Seasonal shop at PA Grand Canyon sells locally made artisan products

WELLSBORO, PA – At the edge of the PA Grand Canyon at Leonard Harrison State Park, the PA Wilds Conservation Shop has reopened for the 2025 season. The shop offers locally made products for travelers who come to the park to admire the breathtaking view.

Operated by the nonprofit PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship (PA Wilds Center), the PA Wilds Conservation Shops are mission-driven gift shops that help improve market access for rural entrepreneurs by sourcing 90 percent of their inventory from rural makers and businesses in the 13-county Pennsylvania Wilds region. 

The PA Wilds Conservation Shop at Leonard Harrison State Park is one of three shop locations operated by the PA Wilds Center. The flagship store at Kinzua Bridge State Park (McKean County) opened in 2016, and it continues to operate during the three-year Skywalk renovations. There is also a shop located in the historic former train depot building along the Knox and Kane Rail Trail in Marienville (Forest County), which opened in 2024.

The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources completed renovations at Leonard Harrison State Park’s visitor center in 2024. The PA Wilds Conservation Shop, which began as a seasonal mobile unit at the park, relocated inside the new building in June 2024.

Libby Bloomquist, Sustainable Commerce Director at PA Wilds Center, says travelers are happy to hear that their souvenirs were made or designed by artisans based in this rural region. “We give visitors a chance to truly take home a piece of the PA Wilds by offering products that are made here by local artisans and authentically represent our region,” she said. “The view from Leonard Harrison State Park is spectacular, and plenty of the designs here feature the picturesque overlook of the gorge.”

Some of the products in the store that are created especially to appeal to the thousands of travelers who visit the PA Grand Canyon each year:

• 3D wooden cut magnets show the Pine Creek Valley in full fall foliage
• Photo prints and art show the gorgeous dark skies and rolling hills
• Locally made maple syrup gives families a sweet taste of the Pine Creek Valley
• “Tree stump” chocolates (a big hit with kids!) are made just a few miles away in Wellsboro
• Locally made metal replicas of Wellsboro’s famous gas street lights
• Funny “elk on a bike” t-shirts are a fan-favorite for cyclists
• A Pine Creek Rail Trail guidebook enhances any journey on the nearby 63-mile  PCRT

“Some other popular sellers are PA Grand Canyon t-shirts that were designed by a local artist and printed in the PA Wilds, handcrafted earrings and other jewelry so folks can wear their love of the Wilds, and the famous Pennsylvania State Parks and State Forests Passport so visitors can continue to track their adventures,” said Bloomquist.

Each PA Wilds Conservation Shop aims to be a part of the community where it is located, carrying items that authentically reflect each unique location. While there are some products that can be found in all three of the shops, the shop at Kinzua Bridge State Park has many items that celebrate the Skywalk and the Kinzua Valley’s rich history. Likewise, the shop in Marienville carries plenty of train-themed items that showcase the shop’s location on the Knox and Kane Rail Trail and the history of the former train depot building.

The PA Wilds Conservation Shop at Leonard Harrison State Park is currently open Thursday-Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop will close for the season in November 2025. Learn more at ShopThePAWilds.com/pa-wilds-conservation-shops.

The PA Wilds Center invests thousands of dollars a year buying inventory and value-added products directly from local businesses for its gift shops. The shops also intentionally pass foot traffic to other area businesses, visitor bureaus, and attractions. Each PA Wilds Conservation Shop employs a full-time store manager and a store keyholder position, as well as part-time jobs. 

There are currently more than 40 vendors supplying products for the Conservation Shops, a vast majority of whom are located in the PA Wilds and participate in the free Wilds Cooperative of PA network. The Wilds Cooperative seeks to connect and promote local businesses and is the entry point for those looking to tap into and leverage PA Wilds branding, marketing and commerce opportunities. Rural artisans interested in learning more about how to get their products into the shops are encouraged to visit WildsCoPA.org/join and apply.