Laurel Highlands Living

PA Consumers to Receive Funds

Abe and Wags — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:32:08 +0000

Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord shared that $266 million dollars will be alloted for consumers in our state affected by fraudulent mortgage practices. Last week the federal government and 49 state attorney generals came to an aggrement with five of the nations largest mortgage providers - Ally Financial, Bank of America, Citigroup, JP Morgan, and Wells Fargo to pay approximately 25 Billion for irresponsible and fraudulent practices that wrongly forced countless familes from their homes. Read his message

Nemacolin Ski Lodge Burns Down

Abe and Wags — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:09:21 +0000

Sunday evening Nemacolin Ski Lodge completely burned down. The fire started about 8:00 and was reported by an employee in the building who got out. There were no injuries to the staff. Nearly every fire department in Fayette County responded to the fire alarm. Here is a link to a report and video by Pittsburgh Channel 4 WTAE.

Authority signs off on water deal for Bakersville

Abe and Wags — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:58:10 +0000

Our little area keeps growing! Bakersville is behind the CoGo gas station on Rt 31, east of the main entrance to Hidden Valley. What additional impact this could have is this is also where the land for future residential development by the owners of Hidden Valley, the Buncher Group, is located. This would allow them to tap into this system if there were anough additional taps to support their community.

Authority signs off on water deal for Bakersville.

Laurel Highlands CLI Newsletter

Abe and Wags — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:54:57 +0000

This newsletter speaks to the Stonycreek being named River of the Year, the upcoming Conservation Coalition meeting, the most recent grants from the DCNR, and information from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. This coming Labor Day there will be a bike ride on the Great Allegheny Passage. For the full story open the link Laurel Highlands CLI Newsletter

Hidden Valley Resort January 2012 Real Estate Update

Abe and Wags — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:03:32 +0000

Hidden Valley starts off the year with a good start of 6 sales and average prices were above last years averages for the year. Mild weather has been bringing out more buyers this month than we have seen in years. A great inventory at this resort and moderate pricing makes this resort the entry to the Laurel Highlands. Open the tour to see the entire report.

Seven Springs January 2012 Real Estate Update

Abe and Wags — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:54:52 +0000

Very encouraging start to the year at Seven Springs Resort with over $2M and 8 sales. This is one of the strongest starts in several years and is a good indication that buyers realize that this is the best market to get into the resorts in years and sellers are accepting that they cannot overprice a property in the market and expect to be sold. Open the tour to see the entire report.

Bridge open on the Laurel Highlands Trail

Abe and Wags — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:39:19 +0000

This is a repost of a recent article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Bridge is back on Laurel Highlands trail

Sunday, February 05, 2012

By Shannon M. Nass, Special to the Post-Gazette

DCNR

Bridge spanning the Pennsylvania Turnpike on the Laurel Highlands Trail.

Outdoor enthusiasts who traverse the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail are hiking, skiing and snowmobiling for joy. They are celebrating the Jan. 28 completion of a new bridge that spans the Pennsylvania Turnpike and rejoins the 70-mile trail stretching along Laurel Mountain from the Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle to the Conemaugh Gorge near Johnstown.

Terry Brady, deputy press secretary for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), said the bridge has been long-awaited and much anticipated by those who traverse the trail.

“They love it,” he said. “It’s a very, very popular trail … through the heart of some of our prettiest of state park and state forest land in that area.”

The bridge project was awarded last March and totaled nearly $1.3 million for work on the 10-foot-wide, 184-foot-long span.

The previous structure had been built in 1970 but was closed in late 2009 and dismantled after an inspection found conditions that could endanger hikers and snowmobilers using the bridge, as well as commuters passing beneath.

“It was in really bad shape both for the users of the bridge and passersby on the turnpike,” Brady said. “It was starting to literally fall apart.”

The new bridge, located midway between the turnpike’s Somerset and Donegal interchanges between mileposts 36 and 37, reconnects various trail systems in the Laurel Highlands and facilitates foot traffic as well as snowmobilers and cross-country skiers.

Bicycles and horses remain prohibited from the trail. Brady said all-terrain vehicles also are not allowed on the bridge.

“What it won’t allow to cross — the way it’s designed — is ATVs,” said Brady. “The trail is off-limits to ATVs, and we don’t want ATVs using [the bridge].”

To ensure their exclusion, Brady said the bridge was designed with a step-down ledge that prevents them from crossing.

With through passage again possible, Brady said he hopes the bridge, which is owned by the Bureau of State Parks, will encourage more people to get out and use the trail.

“That trail is just incredible,” he said. “The idea is just to get people out, especially during nice weather.”

First published on February 5, 2012 at 12:00 am

Plenty of snow on the slopes in the Laurel Highlands

Abe and Wags — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:24:33 +0000

We were just up both resorts in the last few days and want to report that there is plenty of snow on the slopes and all slopes and trails are open. Even though the weather has been mild it does not diminish the snow on slopes much since it has been packed and groomed. With evening temperatures forecast in the 20′s next week snow making will start back up and conditions should be AWESOME with spring like conditions. Hey, I was on Ski Patrol for about 15 years and believe me I would rather be out skiing in 40F than 10F with 20 mph of wind. This is great weather to enjoy snow sports and road conditions are dry and clear. Don’t miss these nice days in the middle of winter, trust me that the cold will come back.

Hidden Valley 2011 Real Estate Market Report

Abe and Wags — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:24:06 +0000

This is the 2011 Real Estate Market Report for Hidden Valley Resort in PA. It shows the total of December closings and closings by month for the year. It also shows total closed volume for both 7 Springs and Hidden Valley and the state of origin for the 2011 buyers at both resorts. View the visual tour for the full report.

7 Springs 2011 Real Estate Market Report

Abe and Wags — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:16:58 +0000

This is the 2011 Real Estate Market Report for 7 Springs Resort in PA. It shows the total of December closings and closings by month for the year. It also shows total closed volume for both 7 Springs and Hidden Valley and the state of origin for the 2011 buyers at both resorts. View the visual tour for the full report.