The Kinzua-Wolf Run Marina and Docksiders Cafe on the Allegheny
National Forest have changed hands starting with the 2008 season
and the new owners have some upgrade ideas on the horizon.
Diane and Wray DeLarme, former owners of Kinzua Limited, had
been approached by other parties interested in buying the stock in
their business. However, none of those offers came through in the
end. It wasn’t until Bob and Dana Hennessey came along with an
offer that the DeLarme’s gave in and were willing to start the
process of selling the business which they had run for 28
years.
“It was a hard decision to make,” said Diane DeLarme, but after
we got to know these boys we decided that if they made an offer
that would satisfy us, we would be willing to sell.”
The Marina, which is located off Route 59 near the border of
McKean and Warren counties, offers a variety of services, including
boat rentals, and allows boat owners to dock there. A new service
that will be offered by the Hennesseys is a dry dock and launch
service. With this service, the Marina will allow owners to dry
dock their boats and then call ahead of time to have their boat
launched when they get there.
“Basically, what we are trying to do is just take everything
that the DeLarmes have done and just upgrade that a little bit,”
said Bob Hennessey. “We don’t want to turn this place upside down
because we’ve got a great thing already going here.”
Docksiders will remain mostly the same and will offer the same
type of cuisine as before. The restaurant includes a full bar and
dining in a Caribbean-style atmosphere.
The former owners had obtained a 20-year special use permit for
use of the land from the Allegheny National Forest in 2005. Since
the sale was a purchase of stock in the company and the company
assets are remaining the same, that permit will transfer its
remaining 17 years to the Hennesseys.
“It was a sale of stock,” said Bob Hennessey, “Because the
permit was issued to the corporation and not the individual owners,
that permit will stay with the corporation. However, my brother and
I did have to meet some government requirements to prove we were
financially able to handle this business.”
Before acquiring Kinzua Ltd., the Hennesseys have made their
livings as partners in running their family businesses; Fox and
Sons Excavating, LLC, Fox and Sons Trucking, LLC, and Fox and Sons
Crane Works, LLC, though their grandmother, Wave Fox, does still
have decision-making rights in the business. Fox has entered the
venture with her grandsons as well and they will all share the
stock in the company.
During the transition period of the first two seasons, the
DeLarmes have agreed to stay on the staff in a consulting and
advisory capacity until the Hennesseys become self sufficient.
Docksiders will be open from May 1 through Sept. 5 and the
Marina will be open from May 15 through Sept. 15.
In 2006, U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., secured ,200,000 for
the Allegheny National Forest, some of which was allocated for
improvements at Kinzua Limited.
The funding also helped to research the possibilities of further
attractions to be added to the Kinzua Beach area, including a
possible resort. The beach is located along Route 59 near the
Marina.
