BENEZETTE — The doors are open, the elk are roaming and safety measures are in place for anyone ready to make the drive to Benezette and enjoy one of the area’s most popular tourist destinations.
The Elk Country Visitor Center, one of the premier locations in the northeast to see elk in a natural setting, is moving forward with an array of summer events and programs to keep locals and their families active.
The Center, located at 950 Winslow Hill Road in Benezette, is now open seven days a week from 8 am. to 8 p.m.
Many of the activities that people have come to expect from the center — educational exhibits, theater shows, — and of course, a variety of trails and viewing areas for elk, are still running, just with some health precautions in place.
“We are following state guidelines for social distancing and as far as our public programs, they are held outside as much as possible,” said Carla Wehler, operations manager. “We have added extra sanitizing stations and have taken extra precautions as far as cleaning touchable surfaces.
The Center is holding a variety of seminars over the next couple of weeks, including “Elk Explanations” on Sunday, July 12 to explain the basics of elk history, elk ecology, and elk behavior.
There’s also an archery class for beginners on July 18 and a class on the 25th detailing the differences between horns and antlers.
“Those are our public programs that are free of charge each Saturday and Sunday and those topics change each week,” Wehler explained. “They range from elk habitats to conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.”
There are also horse-drawn wagon rides that run every weekend — weather permitting — that go along the backside of the property where the elk frequent.
And for anyone still looking for plans for the Fourth of July, the Elk Country Visitor Center has you covered there, as well.
From noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, they will sponsor a “Kill the Grill” BBQ competition with teams battling in the brisket, chicken and ribs categories.
There will also be a young calf competition open that day with “mystery” ingredients supplied for the kids to grill.
Live music will begin around noon and all proceeds will benefit the Keystone Elk Country Alliance.
But the main attraction that day and throughout the remainder of summer, of course, are the elk. And according to Wehler, now is the perfect time to take the family down to a drive and view them.
“It’s a fun time of year. The bulls are regrowing their antlers and the new growth is covered in velvet,” she explained. “The elk are having their babies and you are seeing nursery bands of 12-15 calves together with the cows.”
Wehler said that she’s seen plenty of people out enjoying the center’s picnic areas and walking the trails hoping to catch a glimpse of them.
“It’s been great to see folks getting out to enjoy the fresh air and to get outside,” Wehler said. “Like I said, we are taking extra precautions, but it is a great time of year to see the elk.”
The center’s website reminds viewers that they can’t promise that you will see them on a trip to Benezette, but offer some helpful hints to spot them.
“The best times to view (elk) are early in the morning, just after daylight, and in the hours before dark,” the posting read. “Elk do not like the heat, and they will bed down in the shade where it is coolest during the day. Be sure to bring a camera and binoculars for extra viewing.”
The Visitor Center has three observation trails — which are wheelchair accessible — that lead to viewing areas to see the elk in a natural setting.
For those not interested in walking the trails, a 4-D theater runs shows inside all day on an hour and a half loop and interactive exhibits inside at the “Great Room”, featuring hands-on exhibits an indoor observation area and touch screen activities or the “Discovery Room” with touchable exhibits that feature elk antlers and turkey are also still open.
A full listing of summer events as well as detailed information for viewing elk is available at the Visitor Center’s website at elkcountryvisitorcenter.com.
