Beaver Stadium
By: Sarah Taylor
The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau recently announced that the region had marked a significant milestone: 5 million visitors and one billion dollars in visitor spending. Originally, the organization had hoped to reach this milestone by the end of 2024, but as of the end of 2023, we’re already there.
According to the 2023 Longwoods International study, Centre County reached a record 5-million person trips last year, which is a 3.1% increase over 2022. This total includes 3.2 million day trips, and 1.8 million overnight trips.
The region’s tourism leaders are hardly resting on their laurels, though, with sights set on 6 million visitors by the end of 2026. (Optimistically, Dave Gerdes, the Bureau’s vice president of sales and marketing, says “it’s not out of the realm of possibility to achieve that [goal in 2025].”)
What, exactly, though, can we credit for this continual tourism growth? We have a few ideas.
Centre County delivers when it comes to outdoor recreation
For those seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of life, Centre County is filled with outdoor recreational opportunities. The region boasts breathtaking landscapes, perfect for a wide range of activities, whether you stay in town, at The Arboretum at Penn State, or you take to the hiking and biking trails near local icon, Mount Nittany.
Mount Nittany Conservancy is a group of volunteers who maintain nearly nine miles of trails and scenic views on Mt Nittany. | Image Credits: Happy Valley Adventure Bureau
For water lovers, Bald Eagle State Park features a beautiful lake ideal for kayaking and fishing. Nearby, Rothrock State Forest provides extensive trails for hiking, mountain biking and camping, catering to every skill level.
Over and over again, Happy Valley transplants tell us that the outdoor recreation is what brought them to the area — and one of the major reasons why they stayed.
Centre County offers big-city culinary delights
The vast landscapes of Centre County are also home to a fair amount of farmland, and that farmland makes way for culinary delights that visitors love.
For those looking for an authentic taste of Centre County, they can test out the Happy Valley Agventures Fresh from the Field Trail, which highlights some of the over 1,000 local farms and local farm stores. With the region’s agricultural history dating back to the earliest days of Pennsylvania, it’s no surprise that the region’s fresh food outbeats most.
Tait Farm Harvest Shop & Greenhouse is a local showcase for Tait Farm Specialty Foods and sells the artwork, fabric handwork, pottery, and jewelry of over 50 regional artisans | Image Credits: Happy Valley Adventure Bureau
The Penn State connection
Of course, at the core of Centre County lies Penn State University’s main campus, which not only enriches the local culture but also fuels the economy. In 2019, Penn State University contributed over $11.6 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy, and that number continues to rise. On a more local level, the university not only provides jobs and entrepreneurial resources, but also attracts thousands of visitors each year to sports events, concerts, and alumni gatherings.
Penn State Athletics’ sports events have contributed an estimate of $268 million in economic impact to Centre County, with over 2,660 jobs being supported. Penn State home football games have generated over $87 million in visitor spending.
Penn State’s stadiums also host a variety of popular singers and celebrities. In April, Luke Combs sang to over 80,000 fans at Beaver stadium. The Bryce Jordan Center is expected to see large crowds for its upcoming concerts as well, including Kacey Musgraves, Lil Yachty, Jelly Roll, Zach Williams and Cody Johnson.
Surrounding Penn State, State College blends the energy of a college town with the warmth of a close-knit community, pulsing with student life, cultural events and a thriving arts scene. The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, better known as Arts Fest, attracted over 100,000 attendees to downtown State College over the course of a few days, while the annual WingFest festivities in Boalsburg attracted over 20,00 guests, with an average of 2,500 guests trekking to Tussey Mountain each week.
Downtown State College, PA | Image Credits: StateCollege.com
Put simply, there’s something for everyone in Happy Valley
When you stop to reflect on what all Happy Valley has to offer visitors, it’s really not surprising that we’ve welcomed so many over the last year.
Have your own ideas as to why Happy Valley tourism is booming? Let us know what you think!
Sarah Taylor is a communications professional. Sarah can be reached at sarah.st.taylor@gmail.com.
