Sunbury. Along the way, we passed a ton of farm land, many small Pennsylvania towns and Amish farms. Millheim, the heart of Penns Valley, is a town that surprises. Lets look at the basics facts... It's a borough of only 900 people. It's named after mills that have been gone for a hundred years. On the positive note, the town has the only traffic light in 35 miles on Rt. 45! 

A quick drive-through town probably wouldn’t change your mind. However, Millheim is also a great place to take in the sights. There are historic buildings and homes, an occasional Amish buggy and the brightly painted mural that graces the side of Elk Creek Café + Aleworks.

Driving the rural two lane road of PA Route 45 towards Woodward, by the time you reach Spring Mills you would usually see the familiar sight of the Amish buggies hugging the gravel side strip of Route 45 and the Amish farms on each side of the road growing corn.

I have always been fascinated and curious about the Amish communities we pass. I notice the differences in their horse drawn carriages. I marvel at their work ethic. I love to photograph them, but I also try to respect their privacy and religion while capturing the beauty of the way they live and work. There were always some noticeable characteristics in the Amish areas such as the well worn tracks from the buggy wheels. I couldn’t live like they do, but I respect it and it has reminded me to always take the two lane roads and  you will be surprised with what you find.

In Mifflinburg I saw one of my favorite sights in an Amish area. The horses and buggy or wagons hitched up in a parking lot with our cars and trucks. This was at Cole's Hardware in Mifflinburg.

We passed through Lewisburg and turned south onto a familiar Route 15. We turned onto Route 11 and passed through Northumberland on our way to Packers Island. Our friends, Jack & Jackie, are summering at the Airport Campground on the island. Packers Island is the Island Between Sunbury & Northumberland. It has also been known as: Shamokin Island, Lynn's Island, and Island Of Corsica. 

John B. Packer, one of the owners of the island, was one of the largest landholders in Pennsylvania, and he was a stock holder in the Philadelphia and Erie railroad.  His wife, Mary, was a major donor for the Mary M. Packer hospital, and she also helped to start the Opera House. It was in  May of 1923,  that a group of capitalists headed by S.M. Weist purchased 18 acres of land on Packers Island for an Amusement park. The park opened on June 30, 1923, and operated for 11 years, closing in 1934. In 1918, when the first air mail route between New York and Washington DC was established (with a stop in Philadelphia) lighted runways were rare, and safety was a concern.  For the  transcontinental route, pilots considered the area between Sunbury and Bellefonte the least desirable and nicknamed it “Hell’s stretch.” 

In 1920, low clouds and fog forced an air-mail pilot to land in a farmer’s field on the Susquehanna River island. The pilot learned that another air-mail pilot had landed in the same field, for the same reason, a few weeks earlier. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Department of Commerce designated the island an official emergency stop for aircraft and established a charted airfield on the farm. Its location was ideal because it was midway between several stops. Jack & Jackie summer on the side of that still active grass runway airport. Tucker loves to watch the planes land! We enjoyed our time with Jack & Jackie and they served us a great picnic lunch!

We departed there and headed north on 405. We came across these white circles in the road. The white dots on some roads in Pennsylvania are oval-shaped road markers that are used to prevent tailgating and rear-end collisions. They are also known as Botts' dots or raised pavement markers. The dots are spaced at intervals that allow drivers to maintain a safe distance between vehicles and have enough time to react. The dot treatment is part of a low-cost safety enhancement project with a goal to reduce the number of aggressive highway crashes, injuries and deaths.

We arrived in Montgomery, at Riverside Campground, to see Dwight & Marie Laylon, friends from our community in Florida. We picked a great day to visit... they have been out of power for three days since a bad windstorm came through! We spent a few hours sitting outside in the shade visiting before we headed back to Centre Hall.

Tuesday June 25th, I enjoyed my morning walk on the Grange Park grounds. We had a leisurely morning at the camper, listening to the jams around us. We had a 3pm reservation for Penn's Cave.

Penn's Cave is America's only all-water cavern in Pennsylvania that is on the National Register of Historic Places! In 1976, the United States Department of the Interior named Penn's Cave and Penn's Cave Hotel on the National Register of Historic Places, because of its cultural and historical significance.

We milled around the gift shop as we waited for our tour to be called. We walked down the 300 foot ramp to the 95-steps that lead us underground to the boats and to see the breathtaking limestone formations during our fully-guided 45 minute cavern tour with Marty. 

We learned from Marty that the cave itself is nestled under about 1,500 acres of rolling fields. It boasts over 600,000 square feet, and its limestone rock is estimated to be millions of years old. It remains a scientific mystery how waters from the streams around Nittany Mountain, nearly five miles away, pass through the valleys into the cavern. The water is full of trout, too.

Penn's Cave clearly show that the original inhabitants of this natural wonder were Native Americans. According to the Penn's Cave tour guide, distant relatives of Edgar Allan Poe accumulated tracts of land in battles won against the Native Americans, including Penn's Cave farms. As the land encompassing Penn's Cave was passed down, the dry entrance to the cave was frequented more and more. It wasn't until 1860 that two men, Issac Paxton and Albert Woods, decided to explore further into the cave. They built a raft and successfully traversed the cavern for the first time in documented history.

Penn's Cave limestone is theorized to have formed from ocean bottom mud compressed into rock over millions of years. This rock is an estimated 400-500 million years old. Penn's Cave follows the linear cave pattern, which in geological terms means its tunnel forms a rather straight passage along the strike of limestone formations. 

The cavern itself is thought to have formed in two cycles: the dissolving of limestone rock from acidic groundwater, and draining of water through naturally-formed cavities, essentially fractures in the typically impermeable limestone.

Centuries of this dissolution caused the fractures to enlarge into cave passages. It is estimated that despite the age of the limestone within the cavern. 

Penn's Cave is about 30 million years old, which is much older than the average cave age of 10 million years. One lighted section looked very different under different lights.

In 1885, the 30-room Penn's Cave Hotel was constructed and hosted hundreds of visitors annually. Ownership of Penn's Cave farms changed often over the years due to owners' financial troubles, but notoriety continued to spread. 

Between 1927 and 1929, the owners designed and engineered the opening of the rear of the cave, which created a tunnel from the main rooms of the cave to Lake Nitanee outside. Today, visitors to Penn's cave can enjoy the same one-mile boat ride that Paxton and Woods first discovered over 100 years ago, complete with a guided tour and circle around Lake Nitanee.

We did not purchase the "wildlife" tour. But on our way out, we saw a herd of reindeer with 2 fawn near the big one.

And a beautiful brahma. Now I kind of wish I had!

Stay tuned as the #TwoLaneAdventures continue.