GREENSBURG (Sept. 26, 2024) – One of the region’s newest tourist attractions was honored alongside one of the oldest on Wednesday night, as GO Laurel Highlands celebrated the travel and tourism industry with the organization’s annual dinner at The Venue at Live! Casino.
GO Laurel Highlands, which is the official destination marketing organization for Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties, handed out four Champions of Tourism awards and three scholarships to college students.
Wander Ridge, which opened geodesic domes for overnight lodging near Mill Run on Memorial Day weekend, took home the Horizon of the Year Award. West Overton Village – which features museums and an educational distillery located in a series of 19th century buildings – was named the Trailblazer of the Year. Living Treasures Wild Animal Park and Log Cabin Inn & Suites claimed Pathfinder of the Year honors, and Connellsville Bed and Breakfast’s Brittany Wagner was named the Tourism Employee of the Year.
Scholarships were awarded to Penn State Fayette’s Justin Byers, Seton Hill University’s Abigail King and Westmoreland County Community College’s Alex Henney.
“Our GO LH Annual Dinner is an opportunity for all of us in our tourism industry to come together to celebrate the tremendous work we all do to entice visitors to come to the Laurel Highlands,” said Ann Nemanic, the organization’s executive director. “Our partners, stakeholders and supporters join my team of talent to honor members of our tourism community and recognize three exceptional students receiving a scholarship from our organization. For 66 years we have continued to be a nationally recognized destination of distinction, and for one night we get to stand together and applaud all our fine accomplishments.”
GO Laurel Highlands Champions of Tourism
Trailblazer of the Year
West Overton Village
More than 200 years after Henry Overholt began distilling Monongahela rye at West Overton, the museum opened an educational distillery that aims to reclaim the Laurel Highlands’ title as the birthplace of American whiskey.
In 2024, the museum opened a whiskey heritage center in partnership with Suntory Global Spirits, which produces the Overholt whiskey brand under James B. Beam Distilling Co. Since then, West Overton has hosted writers from Lonely Planet guidebooks and the International Food, Wine, Travel Writers Association interested in learning more about the center.
In addition to more than 450 historic objects related to the whiskey, the Overholt Stateroom is a vintage-inspired lounge that pays homage to the origins of Overholt whiskey. It features a modern bar, antique furniture and decor, vintage and modern bottlings, and a mural of Abraham Overholt.
“We opened the James B. Beam Pennsylvania Whiskey Heritage Center in late April/early May, and it’s been a whirlwind since,” said Patrick A. Bochy, who is co-executive director of West Overton along with Aaron Hollis Jr. “It’s stunning. I’m biased, but when we have meetings upstairs, and we hear guests come up and they audibly gasp, we’re doing something right. It’s a stunning space. We want everyone to see it. We want everyone to come and enjoy their time, not just at West Overton, but in the Laurel Highlands overall.”
Horizon of the Year Award
Tim and Karli Andy, Wander Ridge (Mill Run)
Wander Ridge brought geodesic domes to the Laurel Highlands this year, and the unique lodging experience has quickly developed a following since opening for Memorial Day weekend.
“All of the people at GO Laurel Highlands have been incredibly helpful in getting our company off the ground and making this first year a success,” said Tim Andy, who owns the business along with his wife, Karli. “Without them, we’d be a lot further behind than we are. And, to be able to be recognized by that same group is a huge honor.”
Tim Andy said that partnering with GO Laurel Highlands has helped him make other connections within the region that benefit Wander Ridge.
“All the other partners in GO Laurel Highlands have been a huge help,” he said. “Any time we have guests coming to visit, they ask what else there is to do, and I have a plethora of options to give them.”
Pathfinder of the Year
Living Treasures Wild Animal Park and Log Cabin Inn & Suites (Jones Mills)
Matthew Dumbauld, who is part-owner and chief operating officer of Living Treasures Wild Animal Park, does more than just bring cute and cuddly animals to the Donegal area. He also works to collaborate with business owners from across the Laurel Highlands.
In July, Dumbauld invited representatives of nearly a dozen other Laurel Highlands attractions to be a part of the KDKA Radio remote broadcast that he was hosting at his venue, which is home to more than 50 species and 300 animals. He didn’t see those other businesses as competitors but rather as assets that could help bring out-of-town visitors to the region.
“I appreciate being recognized,” Dumbauld said. “I put a lot of effort into networking this year and combining all my different networks to help everybody out. I’m just one little fish in a big pond. We might as well get all the little fishes together.”
Employee of the Year
Brittany Wagner, Connellsville Bed & Breakfast
Brittany Wagner has been working at Connellsville Bed & Breakfast for more than a decade, helping owner Lucille King with whatever needs to be done – from preparing a hearty breakfast and serving guests to cleaning and doing laundry. Better yet, Wagner does it with a smile and friendly personality that has guests – many of whom regularly ride the Great Allegheny Passage – remembering her fondly on their next visit.
Wagner was honored to receive the recognition from GO Laurel Highlands.
“It means a lot,” she said. “I’m the only employee at my job, so it means even more. I’m doing what I can to make people comfortable.”
Winners of $2,500 GO Laurel Highlands scholarships are:
Abigail King, Seton Hill University
A junior from Mount Pleasant, King is studying communications at Seton Hill University.
While she enjoys taking theology classes, the majority of King’s courseload is focused on law-based curriculum, and she plans to attend law school after graduation. She’s very ambitious, as evidenced by her goals, which she says are to work in government, including a stint in the Senate, before landing a spot in a presidential Cabinet.
King is also appreciative of the scholarship provided by GO Laurel Highlands.
“College is very expensive,” she said. “So, any little way that somebody can help me, I’m always grateful. I will be absolutely eternally grateful.”
Alexander Henney, Westmoreland County Community College
An apprentice in the culinary program, Henney discovered his path as the world struggled to deal with the COVID pandemic. That’s when he started cooking regularly and found his passion in the kitchen.
“I just want to keep getting better,” he said.
Henney, who is from Uniontown, said the scholarship money will help with his expenses.
“I want to throw a big shoutout to GO Laurel Highlands for the scholarship opportunity,” he said. “I’m really happy, and they’re awesome.”
Justin Byers, Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus
A fourth-year management/marketing major from Uniontown, Byers is pursuing a minor in corporate communications.
His goal is to become a manager, either in retail or possibly in the sports world, and he believes his Penn State education will help – as will the GO Laurel Highlands scholarship.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Since college is really expensive these days, it’s going to give me that motivation to keep going. It’s going to cover some of the costs for college.”
About Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands
A magnificent mountainous region, the Laurel Highlands is an outdoors lover’s paradise that spans 3,000 square miles in southwestern Pennsylvania. Located just an hour east of Pittsburgh, the beautiful four-season destination offers spectacular natural scenery, outstanding skiing, hiking, biking and golfing opportunities, historic sites and attractions, family activities and world-class resorts. Notable destinations within the region include four architectural masterpieces by Frank Lloyd Wright – Fallingwater®, Kentuck Knob, Mäntylä and Duncan House – as well as Nemacolin, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Flight 93 National Memorial, Idlewild and Soak Zone, whitewater rafting and much more.
Located within 200 miles of the major metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Washington D.C., Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands can be easily accessed from exits 67, 75, 91 and 110 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Visitors to the Laurel Highlands can find information online at GoLaurelHighlands.com, facebook.com/laurelhighlandsPA and twitter.com/laurelhighlands or by calling 724.238.5661. Established in 1958, GO Laurel Highlands, formerly known as Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, is the official destination marketing organization for Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.
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