The area has many attractions to visit while you are enjoying your stay with us.
Visit the New Wine Shop (Benezette Wines) on Second Street in Benezette, or go to www.benezettewines.com . The Wine Shop has a wide variety of delicious wines. Driftwood is a wonderful white wine that is my favorite. They also have a wide variety of Benezette historical articals and pictures from the past as well as new elk pictures.
Make sure you visit Ken & Sue at Grants Pass Antiques. This location also includes a unique Wrought Iron Store. Go to www.theironelk.com to see the wide variety of Wrought Iron figures, which you can purchase on line. Sue and Ken can help you choose the perfect piece for your home from either the Wrought Iron Store or their antique store. The store is located in Grant , PA, just east of Benezette, on Rt. 555. You can also call 814-787-4622 if you have any questions.
Stop at Elk Country Store in Medix Run, PA. Patty has a wide variety of souveneirs and elk related products. Visit their web site at www.elkcountrystore.com or call Patty at 814-787-4460 if you need a room for an overnight stay.
Make it a point to visit Elk Mountain Winery during your Castle stay. Located 8 miles south of St. Mary's , PA on Rte. 255 next to Rosie's Hill Top Diner. This is the area's newest winery in the Heart of Elk Country. Marcy's favorite is Elk Mountain Mist, which is a semi sweet light, fruity, crisp Niagara grape wine. Dave's choice is Jack Ass Red, which is a sweet red wine made of a awesome blend of five grapes. Stop in and meet the friendly owners or visit their web site at www.elkmountainwines.com . If you are coming through Weedville on your way to the Castle stay on 255 a couple of miles to visit the Winery and purchase one of their wonderful wines to enjoy during your Castle stay. You can also purchase this wine at L&L store on left entering Benezette from the Dubois .
If you go through Mercer on the way to the Castle, stop and meet Twig at Twig's Reloading Den 8388 Sharon-Mercer Road, Mercer PA 16137. Call 724 662-3357 or visit her web site at www.twigsreloadingden.com
Call Sandy at 814-787-5422 if your taste runs to the lodge setting. This lovely cabin has a river front view. 1 double bed, small kichenette ,with small frig and microwave. Full size bath. Great for a weekend stay for one couple.
The Elk Country Visitors Center, located on Winslow Hill has just opened. It will be open from sunrise to sunset until the end of October. Inside displays will open at 7:30 a.m. The center is equipped with a fantastic sensory-surround theater which opens at 8 a.m. The center's interactive wildlife displays along with gift shop are a must see while visiting the Castle. There are also watching trails and viewing blinds where you can watch different species of wildlife in their natural habitat. Go to www.ExperienceElkCountry.com to visit Keystone Elk Country Alliance web site.
Elk or as the Native American Shawnee called them "Wapiti" meaning white rump, are a large North American deer. The males are called "bulls" and can reach 700 + pounds, they are 5 feet at the shoulders and 8 feet from nose to tail. Cows are female elk and can reach 500 + pounds. They are 4 1/2 feet at the shoulders and are 6 1/2 feet from nose to tail. Elk vary in color from deep copper brown to light tan, their rump patch is light beige with legs and neck that are often darker than their body. Only male elk, or bulls have antlers, they shed and grow a new set of antlers yearly. They usually shed their racks in late February through March. New antlers are covered in a fuzzy skin called velvet. By September they shed the velvet and the antlers become solid bone. A set of antlers can weigh up to 40 pounds and sets of antlers have been found within 100 yards of the Castle. Cows, calves and yearlings live in herds or groups. Bulls live in bachelor groups or alone. During the rut, or breeding season, bulls form harems. Bull elk guard their harems from other bulls by using their enormous racks and powerful bodies in violent battles, occasionally even to the death. Bull elk bugle during the rut to attract cows and show their dominance to other bulls. Cows bark, mew and make whining sounds. Calves bleat for their mothers. Elk are best seen in the early morning and late evening, but are often seen bedded down in the wooded areas near the Castle during the day.
Our guests can view the elk herd that roams the private viewing area directly behind the Castle year round. As you enjoy a fire in our fire pit you can watch the elk, deer and turkey in their natural habitat. Listen to the bull elk bugle during the Sept.-Oct. rut. Feb-April you can search for the huge racks that the bulls lose each year. We have found several sets within a couple of hundred yards of the Castle. Watch as the cows first emerge with their calves in June.