Pennsylvania Welcome Center — Attraction in Tioga Township

This may be my absolute favorite welcome center, anywhere, not that I've been everywhere yet. It has a truly breathtaking view. Huge structure, mostly empty. A long walk to the restrooms but, oh, the view.

Did I mention the view? Be sure to go outside, it gets better. Be sure NOT to climb over the (low) fence for a better view; there's a nice, flat area before the drop--it looks safe--but that area is visible from the tourism desk and someone will hurry over and ask you to step back inside the fence. So, be prudent and safe and avoid embarrassment.

Speaking of embarrassment, ask at the tourism center for the story of how the road was built twice. Yep, from the welcome center you can look a mile or two north to see the section of road that was rebuilt after the whole slope collapsed and slid down into the valley.

Speaking of the Interstate construction process, you could also inquire why I-99 (the road on which this welcome center is located) is numbered in violation of the Interstate numbering scheme. Wikipedia says, "Those victories meant during his time as chairman numerous transportation projects were funded, including Interstate 99, the only Interstate highway to have its route number (a violation of the usual Interstate numbering standard) written into law. The route was later named the "Bud Shuster Highway" by Governor Robert Casey. When the transportation authorization bill known by its initials as "BESTEA" was under consideration, his fellow members joked the letters stood for the "Bud E. Shuster Transportation for All Eternity Act" for its many "pork...

I've been to several welcome centers in my travels, specifically in OH, PA, MD, WV, VA, and DE. I am a map/brochure collector in my spare time and have been ever since I was little. Heading back from Corning, NY today, we decided to stop here to check out the scenic overlook that was there (I was very much aware of the overlook). However, this 5 star review is mainly for the design of the actual building itself. This is probably the best welcome center I have ever been in so far. The building is supposed to resemble a lakeside cabin nestled in the mountains of Tioga County with such amenities as comfy chairs/sofas and a fireplace. What really got me was the things I saw there that I never saw elsewhere, specifically pennants with the names of all of the PA State Universities (i.e. West Chester, Millersville, Shippensburg), a stand where you can get menus for certain restaurants in the Keystone State, and a display of products made in PA and businesses based in PA. If you are traveling southbound on US 15 from NY towards Mansfield, DO NOT pass this up! A...

On trips between Philadelphia and Buffalo this rest stop has become a traditional stop and waypoint on the drive back to Philadelphia. Carved out of a mountainside it located above a valley overlooking Tioga & Hammond lakes along with the dam that created them across the Tioga river. The views are spectacular any time of the year. The attached photos are from this summer. Entry into the building is like walking into a ski lodge. Open beam ceilings and a giant elk's head greet you. Restroom facilities are immaculate. Brochure displays are plentiful. There's even a sitting area with comfy chairs arranged around a giant fireplace. Fall and winter they have decorations and the feeling is quite warm. Be sure to go out on the back patio to catch the panoramic vistas and take a few pictures. There are no food facilities except for vending machines but I think you'll find that they have made far better use of the space as is. Fast food outlets and gas are just a few miles down the road at the second exit for...