The Nautical Nature will be sailing at 1:00 pm on Wednesday August 4.  Call now to make reservations. 724 368-9185

Celebrate the Regatta at Lake Arthur in style with a deluxe evening dinner cruise featuring a delicious New York Strip Steak, sauteed mushrooms and onions, baked potatoe with sour cream and butter, green beans, tossed salad, bread/rolls, and cold drinks. Your cruise will conclude with viewing spectacular fireworks reflected in the lake.

Saturday, August 7 at 7:45 pm - McDanel's Launch on the North Shore. Cost $30 per person. Make reservations now at 724-368-9185 or order tickets online.

Deadline for reservations is July 31.

One recent Sunday I stopped into the Dairy Queen located at the intersection of West Park Road and Route 108 to satisfy the craving for my favorite Blizzard treat.  Upon entering, I was amazed at how busy the place was given that it was the middle of the day. After commenting about the crowd to one of the waiting patrons, he mentioned that his family had stopped there after following the detour exiting the North Shore of Moraine State Park. Rather than showing irritation at having to travel North to turn South onto I79, he was actually happy that the route had dumped him right at the Dairy Queen’s door. He mentioned that the stop fit in perfectly for his hungry family after having spent the day enjoying the park. Intrigued, I asked a few other customers what had brought them to the Dairy Queen.  They had the same story. While all of them weren’t thrilled at the prospect of the roundabout route, some mentioned that they hadn’t been to the area in awhile and it was actually a nice drive.  

After thinking about it when I got home, it occurred to me that people do enjoy seeing and experiencing new places even when it isn’t planned into their itinerary. Agreed, the detour is causing some headaches for visitors to the North Shore especially for many who aren’t aware of it before arriving. But imagine spending the day at the park enjoying all of the outdoor activities, then stopping in at the Dairy Queen on your way home. Or, visiting the newly expanded Farmer’s Market located right next door. Slippery Rock is also located only a few miles down Rte 108 offering many different shopping or dining opportunities.

The Moraine Preservation Fund’s attractions at McDanel’s Launch along with all of Moraine State Park’s features are open for business. Our Owlet Gift Shop and Nature Center along with Nautical Nature’s boat tours, dinner cruises or charters as well as educational programs and attractions are all still available. Since our visitors are being encouraged to follow the detour, we’ll make adjustments and accommodations as needed to provide the best possible service. We welcome any feedback you might have about how we can improve your experience. And, like the visitors I recently talked to at the Dairy Queen, turn your next inconvenience into an adventure. We look forward to seeing you this summer!