Westmoreland 250: 10 unique things in Ligonier Township
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a suggestion for a future installment, please email gtrcity@triblive.)
Popular as a summer getaway destination for Pittsburghers beginning in the late 1800s, not much has changed in Ligonier Township.
Made up of a collection of rural communities, the area boasts a rich collection of leisure activities, restaurants and historic museums. The attractions are bound by a common thread — their proximity to the Lincoln Highway, the country’s first coast-to-coast thoroughfare. Now designated Route 30, the Lincoln Highway was started in 1913 by a group of mostly automobile business owners and entrepreneurs at a time when road maintenance was left to local governments.
Home to the communities of Buttermilk Falls, Darlington, Hillsview, Laughlintown, Longbridge, McCance, Oak Grove, Shirley, Speedwell, Rector, Waterford and Wilpen, the township holds many of Westmoreland County’s historic gems and outdoor treasures, including Loyalhanna Creek.
Here are 10 things to check out in Ligonier Township:
Idlewild & SoakZone
The longest operating theme park in Pennsylvania, Idlewild & SoakZone, 2574 Route 30 East, is a cherished gem. William Darlington, initial owner of the property, opened his land for picnics and pleasure grounds to Judge Thomas Mellon, owner of the Ligonier Valley Rail Road, on May 1, 1878.
Idlewild has since expanded to include more than 40 rides and attractions and was recognized by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission on Oct. 6, 2012.
In addition to a carousel dating from the 1920s, water slides and a wave pool, the park complex includes Story Book Forest. There, young visitors walk along shaded paths to meet favorite characters from nursery rhymes and children’s tales, such as The Three Bears.
Be sure to grab your kilts — Idlewild also hosts the annual Ligonier Highland Games. Witness athletes tossing cabers the size of telephone poles and enjoy some Scottish food while resting under pavilions and listening to Celtic musicians.
Compass Inn Museum
Compass Inn Museum, 1386 Route 30 East, is an authentically restored stagecoach stop and tavern in Laughlintown. It was a popular inn for travelers on the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Turnpike from 1799 to 1862, with famous guests such as Henry Clay, William Henry Harrison and Andrew Jackson.
During your visit, you can tour the museum, engage with docents dressed in 1830s period clothing, visit the authentic cookhouse with a functioning beehive oven and hearth and meet the blacksmith. During the fall, there are many exciting events, such as Halloween Storytelling the last week of October.
The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
If you can’t get there in person, you can glimpse part of the Compass Inn complex on film. It provided the setting for some scenes in “The Pale Blue Eye,” a 2022 Netflix movie that starred Christian Bale in a period murder mystery.
The Pie Shoppe
Iconic red patio umbrellas shade customers slicing into gooey cinnamon rolls slathered in cream cheese. The delicious rolls at The Pie Shoppe are made with the same recipe co-founder Melvin Columbus created as a Navy cook in World War II.
Columbus and his mother, Mildred Columbus, created The Pie Shoppe in 1947 upon Melvin’s return from the war. They opened the store in Laughlintown, which features pies, rolls, gobs and more 76 years later.
A long line of patrons will sometimes stretch out the door at the local landmark, 1379 Route 30 West.
Ligonier Country Market
Visitors come from miles around to grab a shiny treat from Aunt Julia’s Donuts, bright pink macaroons from Beth’s Cookie table, and sip a glass of wine from Bella Terra Vineyards as they make their way through the vendor stations at the Ligonier Country Market each Saturday from mid-May through late September. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon at 110 Andi Lane, just west of Ligonier Borough.
With more than 130 sellers, there’s lots of produce, baked goods and homemade crafts to purchase.
Young visitors to the market can participate in free educational activities at the Children’s Garden. Upcoming programs include: apple sampling and stories from Johnny Appleseed, 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 2; and pumpkin painting, 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 16.
Special events on the market grounds include a recent Farm-to-Table Harvest Market Dinner & Dance.
Ruthie’s Diner
Ruthie’s offers a homey breakfast, lunch and dinner experience.
Locals and out-of-towners flock to the diner at 1850 Route 30 East for an affordable breakfast and cup of Joe before a long commute, a big hamburger after a long day of Idlewild rides, or a home-cooked dinner. Meatloaf, hot turkey sandwiches and fish sandwiches are just a few of the notable dishes.
Not to be missed are the restaurant’s homemade pies — meringue and fruit — and apple dumplings.
Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum
The former Darlington Station of the Ligonier Valley Rail Road is enjoying a new but related use in this must-see stop for train enthusiasts.
The museum at 3032 Idlewild Hill Lane is supported by Idlewild & Soak Zone and Kennywood Entertainment, which agreed to subdivide and grant the property to the Ligonier Valley Rail Road Association. Funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Allegheny Foundation supported restoration efforts and engineering and architecture expenses.
The museum houses railroad memorabilia, videos and a wall map of the LVRR right of way, with a 1905 Bobber caboose on the grounds.
Operating from December 1877 until August 1952, the LVRR carried passengers between Latrobe and Ligonier and hauled such freight as timber, coal, coke and stone from local quarries. Much of the railroad’s main line was supplanted by the westbound lanes of modern Route 30.
Penguin Court and Thomas Road Farm
Penguin Court, the former family home of the late Tribune-Review publisher Richard M. Scaife, boasts a stunning preserve of 1,089 acres of forests, meadows and open space; a spring-fed reservoir and a pond; a 7,000-square-foot conservatory and a 3,700-square-foot greenhouse.
The area is a lovely place to visit during the fall, as the vibrant trees and rolling hills are the perfect backdrop for a stroll or hike. The estate was named Penguin Court because Scaife’s mother, Sarah, bought 10 African penguins during a national craze over the exploits of Antarctic explorer Richard Byrd. Her penguins used to live and roam throughout the property.
Keeping the forests and natural areas intact, per Scaife’s wishes, are part of the mission of The Brandywine Conservancy, which oversees Penguin Court. Visitors are encouraged to attend special events and tours throughout the year. You can bike, attend a tree identification workshop, create a monarch butterfly waystation and more during these public events.
Penguin Court is located at 104 California Ave. in Laughlintown.
Eastwood Inn
Eastwood Inn began in the 1880s as a stage coach stop, transformed into a speakeasy during Prohibition and is now a classic steakhouse. It mixes first-rate cocktails and serves retro entrees such as Salisbury steak and lamb chops with mint jelly.
The Inn was praised by The New York Times for its lamb from nearby 200-acre Jamison Farm, which also supplies restaurants such as Blue Hill in New York and Alinea in Chicago. While the lamb can be hard to find on local menus, Eastwood Inn serves the famous dish, making the restaurant at 661 Old Lincoln Highway East a popular spot.
Over the years, the Eastwood has welcomed a number of well-known guests. Frank Sinatra, Ross Perot, Mario Lemieux and members of the Pittsburgh Steelers have dined there.
Loyalhanna Creek
Loyalhanna Creek, a 50-mile tributary of the Kiskiminetas River, is a popular spot for canoeing and recreational trout fishing.
Some of the best fishing can be found between Kingston Dam, at the intersection of routes 30 and 217, upstream to the Route 711 bridge at Ligonier. The section of the creek that passes through Chestnut Ridge, from Kingston Dam upstream to Longbridge, is known as “The Loyalhanna Gorge” and contains many pull-offs with access to the stream.
In addition, an abundance of rare plant species and beaver, mink, egrets, blue herons, raptors, turtles and snakes thrive in the area. The creek derives its name from the 18th-century village of Layalhanning, an important Delaware Indian crossroads settlement. Layalhanning means “the middle stream” in the Delaware language.
Darlington Inn
Darlington Inn serves Transylvanian-Hungarian food with a side of accordion music.
Since 1996, the family-owned restaurant at 1473 Darlington Road has served homemade dishes, from rum cake to goulash. Elizabeth Kastal cooks everything and co-owns the restaurant with her husband, Laszlo Kastal.
Regular service hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Friday. If you’re feeling extra hungry, consider visiting during the Saturday buffet, which runs from 4 to 8:30 p.m.
Either way, you’re sure to run into Elizabeth Kastal, who frequents each table with motherly interest — making sure every diner is pleased with their meal.
Anna Mares is a TribLive staff writer. You can reach Anna at amares@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.