The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have recently solidified their longstanding partnership by pooling resources to finalize plans to construct and operate The Pennsylvania Wilds Elk Country Visitor Center. The Center is scheduled to open in mid 2009. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has made a remarkably dynamic commitment to the implementation of the recommendations in the Plan for Elk Watching and Nature Tourism in North Central Pennsylvania, and is further expanding its regional nature tourism development and promotion efforts with the recent introduction of its Pennsylvania Wilds initiative. This ambitious program seeks to use the vast network of extraordinary public lands and open space in a 12-county area of north central Pennsylvania as the foundation for an economic stimulus effort based on connecting people with nature.
The Pennsylvania Wilds initiative seeks to capitalize on one of Fermata, Inc.’s key findings in the Plan for Elk Watching and Nature Tourism in North Central Pennsylvania regarding the potential size of the market, which revealed that there are at least 46 million Americans, some 16 percent of the nation’s total population, who reside within a days drive of the Elk Region. The boundaries of this “six-hour drive” are indicated on the map at right.
In September 2004 the Elk Foundation purchased the 245-acre Winslow Hill Property which will serve as the site for the Pennsylvania Wilds Elk Country Visitor Center. Elk and other wildlife use the property year around. In November of 2006 approximately 130 elk were using the property. The Elk Foundation also operates an overnight lodging facility on this property called the Elk Mountain Homestead. For more information on the Homestead visit www.Pennsylvaniarmef.org.
Business Development & Operating Plan Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Pennsylvania Wilds Elk Country Visitor Center Benezette, Pennsylvania
The principal objective of this business development and operating plan created for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation by Mark R. Gruin, Greenpoint, Ltd July 2005 was to craft a strategy to create and sustain a world-class Elk Country Visitor Center on the Winslow Hill property in Elk County, Pennsylvania. The purpose of this Center is to elevate Pennsylvania’s elk viewing experience well beyond the current ad hoc level, educate visitors on conservation issues, provide a quality experience with wildlife, and generate awareness, membership, revenue and support for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its work. The Business Plan was required by the Board of Directors and the CEO. Upon its completion, this project was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors in January 2006.
Draft Bubble Diagram
DCNR and the Elk Foundation contracted with Larson Design Group, Williamsport, PA to develop a Master Site Plan that determined the location of the Center and infrastructure needs i.e. electric, water, sewage, parking, access, elk viewing areas, trails, elk habitat areas and the costs to develop the infrastructure.
Currently, DCNR and RMEF staff is working with Habiterra Architect and Landscaping from Warren, PA to design the facility. Schematics will be available in May 2007. RMEF has contracted with Imperial Multi Media, Baraboo, WI to coordinate the development of the exhibits, displays, conservation message and natural resources on the site with the design of the Center. Through the next 8 months the Master Interpretative Plan will be developed. RMEF and DCNR are pleased to have the expertise of Larson Design Group, Habiterra Architecture and Landscaping and Imperial Multimedia on board.
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