The calm countryside of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, offers recreational activities only minutes away from the big city.
Located north of West Virginia and east of Ohio, you can find this county just 30 minutes from the northwest of Pittsburgh along the rivers of Beaver and Ohio.
The county seat was declared in the Borough of Beaver in 1800 when Beaver County was formed.
Explore many available activities, such as speed boating, kayaking, hiking, and sightseeing.
Many ethnic festivals and cultural events are also held throughout the year, and you can take a trip down memory lane at the many heritage sites in the county.
Here are the best things to do in Beaver County, Pennsylvania:
Jason Pratt (FishSpeaker) from Pittsburgh, PA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Raccoon Creek State Park was a Recreational Demonstration Area in the 1930s that the National Park Services operated during the Civilian Conservation Corps era.
Today, it is one of the state’s most visited and largest parks.
The land was transferred to The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1945, and they continued to develop the park and build facilities, including the swimming and picnic areas in 1950, an area for camping in 1956, and a colony of cabins in the 1980s.
Jason Pratt, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
There’s a mix of facilities on this 7,572-acre land, and it also features the beautiful Raccoon Lake that stretches 101 acres.
You can go hiking on one of the trails that stretches a total of 44 miles, enjoy water activities in the Raccoon Lake, go fishing, or relax in one of the cabins.
The park is located in Hookstown.
The Old Economy Village is a National Historical Landmark that the Harmony Society founded, or the Harmonists, in 1824 in Ambridge.
To preserve, proclaim, and present the great history of the Harmony Society and its community, the village strives to tell the story of one of the oldest and most successful religious communal groups during the 19th century.
The Economy was the place where the society settled and gained recognition all over the world for its economic prosperity and religious devotion, where they awaited the Messiah’s second coming until they were dissolved in 1905.
Its remaining land became the state’s property in 1916 and has become the historical Economy we know today that Ambridge’s National Register Historic District surrounds.
Make sure to visit and learn about Old Economy Village’s history during your stay in the county!
The Merrick Art Gallery is home to many stunning paintings from English, French, American, and German artists in New Brighton in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Examples of realistic, impressionistic, and romantic art by known European and American artists are displayed in the gallery, including Curran, Sully, Courbet, and Winterhalter.
The New Brighton industrialist who founded the gallery was Edward Dempster Merrick.
He was also the person who purchased the train station in 1880 and the land between the train station and where the Methodist Episcopal Church stood in 1898 because of his growing art collection.
A part of the gallery’s collection is a piano used by Stephen Foster, a legendary composer, which is located in the Eva Mae Merrick Music Room.
There are many other collections in Merrick Art Gallery for you to see, such as contemporary art, rock, and mineral collection, including a 19th-century library and a Victorian garden.
Roughly stretching 2,000 acres, Brady’s Run Park is the country’s largest, where you can enjoy recreational activities just outside Beaver Falls.
The area features a 28-acre lake, dog park, indoor tennis court and track, an ice arena, and more.
Brady’s Run Park is a place for everyone, so whether you are with family, friends, your pet, or just taking time off from the bustling city, there is certainly an activity you will enjoy upon your visit.
Go hiking or explore the multiple trails, launch a boat, or go fishing on the lake.
You can also enjoy horseback riding, play tennis, or skate.
Don’t forget to plan ahead to make the most out of your trip!
The premier public facility of Olde Stonewall Golf Club provides an extraordinary golfing experience.
Dana Fry and Dr. Michael Hurdza, two well-known course architects, designed this 7,100-yard golf course near Ellwood City in 1999.
Ever since its opening, the course has won numerous awards, such as Golf Magazine’s Top Ten New Courses and Golfweek’s State-by-State America’s Best Courses.
Golf Digest has also ranked the course as the Number One Public Course in Pennsylvania, one of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, and one of the Best Courses in the state overall.
At Olde Stonewall Golf Club, you’ll see the towering clubhouse of Olde Stonewall, the dominating 33,000 square-foot tall gray castle with two huge oak doors that stand 11 feet high at 800 pounds each.
Practice areas, locker rooms, and Shakespeare’s Restaurant and Banquets are also available.
Experience Medieval-style dining at Shakespeare’s Restaurant & Pub at Olde Stonewall Golf Club in Ellwood City.
The restaurant is located on the first floor of the castle.
It opened in December 1999 and serves American cuisine with a casual medieval theme.
Diners can eat indoors or out on the patio when the weather permits.
Their food options range from soups, teasers, salads, and handhelds.
Have a hearty meal with their Pumpkin Bisque, Bruschetta, Pecan Chicken Salad, and Castle Burger.
Indulge in good food with a great ambiance after your fun day at Olde Stonewall!
Enjoy a picturesque walk by the waterfalls as you explore Buttermilk Falls.
This natural wonder was originally known as Homewood Falls due to the bedding of Homewood Sandstones at the bottom of the waterfalls that was created by a 310 million-year-old river system.
A group of Civil War soldiers, together with their wives, gave the falls its current name in 1870 when they raised their buttermilk-filled cups to toast while on a picnic.
Towering at 20 feet, Buttermilk Falls is one of the tallest in the county and has a train track running just above it.
When hiking, you can take the path that runs behind the waterfalls for a unique perspective!
In 2013, artist Renée Suhr founded Stray Cat Studio in Beaver Falls.
The studio quickly became a gathering place for pottery enthusiasts of all skill levels, where they could share their passion and talents with others.
Today, the studio remains committed to providing a supportive and creative community for its members.
Getting its name from the idea of stray cats, the studio believes that the residents of the small town are resilient and unshakable, too—that they inspire others to try new things and to keep pursuing them.
They welcome all “stray cats”—artists who are wandering and are looking for a studio they can call their own, and even those who are in the hunt for unique, handmade pottery.
If you’re looking to explore working with clay or developing your skills in the field, Stray Cat Studio is one of the places you must visit in the county.
Parkraccoon30, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Featuring biodiverse wildflowers, the Wildflower Reserve Interpretive Center is located in Clinton, near the Township of Hanover.
The 314-acre area was purchased in 1962 by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and is the main focus of the programs presented at Raccoon Creek State Park.
Their programs cover a wide range of topics presented to schools, the public, and organizations.
The 4.5-mile trail at Wildflower Reserve Interpretive Center is home to over 700 plants in various habitats, including pine plantations, riparian forests, meadows, and oak-hickory forests.
See the wildflowers blooming at their peak from late April until early May and in August until early September.
In 1986, the association of the Air Heritage Museum was formed and has made the Beaver County Airport in Beaver Falls their base operations for their aviation historical research and preservation.
The first restoration was an acquired L-21B, a Piper Super Club’s military version, which was made available by the Pennsylvania Federal Surplus Property Program in June 1987.
Some of the members encountered David Tallichet, a collector of WWII aircraft, during one of their shows in the late 1980s to help repair the tail wheel of his B-17, and this was the beginning of their partnership.
The association helped restore the rare WWII aircraft collection of Mr. Tallichet’s collection, and he provided and financed a hangar facility for them, which opened in 1990.
Since then, they have worked on the aircraft of the Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (MARC), such as the P-47, A20H, a Stinson, and Lysander Storch, among others.
Since 2010, the hangar has been exclusively owned by Air Heritage Museum, and they have acquired more aircraft to restore in their working museum.
Pinball PA in Aliquippa started in 2016 with the idea of preserving the great history of video games and pinball, and it has then become the best spot in the county for a family-friendly activity.
Chris Akin had the idea of starting his business through his curator, Ed Beeler, who had a great collection of games that became one of the many interactive exhibits in the facility.
A section of the facility is dedicated to the history of arcade games and pinball.
It features artifacts, news articles, and disassembled machines to let people know how these vintage electronics developed into the modern consoles we know today.
Experience playing in one of the country’s largest collections of video games and pinball machines and be one of the many who celebrate the memory of old-school gaming and keep the entertainment alive with your family or friends.
Over 400 vintage and modern games are free to play in Pinball PA.
You just need to pay for admission since there are no tokens here!
While there are many things to do in Beaver County, there are also places worth visiting nearby.
These must-visit places are only a few minutes from the county.
The Fun Fore All Family Fun Park has been in the community of Cranberry Township for more than 20 years.
It’s only about 30 minutes from Beaver Borough.
Fun Fore All Family Fun Park is home to the area’s best family-friendly attractions, games, and rides!
Enjoy bonding with your family over 70 video games, XD Dark Ride, go-karts, kiddie rides, 36 award-winning miniature golf holes, and batting cages.
The facility is open year-round, and its friendly staff makes sure that the environment you are in is safe and enjoyable.
Make sure your Fun Cards are loaded so you can try most, if not all, of their attractions!
Owned by Jim and Kathy Stout, the Pitt Race, or Pittsburgh International Race Complex, is located in Wampum, roughly a 30-minute drive from Beaver County.
It holds many national and regionally sanctioned motorcycle and sportscar races with world-class karting events and autocross, among many others.
To create a fun and educational experience in the motorsports world, Jim and Kathy put together a team dedicated to spectating and mentoring the community they have built.
The facility stretches 427 acres and consists of its main track complex with three different configurations.
It makes up a total of 2.78 miles for its full course, with significant elevation changes that follow the natural terrain of the property.
Pittsburgh International Race Complex also boasts the kart track that Alan Wilson designed and a skid pad that drivers use for autocross and training.
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park is your go-to place if you are looking for a fun activity with your family.
This indoor adventure park, located in Cranberry Township and about 30 minutes away from Beaver Borough, offers a variety of activities that are sure to bring out the kid in you.
Their attractions include the warrior course, The APEX Trampolines, wall climbing, dodgeball, battle beam, and Adventure Hub.
The Adventure Hub consists of a unique combination of their best indoor activities, such as the Sky Rider, Ropes Course, and Tubes Indoor Playground.
May it be for the kids or the kids at heart, you will surely have a fun time at Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park!
Enjoy a unique riding experience at the Mines & Meadows ATV/RV Resort located at Wampum, a little over 25 minutes drive from Beaver County.
It started as a small business idea of Bob Svihra about a decade ago and has developed into a park with over 870 acres of land.
The facility offers a great spectrum of riding expertise with over 84 miles of recreational trails, whether it be dirt biking, ATV, or side-by-side riding.
Mines & Meadows ATV/RV Resort sets itself apart from other parks by being the only place with an underground riding experience in the abandoned limestone mines.
If you love adventure, then this is a must-visit destination!
Beaver County offers many fun activities with family and friends.
Include these best things to do in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, in your itinerary to make the most of your trip.
Start planning your adventure today!
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