Thirty-five years after their last performance at the Warren County Fair, country music icons The Oak Ridge Boys took the KeyBank Arena stage by storm in August in front of a standing room only crowd on their American Made Farewell Tour. The Oak Ridge Boys’ visit was among the most-read stories at timesobserver.com this year, along with the other stories focused on events and attractions that drew readers’ interest.

Fair goers and fans crowded the doorways and sat on the grassy hills outside the arena to be part of the excitement.

Distinctive in their style and sound, fans young and old(er) clapped and cheered as the Oak Ridge Boys brought many of their award winning country and gospel hits and fan favorites to life on stage.

Together 60 years and spanning more than five decades of musicmaking, original Oak Ridge Boys William Lee Golden and Duane Allen stood solid during Tuesday night’s performance along with new member Ben James. Unable to perform last night, Richard Sterban’s stand-in didn’t miss a beat with his deep bass and onstage presence.

The shores of Kinzua Beach along the Allegheny Reservoir pulsed with energy and excitement over Labor Day weekend as Kinzua Rocks the Wake made its debut locally.

Backed by fantastically talented musicians The Oakridge Boys percussive vocals during hits like Gonna Take A Lot of River, Trying To Love Two Women and Y’all Come Back Saloon grabbed the audience’s attention and had everyone toe tapping and singing along. After an awe-inspiring bass rendition of What A Wonderful World and a heart-string tugging solo of Thank God For Kids by William Lee Golden, who added “and grand kids” to the lyrics, it was time for some gospel greats songs. In soaring four part harmony the Oak Ridge Boys are famous for Come On In, How Great Thou Art, Come on Home and Slow Down Chariot, Let Me Ride. The songs had many of the concert goers on their feet.

“We are doing a farewell tour because we owe it to our fans to say goodbye,” said band member William Lee Golden when the tour was announced in 2023. “They have always been there for us through the good times and the bad. I will always be thankful to every person who came out to a show, bought a t-shirt, played our music, and overall, loved us enough to spend their hard-earned money whenever they could. This tour is for you!”

The band has continued touring after the 2024 death of Joe Bonsall, the Oak Ridge Boys’ famed tenor and Grammy Award winner, from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ben James, who has performed with Doyle Lawson and Dailey & Vincent, was announced as his replacement.

The Oak Ridge Boys have received four Academy of Country Music, two American Music, five Billboard, four Country Music Association, five Grammy, and twelve Gospel Music Association Dove awards. They are members of the Grand Ole Opry, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. They have achieved 17 number one hits, including “Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight,” “Bobbie Sue,” “Trying To Love Two Women,” “(I’m Settin’) Fancy Free,” “American Made,” and “Elvira.” The Oak Ridge Boys have recorded 37 Top 20 country hits, with 12 gold, three platinum, and one double-platinum album to their credit. And, twice, they gave memorable performances to fans here in Warren.

THE WAKE CERTAINLY ROCKED

Photos provided to the Times Observer Lumber Heritage Region has received a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant to develop Warren County's first 18-hole disc golf course.

It was a sink or swim conversation awash in water puns during a meeting with representatives of the Warren County Visitors Bureau and the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau as they discussed Labor Day’s “Kinzua Rocks the Wake” earlier this year.

‘We want to make waves with this event!” claimed Debbie Dean, from Visitor and Member Services at the ANFVB.

“This will really make a splash!” replied Casey Ferry, who was then the executive director of the WCVB.

A splash was made, with waves ensuing. The three-day Kinzua Rocks the Wake brought thousands to Kinzua Beach in the Allegheny National Forest for water stunt shows and chart-topping tribute bands. Performances included the Chippewa Falls Ski Team, Ohio’s championship water ski team, Ski Extreme’s freestyle jet ski and flyboarding stunts from Wisconsin and several concerts after the sun went down.

Kinzua Rocks the Wake is a collaboration between the Warren County Visitors Bureau and Trail Central – Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau. The event brought together two destination marketing organizations from Warren County and McKean County and was made possible from support from the Pennsylvania Office of Tourism’s Marketing to Attract Tourists grant, Big Stage Events. The primary goal of the program is to fund projects that increase awareness of Pennsylvania’s destinations and attractions.

“When we were planning this event, we knew it should represent both destination marketing organizations as the Allegheny National Forest, Reservoir and Kinzua Beach is a shared asset for both counties, so it was fitting we partnered to bring this event to the region,” said Ferry. “This collaboration will be seen throughout the event as we will have craft breweries, one from each county as well as food trucks and wineries representing both counties.”

BOAT LAUNCH OPENS

Not all stories that drew readers’ attention involved recording stars or water stunts. A simple boat launch on the Allegheny River was exciting news for several thousand readers this year. The launch, which had been used informally for years, is located next to the Dairy Delite at the junction of Route 6 and Route 59 just outside of Warren and was a collaboration between the Warren County Conservation District and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

The area behind the Dairy Delite has been eroding for years, causing many locals to become concerned and want to do a streambank stabilization project. When Mark Keyes purchased the business in 2020, that opportunity arose. Keyes wanted to provide a safe, stable location for kayakers and canoes to enter and exit Brown Run, the stream that runs past Dairy Delite. This stream provides easy access to the Allegheny River.

With Keyes on board, the WCCD applied for the grant from Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers for the canoe launch and coordinated that part of the project. WPC was responsible for guiding the contractors from Fox & Sons Excavating during installation. Both projects complemented each other in stabilizing the streambank.

The new boat launch doesn’t have ample parking, so Keyes asks visitors to drop their boats off at the launch, located furthest from Route 59, then park in the lower parking lot on Route 59 so that there is still parking for Dairy Delite customers.

DISC GOLF COMING

An 18-hole disc golf course on Hatch Run Property in Warren is in the works after the Lumber Heritage Region was awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This will be the first 18-hole disc golf course, offering a unique combination of outdoor recreation, historical interpretation, and conservation education.

The Lumber Heritage Region is partnering with the Warren County Visitors Bureau and the Warren County Conservation District to bring the project to life.

“We are thrilled to bring this exciting project to Warren County with the support of DCNR and our dedicated partners,” said Holly Komonczi, Executive Director of the LHR. “Disc golf is a rapidly growing sport that appeals to all ages and skill levels, and this course will not only provide a fantastic recreational outlet but also help connect players with the history and natural beauty of the region.”

The Hatch Run Conservation Demonstration Area, managed by the Warren County Conservation District, is a 350-acre property dedicated to environmental education, outdoor recreation, and sustainable land management practices. The area features scenic trails, diverse wildlife habitats, and forested landscapes, making it an ideal location for a disc golf course emphasizing recreation and environmental awareness. The course will be designed to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, preserving the property’s rich biodiversity while providing an engaging space for disc golf enthusiasts of all skill levels.

The project aims to expand outdoor recreation opportunities in the region while promoting environmental stewardship and local history. The course will feature interpretive signage highlighting Warren County’s lumber heritage, forestry conservation efforts, and the ecological significance of the Hatch Run property.

The project is currently in the design phase, with construction set to begin in the coming months. Once completed, the course will be open to the public, providing free access to beginners and seasoned disc golfers.

A PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO DISCOVER

Over the course of two short years, the dream of three Warren residents – Melinda Johnson, Jennifer Madigan and Kim Slocum – has gone from dream to the start of a reality. The trio’s work has taken the concept of a children’s interactive museum from an idea into a concrete plan with property secured, a Board of Directors in place and early-stage capital campaign planning underway.

The museum will be named the Kinzua Area Discovery Center and will be located at 4115 Market St., the former Red Maple Inn property next to Ed Shults of Warren.

“The idea began in December 2023 when the three of us started dreaming together,” Johnson said. “Now that dream has come full circle, and while there’s still a long way to go, we are thrilled with how far we’ve come.”

The Jefferson DeFrees Family Center is playing a pivotal role as the major donor and sponsor of the project.

“This new museum is only possible through the generosity and vision of our Board of Directors,” Johnson emphasized. “Their belief in what this can mean for families and children across our region is inspiring.”

The Kinzua Area Discovery Center is designed to be an immersive indoor adventure where nature and imagination meet. Exhibit plans envision a whimsical experience featuring an enchanted forest, winding river, and charming animal friends. Designed to promote imagination, creativity, self-expression, and family togetherness, the center will emphasize playful learning, exploration, and engagement at every turn.

“There is no projected opening date yet,” Johnson noted, “but we do have exhibit concepts and potential building designs. However, we’ll need to raise a significant amount of money to make this dream a reality.”