BRADFORD, PA – May 10, 2012 – Tourism in McKean County uncorks many possibilities for business here so it only seems fitting that a new wine was unveiled Tuesday night during Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau’s Spring Fling to celebrate National Tourism Week.
Kinzua Journey, a new wine developed by Flickerwood Wine Cellars & Lounge in Kane, is now for sale with part of the proceeds to be donated to the ANFVB to help support tourism in McKean County. Tourism is the second largest industry in Pennsylvania.
Flickerwood co-owner Sue Zampogna said the tribute to the new Sky Walk is as much a celebration of the rebirth of this amazing attraction as it is a resurgence of their business from tourists.
“When the Sky Walk opened last September, we were amazed at the business we had at the winery from folks who had gone to the Sky Walk,” she said. “After nine years of little to no business from tourists going to the Kinzua Bridge State Park, we had kind of forgotten how such an amazing attraction would mean to local businesses.”
The opening of the Sky Walk has increased overnight stays in the area by more than 20 percent, bringing business to McKean County businesses.
Flickerwood’s customer base grows each year through tourists.
Country singer Kaitlyn Hallock, 15, of Bradford, PA, performed at Flickerwood for the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau’s Spring Fling to celebrate National Tourism Week.
Many tourists find out about Flickerwood and other businesses in McKean County and the surrounding area through the efforts of the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, led by Executive Director Linda Devlin.
“Being a member of the ANFVB since we opened in 2000 has been very beneficial to the growth of our business,” Zampogna said. “This organization works tirelessly promoting their members and our region. The benefits members receive far outweigh the minimal membership fee. This is one way for us to give a little back for all the help, guidance, and promotion they have given us over the years.”
Devlin said that the work the ANFVB does it out of love for the region.
“Our job is really a great one – to promote a region we love, to talk to visitors who want to come and see what great attractions we have,” Devlin said. “When you look at it, it’s not really a job, but a passion.”
Then, when Zampogna found out that funding for tourism marketing was drastically cut, she decided to help out there, too.
“Devlin discussed the situation with us and together we decided to craft a new wine to celebrate the Sky Walk and to donate proceeds from the sale of the wine to the ANFVB,” Zampogna said. “Linda, staff, and the board work tirelessly promoting our region and this is our attempt to help this organization stay in business.”
Devlin said that in McKean County alone, 758 jobs are directly supported by tourism, which generates $176 million dollars annually into our local economy.
“When Flickerwood decided to develop this new wine and donate some of the proceeds to the ANFVB, I was very excited,” Devlin said. “Tourism is so important to our area and it is partners like these that make our jobs wonderful.”
Devlin added there are many other exciting things happening in the region, including the expansion of the Penn Brad Oil Museum, the renovation of the store at the Zippo/Case Museum, the Lodge at Glendorn receiving its outfitting permit from the Allegheny National Forest, to name a few. There are also start-up businesses like B’s Canoeing Guide Service.
“The combination of all this, as well as the improvements at the Kinzua Bridge State Park, has increased the number of tourists that visit our region.”
“Our goal is to make this region the premier outdoor tourism destination for the East Coast of the United States,” Devlin said, adding that this is very much an attainable goal with 15 million people residing within a six-hour drive of the ANF Region.
A new outreach effort the ANFVB started this year is an e-newsletter that is sent to travelers interested in coming here. The newsletter features upcoming events and attractions. To receive the newsletter, go to the ANFVB website at visitANF.com.
The Kinzua Sky Walk has been just one of the attractions featured in the past few months of the newsletter.
Zampogna’s daughter, Julie Zampogna-Wehner, who came up with the label idea and design, felt the name of the wine, Kinzua Journey, should be reflected in the label, which depicts the many phases of life of the bridge.”
Winemaker Ron Zampogna, Sue Zampogna’s partner in life and in the business, came up with the blend for Kinzua Journey. It will be available to the public during FlickerFest.
“Because we wanted to release it at FlickerFest 2012, May 26, 27 and 28, the wine was started from the 2011 harvest. Mother Nature has been working its magic along with our winemakers ever since. It is just now ready in time for our anniversary weekend.”
The first vintage, which is priced at $14.95 per bottle, is in limited supply.
“When a new wine is crafted, especially a blend, we begin with a limited amount to see how popular it will be. If Kinzua Journey is a success, as we are sure it will be, we will be making it again from the 2012 harvest and will continue to make it and donate proceeds from the sales to the ANFVB,” Zampogna said.
Zampogna described the wine as a blend of three different white grapes. This unique blend brings out a smooth tropical flavor with a hint of grapefruit. It is a semi-sweet wine with a crisp ending and a wonderful fruity bouquet.
The wine is only available through Flickerwood Wine Cellars at 309 Flickerwood Road, Kane.
For more about tourism in McKean County or to become a member of the ANFVB, contact Devlin at 800-473-9370 or e-mail Devlin@visitANF.com. Local businesses, as well as visitors, are welcome to come to the ANFVB Visitor Center at 80 E. Corydon St., Bradford, to pick up brochures for display at their businesses or to plan their own trip in Pennsylvania.
The outfitters permit from the Allegheny National Forest allows the employees of Glendorn to do all of the activities they do on property on the ANF, the only national forest in Pennsylvania.
The Pennhills Club, at 146 Pennhills Drive in Bradford, is a private club, but welcomes visitors to come by and hit the links with golf packages. The club boasts an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Walter J. Travis in the 1920s. The club offers packages of $135 per day, which includes unlimited golf, all lodging and food. The price is based on double occupancy. Call 814-368-6159 to book your stay. 
Celebrate spring’s arrival by joining in a variety of fun-filled activities that celebrate food, wine and the great outdoors. 
Or plan to join the party at Crook Farm, located on Seaward Avenue where a celebratory pig roast will be held. This will include free draft beer (with proper ID) and live music from 4 to 6 p.m. by Hartle & Copeland. The cost of the pig roast is $20. There is no charge to actually participate in the regatta. The event is a fundraiser for the Tuna Valley Trail Association; tickets are available at 
If you prefer a little wine, then head over the Kane, Pa., for Flickerfest May 26-28. This annual event, held at the Flickerwood Wine Cellars & Lounge in Kane, includes wine, food, artisan vendors, a wine-making competition and live music. The winery, located at 309 Flickerwood Road, will also have a new wine available – Kinzua Journey – in honor of the Kinzua Sky Walk. A part of the proceeds from this wine, a semi-sweet blend of three white winds, will be donated to the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau. 
And while you are in the area, don’t forget to experience the Kinzua Sky Walk for yourself. This amazing masterpiece was once the highest and longest railroad bridge in the world. It was partially destroyed by a tornado in 2003, and then reinvented as the Kinzua Sky Walk which features a viewing platform that extends over 600 feet into the Kinzua Gorge. Admission to the park is free; it is open from dawn to dusk.
