Times Observer Photo by Jessica N. Rex Taylor McConnell, general manager of The Wilds Sonshine Factory, is pictured.

The PA Wilds region has so much beauty to explore including the Wilds Sonshine Factory in Kane along Route 6

The property houses a distillery, an agriculture and natural resources education center as well as an event venue, with even more in store. It also holds a world record with a tie to Warren County.

Australia used to hold the world record at 36 feet for the longest slab of wood from one tree until Sheffield beat it at 43 ½ feet. Donated to the WILDS Sonshine Factory, it is just one piece of Pennsylvania preserved within the 2 million acres of the entire PA Wilds region.

The Eastern hemlock, which is Pennsylvania’s state tree,and the type of tree used for the bar, is the world’s longest bar made from one single tree. Another interesting fact is that the tree comes from a local milling company, Cochran Zandi Lumber in Sheffield, from the backside of their property in Tiona. The massive Eastern Hemlock was too big to mill by hand for a commercial mill.

In addition to the inside wooden bar is an outdoor log showcased at the end of the parking lot. A colossal 66 foot cherry tree that was once housed at the park in Sheffield is displayed along with some panels of pictures and history. The tree holds the cherry tree record, and it is also from Warren County. Originally blown down in the tornado of 1985 on the backside of Ludlow, it was located in Sheffield for many years before it was donated to the factory to be preserved.

The entrance of the Wilds Sonshine Factory leads into a hallway of an unexpected educational experience about Pennsylvania’s natural resources. Having a wildlife, fishery and forestry background, Taylor McConnell, general manager, guides guests through the area, which is complete with murals and information about Pennsylvania agriculture. The educational focus is about the history of water and timber.

It’s interesting, “how we now use those resources, more effectively managed today,” McConnell said.

Pennsylvania is the top producer of these resources in the world, McConnell said.

School tours are welcomed. Identification of trees and their leaves is just one aspect of this educational piece as far as agriculture goes. The entire set up is focused on Pennsylvania, due to all the wood used in the place, for one. Secondly, the gift shop houses only Pennsylvania vendors. One wall of the shop contains several different kinds of identified wood from trees found in Pennsylvania. One local Kane artisan vendor donates his proceeds to St. Jude’s, and Warren’s Aiello Metal Works’ saws hang on the opposite wall. The main idea is to promote Pennsylvania and its future workforce job prospects to remain local.

The Sonshine Factory celebrated its 2nd annual Sunflower Festival last month and has plans for a Black Cherry Jamboree in 2026. For more information visit www.wildssonshinefactory.org/