Hike, bike and more in Youngstown Dine in elegance at Hyeholde
Photo courtesy of Alex Byers/GO Laurel Highlands
Laurel Caverns may become state park
Laurel Caverns is on track to become a state park unlike any other in Pennsylvania. It is all underground, the largest cave in the northeastern United States, with more than four miles of passages, where the temperature is always 52 degrees.
Story by Rick Shrum
Photos courtesy of Alex Byers/GO Laurel Highlands
The caverns, a subterranean recreation destination off Route 40 east of Uniontown, may be on the verge of becoming the 125th state park within the commonwealth. Approval of the portion of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget that is dedicated to state parks will determine whether Laurel Caverns will make that transition.
David Cale, longtime owner and operator of the caverns with his wife, Lillian, said they have “offered to donate the property” to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, positioning the caverns for the transition to occur. He said, however, they could not speak specifically about the process, referring “questions regarding the candidacy” of the caverns to DCNR’s public relations office.
DCNR manages 124 state parks, encompassing more than 300,000 acres, that offer outdoor recreation activities at no entrance fee. It also oversees Pennsylvania’s state forests.
Wesley Robinson, press secretary of the agency, said in a statement that DCNR “is working with the Laurel Caverns Conservancy on the donation of the property to be conserved as a state park.
“After an agreement is finalized, he said, “DCNR will collaborate with the current tour operator to ensure continued operations at the caverns while planning facility improvements and staffing.”
The budget vote will occur at some point thereafter.
“I know nothing about a time frame, and I’m not sure anyone does,” Cale said in a mid-May telephone interview, while taking a break from organizing an innumerable run of school bus tours.
“It hasn’t been approved by the Legislature, and there are so many variables that it’s difficult to give anyone a timeline now.”
Cale and Robinson are upbeat about Laurel Caverns’ chances.
“I am grateful to both Governor Shapiro and the DCNR for their desire to see Laurel Caverns become a state park,” Cale said.
Robinson said in an interview, “It is hard to say too much, but we are working to prepare for that. We’re pretty sure this will go through. Once we’re out of budget, we’re good.”
Cale, 79, has had ties — including family ties — to Laurel Caverns since he was a youth growing up in nearby German Township. His grandfather, Norman Cale, purchased the property in 1927 with two investors and became the sole owner a quartercentury later.
David
and Lillian Cale in front of the sign welcoming patrons from all over to the Laurel Caverns. The Visitor’ Center is named for David’s grandfather.
“He wanted to preserve the cave and felt the best way was as a tour site,” David said of his grandfather. “There had been a lot of vandalism, graffiti and garbage left there. Since 1794, people came in and pretty much trashed the cave.”
The two Cales worked to restore it in the early 1960s. Although David’s father was a minister in southern West Virginia at the time, Norman asked the 16-year-old whether he could stay with him during the summer and help develop the site.
“Work started in May 1962, and I lived in a tent,” David said. “Ralph Bossart — Buzz — taught me the basic geology of a cave and basic wiring to wire the cave.”
Let there be light.
Laurel Caverns opened on July 1, 1964, and young David led the first tour. Three months later, Norman sold the cave to two Greensburg attorneys, Emmett Boyle Jr. and Ned Nakles, who, according to David, maintained Norman’s preservationist views.
David remained as general manager. The job enabled him to pay for college, leading to a longtime position as a philosophy professor at West Virginia University.
“They purchased all of this property with the idea of development of the view,” David Cale said. And the view, from high atop the mountains of the Laurel Highlands, is spectacular.
He became the sole owner with Lillian 39 years ago, in 1986.
The Cales now lead a popular recreational, educational and vibrant location that is, literally, in the midst of history and high entertainment. Fort Necessity, Ohiopyle State Park, Fallingwater, Nemacolin Woodlands, Kentuck Knob and Searights Tollhouse are within a 15-minute commute from the caves.
Laurel Caverns is open for business every day, including holidays, through Sept. 1. Activities include a 45-minute traditional cave tour, a Kaving for Kids Tour, Panning for Gemstones for youths and a lookout terrace.
The property has been a worthwhile and longtime endeavor for David Cale and his family. A budget victory, though, would be a thrilling culmination of his hopes for this land — above and below the surface. “My intention from the beginning of my involvement is that the caverns would become a state park.”
State’s only stone skipping championship is just a stone’s throw away
Story by Kristin Emery
Do you know the difference between a plink and a plonk? If so, you may be a stone chukker or a fan of what’s commonly called stone skipping. Either way, it’s time to grab your best skipping stones and head northeast for about 100 miles to Franklin, the county seat of Venango County. That’s where they hold the Rock in River Festival each summer, which is home to the 2025 PA Stone Skipping Championship. Yes, indeed, there is a stone skipping championship, and it happens each August, not too far away in Franklin.
Brian Barnett had never even heard of the event when they asked him to be in charge. He says the festival started with bass fishing, frog jumping and races. Someone eventually came up with the idea to add a stone-skipping competition, and the rest is history. “We get about 30 to 40 professionals each year,” says Barnett, who served as high commissioner of the Western Pennsylvania Stone Skipping Championship for 20 years up until 2018. Yes, much like professional hot dog eaters, there are professional stone skippers, and they come from all different countries. “They come from all over the United States.
We also get competitors from all over the world — Canada, Japan, Scotland, England. Then you have the amateurs and the youth group.” To be classified as a professional, you must be able to skip a stone 20 times.
Whether you’re a chukker, or your stone plinks or pitty pats, the same rules apply to all contestants: Stone skippers must bring their own six stones or find their six stones on the shore before the contest starts. Stones must be natural. Nothing may be added to or taken from the stones. You also can’t take too long to get ready for your attempt. The official rules state, “Shilly-Shallying and Dilly-Dallying are prohibited. Professionals have 60 seconds in which to make each cast.”
“In my opinion, the key to success is large flat stones which control the speed and distance needed to win a championship,” Barnett advises. “Small stones hit the water, flip and immediately sink. The average weight is around one pound.” One of the most famous stone skippers around was Venango County resident Russ Byars, who broke the world record for stone skipping back in 2007. Guinness World
Photos courtesy of Eight One Four Photography | Above, the 2024 competition. Below, a shot from 2022.
Records certified him as breaking the previous record by skipping a stone 51 times in one throw. At the time, Byars estimated the stone traveled nearly 250 feet on its journey. “Russ Byers, when he broke the Guinness Book of World Records, he put us on the world map,” says Barnett. “And I’m not just exaggerating or anything. I mean, he wound up going to China. He wound up going to France. They did a documentary on him, which is really cool.” Byars was the first competitor to be inducted into the Mackinac Island Stone Skipping Hall of Fame. Barnett says Franklin and Mackinac Island (in Michigan) are the only two stone skipping championships, and Byars won in Franklin six times while winning in Mackinac eight times. He had an ongoing stone skipping rivalry with Kurt “The Mountain Man” Steiner of Emporium (in Cameron County, just a bit east of Venango County), who previously held the world record with 40 skips in 2002 and set a new world record in 2013 with an astounding 88 skips. While Guinness judges watch videos of the world record attempt throws and count the skips frame
by frame, judges at the annual PA Stone Skipping Championship don’t have that luxury. They rely on good old eyesight, live as it happens. What does the winner take home? Besides bragging rights and a trophy, the real prize is the fudge. Russ Byars was known to wear a t-shirt that read, “Skips Stones for Fudge,” referring to the award for the Franklin contest being famous Mackinac Island fudge.
So whether your stone plinks (a clean cut skip), plonks (a stone that sinks on the first hit), pittypats (short skips at end of a run), or is an outright skronker (a stone that never hits water or anything), you’re invited to give it a whirl. And if you just want to watch the amateurs and professionals in their attempts to win the fudge, you’ll find a day full of competition, music, rock painting and fun in Franklin. This year’s Rock in River Fest is set for Saturday, Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Riverfront Park on the Allegheny River in Franklin. Details on the PA Stone Skipping Championship, registration forms and rules are all available at franklinpa.gov.
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The Learning Never Stops
Youngstown has much to offer
Story by Dave Zuchowski
Roughly 88 miles and an hour and a half drive from Washington, Youngstown, Ohio, may surprise area visitors with its impressive variety of quality attractions.
The city with a population of 60,068 (2020 census) got its name from an early settler, John Young, who surveyed the area in 1796. The discovery of coal in the early 19th century sparked an industrial boom, especially in the realm of steelmaking. By the 1950s, the population soared to 170,000, and prosperity led to the creation of many of the city’s most prominent buildings.
With the decline of the steel industry in the 1970s, the city’s population shrank by nearly 65 percent. Fortunately, many of its cultural and civic assets remain, and several revitalization efforts have made the ity more attractive to visitors.
Mill Creek Park
With 2,658 acres to roam around in, Mill Creek Park is huge. Besides its 45 miles of trails, the park offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, biking, boating, fishing, golf, tennis, volleyball, pickleball, picnicking, bouldering, cross-country skiing, sledding and more.
Kayaking is permitted on Lakes Newport and Glacier, with launch points from boathouses located on both lakes. Visitors can bring their
own kayaks, or MetroParks offers kayak and paddle boat rentals at the boathouses.
Fellows Riverside Gardens
On any visit to Youngstown, you might want to make a first stop at Fellows Riverside Gardens, a 12-acre public garden considered one of Ohio’s finest. In late April, when I visited the city, the visitor center entry was lined with hundreds of blooming tulips, just some of the over 40,000 bulbs that blossom each spring. As I roamed the grounds, the roses were full of the promise of summertime beauty, and thousands of annuals were ready to replace the already blooming crocuses and narcissi.
The gardens have a beautiful visitors center with a garden cafe. Guided tours of the grounds are available by reservation, and garden entry is free of charge. Located at 123 McKinley Avenue in Youngstown, the gardens are open daily. Phone 330-740-7116.
Cruise The Creek
One of the ways to visit three of the park’s most popular attractions is by e-bike. These battery-operated bicycles allow for easy traversal of the park’s hills and roadways with minimal pedaling effort. Cruise the Creek offers e-bike rentals and makes it easy to reserve your bike by registering online at cruisethecreek.com
Dave Zuchowski/for the Observer-Reporter Turtles on a log at the Lily Pond
The Lily Pond
When I got to Lily Pond, a four-acre lake, I could see four sleepy turtles sunning themselves on a nearby log as a gigantic snapper went swimming by. Too early in the season for much in the way of water lilies, I could spot only a single plant floating on top of the water. As we get closer to summer, the pond should be full of blooming lilies.
Hikers might like to circumnavigate the pond via a quarter-mile trail, and less active visitors can make use of a new floating boardwalk and two observation decks to enjoy the pond.
The Cinderella Bridge
A fanciful 1895 suspension bridge locally referred to as the “Cinderella Bridge” is a notto-be-missed photo op. The bridge, so fun to walk across, can be seen from the East/West Gorge Trail, one of the best trails in the area.
Lanterman’s Mill and Covered Bridge
One of the most picturesque sites in the park, Lanterman’s Mill dates back to 1846 and is still operating today as a gristmill. The three-story wooden building sits atop a stone foundation right alongside Lanterman’s Falls. Visitors can buy fresh ground corn and wheat in the artisan's gift shop, walk out onto the observation deck overlooking the falls and then walk through the nearby covered bridge.
Golf
The Mill Creek Golf Course boasts two 18-hole championship courses designed by Donald Ross that first opened in 1928.
Good eats
Youngstown has a large population of ItalianAmericans, and Casa di Canzonetta is the place many of them go for authentic Italian cuisine. Just opened last September, the eye-catching restaurant features high ceilings, a black and white tile floor and a gorgeously lit bar area that changes colors throughout the evening. In warmer weather, patrons can dine outdoors on the patio.
The menu features a large array of Italian antipasti (the scarola – sauteed escarole in EVOO with garlic and Pecorino Romano is delicious), creative soups, pasta including bucatini and a long list of grilled and oven-roasted entrees. Located on the first floor of the Doubletree by Hilton, 44 Federal Plaza East, the restaurant is open seven days a week, including Saturday and Sunday brunch. Phone 330-238-7171 or casadicanzonetta.com.
For a different take on pizza, try the Brier Hill style, developed in the neighborhood settled by the first Italian immigrants to Youngstown, who
Left top: Courtesy of ExploreMahoning.com Kayaking at Mill Creek Park
Dave Zuchowski/for the Observer-Reporter
Left middle: Calamari appetizer at Casa di Canzonetta
Left bottom: Lanterman's Mill
Above top: Outside the Butler Museum of American Art
Above bottom: The Doubletree by Hilton Hotel floodlit at night
were among the first steelworkers. It consists of bread-like dough, thick tomato sauce, bell peppers and Romano cheese. It can be found at the Avalon restaurant in Downtown Youngstown, 17 W. Federal St. Phone 330-740-0000 or avalondowntown.com.
Those who enjoy wine and beer can visit five wineries and five breweries in the Youngtown area. Each has its own unique ambiance, a distinct tasting room, and most offer food as accompaniments to their carefully crafted brews and wines. For a brochure and more information, phone 800-447-8201.
The cultural scene
Stambaugh Auditorium hosts national and international performers regularly and features the 2,553-seat Concert Hall, renowned for its near-perfect acoustics. 330-259-0555.
The Doyer Performing Arts Center is the home of the Youngstown Symphony and traveling theatrical productions. 330-744-0264.
The Youngstown Playhouse, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024, stages a range of dramas and musicals each season. 330-788-8739.
The Butler Museum of American Art, the first museum in the country to exclusively exhibit American artwork, is an architectural masterpiece that features a collection of over 22,000 pieces in all genres. 330-743-1107.
Arms Family Museum is housed in Greystone, a beautiful 1905 Arts and Crafts style mansion. The first floor of the historic home features original period rooms that highlight the Arms’ love of handicraft, medieval architecture and the natural environment.
The lower level and second floor showcase a complete history of life in the Mahoning Valley, from the earliest evidence of human habitation in Mahoning County to yesterday’s fads. 330-743-2589.
The Center of Industry and Labor (Steel Museum) spotlights the men and women who worked in the steel industry with exhibits featuring artifacts, video interviews and full-scale recreations of worker living spaces and workplaces. 330-941-1314.
Visitors taste-test one of the maple candies being made on the tour.
Courtesy of Milroy Farms
Place to stay
The DoubleTree by Hilton, the first hotel in the city in over 40 years, is located in a 1907 building that was once the home of Youngstown Sheet and Tube. In May 2018, the building was gutted and converted into a 12-story, 125-room hotel featuring neo-classical architecture throughout, a fitness and business center and Casa di Canzonetta, one of the city’s top places for Italian cuisine. 330-333-8284.
For more information on Youngstown and Mahoning County, phone 800-447-8201.
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DINE IN A CASTLE AT HYEHOLDE
Story by Kristin Emery
Nestled in a wooded area of Coraopolis sits a castle that hosts guests yearround. Some gatherings are lavish and ornate, celebrating weddings or retirements. Other times, couples or families gather for intimate dinners. What started as a dream in 1931 is still going strong, with a new chapter of ownership, but the same high standards, warm welcomes and delicious local ingredients crafted into sumptuous dishes. If you haven’t been to Hyeholde or have never heard of it, that needs to change.
Building the dream
Back in 1931, William and Clara Kryskill purchased six acres of farmland and began building their dream: a structure that would be part home
The dream changes
Decades passed, and Hyeholde transformed along with them as new owners carried on the sophisticated ambiance and farm-to-table tradition, even renovating the old living quarters into additional dining space. In 1991, the Kryskills’ daughter, Barbara McKenna and her husband, Quentin, repurchased Hyeholde to build on its beauty and keep the magical castle-turned-restaurant going.
The dream continues
By 2023, Barbara’s husband had passed away, and she was in her 80s and ready to hand off the reins to a new generation — but not to just anyone. Executive Chef Chris O’Brien had been part of the Hyeholde family since 1997. He had left for a few
Photos courtesy of Hyeholde
which reflects the freshness of what’s in season.
O’Brien is still the executive chef and became the outright owner of Hyeholde two years ago. He admits he’s navigating the change from running only his kitchen to now running the entire venue. “I have a really amazing management team and kitchen staff, which in this day and age, it’s pretty hard to have both,” O’Brien says. “I’m really fortunate. I’m kind of finding my way through the whole owner/ chef transition… It’s been good. The last two years have been a great learning experience, and to really help navigate that, I have an amazing chef de cuisine. I’ve been giving up more and more of the kitchen responsibilities to him, so I can focus a little bit more on everything.” That menu is farmto-table focused more than ever before. “We’ve always had a commitment to farm-to-table ever since I’ve been here… probably 70 to 80% of what we get in, depending on the season,” O’Brien says. “In the summertime, it’s almost completely farm to table — as much local as we can do, we do. When I say local, I’m saying within probably 75 miles of the restaurant. We get local farm-raised trout from Seven Springs, Elysian Fields Farm lamb (from Waynesburg), which we’ve had a relationship with for probably 30 years now. We hit the farmers market twice a week, and we do a lot of things inhouse.” That includes tending to five beehives on the property, which they harvest twice per year. You’ll also find vegetable gardens and a greenhouse on the grounds with flower beds and even pear trees dotting the four-and-a-half-acre property. “Our mixologist, Dan, makes pear brandy from the pear trees,” adds O’Brien. “We have apple, peach trees, a cherry tree, a couple gooseberry bushes. It’s a lot of fun.”
Sometimes you have to leave a place to spread your wings, and working at the Greenbriar Resort helped O’Brien appreciate Hyeholde even more. “I thought it was an amazing experience, but I like the more intimate experience rather than cooking for so many people,” he says. “So, I came back, worked my way up to sous chef and then in the fall of 1997 became executive chef.” When the time came to buy Hyeholde from Barbara, he was ready to continue on with the same care the family had always shown it. “She wanted to enjoy the rest of her time, and she really trusted me, which I’m grateful for, to not only trust me with carrying on her restaurant but her family’s legacy as well,” O’Brien says. “It’s extremely important to me right now. I have great respect for her family and what they started to continue the next chapter.”
Through the years, the family home and restaurant grew, new additions appeared, and the space eventually transitioned entirely to a restaurant and
Chef Chris O’Brien
O’Brien plates a dish
event venue. The stone and glass-designed Round Room serves as a private event space, regularly hosting weddings, showers, rehearsal dinners and business dinners. Speaking of weddings, Chris and his wife actually got married at Hyeholde five years ago… and, no, he didn’t cook that day! “My kids work here now, my wife works here now, which is really special to me,” he says. In addition to regular dining and private events, Hyeholde regularly hosts signature experiences like Chef’s Table (Pittsburgh’s first), which is available every night. “We do wine tastings once a month, a spring dinner which features our local farmers,” O’Brien says. “We do a honey dinner just solely around our beehives. Every July, we have a pig roast. Every month, we do something different and special.” The chef describes his menu as “country French,” with all stocks and sauces made in-house. “A lot of demi-glaces, lot of pates and a lot of terrines,” he says. Add in homemade jams and jellies, house-cured prosciuttos and smoked meats. “Every piece of our menu is, I think, thoughtfully done with good integrity.”
You’ll find Hyeholde at 1516 Coraopolis Heights Road in Coraopolis. For more information about Hyeholde or to book an event, please visit hyeholde.com or call 412-264-3116.
