Zelienople K
nown by the locals as “Zelie,” this small town allures visitors with its charm. Zelienople is an unforgettable town steeped in rich history, providing locals and tourists with a plethora of interesting facts and unique attractions. Founded in 1802 by Detmar Basse, the town was named after his daughter, ‘Zelie,’ combined with the Greek word for town, ‘nople.’ Perhaps the most visited area of Zelienople is Main Street, which is lined with family-owned shops and restaurants, museums and a theatre that dates back to 1914. Specialty shops range from one-of-a-kind stores like Stocking Stuffers to fashion boutiques like Eva Bryn Shoetique and Boutique 16063. After you’ve spent time perusing the stores, you’ll need to fuel up on a good meal — choose from delicious options at Spring Street Cafe, Goodfello’s Pizza, Pasta & Grille or ShuBrew: Handcrafted Ales & Food. Historical homes are marked with plaques and a select few are operated as a business. Christian Buhl, a fur trader and hat maker, settled in Zelienople in 1805 and his home is the oldest existing building in Zelienople. It currently serves as one of two museums for the Zelienople Historical Society. Zelie and her husband, Phillip Passavant, built a home on Main Street in 1809 and that is the other museum/office for the Historical Society. Another favorite stop is the Strand Theater, a former movie and vaudeville theater. This restored theater dates back to 1914 and presents top-notch entertainment like Broadway performers, along with classic and current films. You’ll also find additional entertainment throughout the year with annual street festivals like Horse Trading Days and the Country Fall Festival and holiday parades. See for yourself why Zelienople has been labeled ‘a modern place with old-fashioned grace.’
Mars T
raveling to Mars is a lot easier than you think. In fact, you can get there fairly quickly and it’s only a car ride away. Complete with a flying saucer parked within the town square, residents take full advantage of their town’s unique name and visitors enjoy offbeat photo opportunities. Alien sightings occur on a regular basis, and letters with a Mars, PA, postmark are frequently mailed around the world from the local post office. In 2015, Mars created an event that was “out of this world” celebrating the Martian New Year with a festival highlighting education and innovation. This three-day festival attracts thousands of visitors into the downtown area, along with representatives from NASA. The town of Mars hosts this event every two years since it takes Mars almost twice as long as Earth to orbit the sun. The next Mars New Year will be May 31 June 2, 2019. NASA will have displays set up and conduct educational programs focused on STEAM ( science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). So be sure to mark your calendars for this “far out” festival and see for yourself that there really is life on Mars. The town of Mars dates back to 1792 when the first settler arrived in the area. The growth of the town came in spurts however, it flourished in 1894 with the railroad coming through. Mars was conveniently located on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and on the Butler Short Line, the electric trolley route that linked Pittsburgh and Butler. Today, the Historical Society operates a museum, including a restored caboose, and a scaleddown version of the Mars Shortline Railroad available to ride for all ages. So “blast off” to Mars — You’ll learn about the town’s rich history, attend one-of-a-kind events, find unearthly souvenirs and capture unique pictures like selfies with a spaceship.
866-856-8444 / VisitButlerCounty.com / 2019 Official Visitors Guide 19