The boat dock at the entrance of Penn’s Cave.
HUNTER SMITH / THE EXPRESS

HUNTER SMITH / THE EXPRESS
The colored light room in Penn’s Cave.

BELLEFONTE — After four generations of family stewardship, the owners of Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park are asking the state to take over one of Centre County’s most iconic attractions in an effort to preserve it from future development.

Following remarks from CEO Russ Schleiden and his daughter, Jeanine Watson, the Centre County Commissioners on Tuesday endorsed the plan to make the natural wonder Pennsylvania’s 126th state park.

“This has been a very difficult decision for us,” said Schleiden. “But we feel that it’s a very important part of, not only Centre County, but the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and that it should be preserved in perpetuity.”

The Schleiden family has spent decades as custodians of America’s only all-water, limestone cavern, working to expand and conserve Penn’s Cave, which contains the headwaters of Penn’s Creek. To ensure the 1,400 acres of land and its waters are around for generations to come, the family is petitioning the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to designate the Penn’s Cave estate a state park and take over its stewardship.

The proposed transfer includes the cavern, Cave House, surrounding land and waterways, five homes and several barns. Watson said the family has been working toward the proposal for three years.

“I know the state, DCNR, has wonderful plans and visions for enhancing it and taking it to that next level beyond what we could do,” she said.

Penn’s Creek, which starts in the cavern, flows 34 miles to Selinsgrove where it joins the Susquehanna River Basin before emptying into the Chesapeake. The state has made significant investments in protecting those waters, and the proposed transition would expand that work.

“The tributaries also support the native brook trout,” said Schleiden, naming specifically Little Poe and Big Poe creeks, which are known for their fishing.

Penn’s Cave, he said, has always been supportive of “wildlife for everyone.”

With the commissioners’ help, Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park has invested $2 million into the local wetlands, protecting local fauna while improving the area’s accessibility. Schleiden said transferring ownership to the state would ensure that mission remains central to the property.

“We strongly desire this to go to the state to protect and continue to conserve, and have it available to the public,” Watson said.

The property also carries historical significance. Penn’s Cave and Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in April 1978 for its local importance.

The Cave House, or hotel, was built in 1885 by the Long family, who first commercialized the cavern. At the time, visitors traversed the cave by boat using lanterns. That changed in 1927, when the Campbell family, who emigrated from Scotland to the land, electrified the cave.

“It probably had electricity before more than most of the local residents,” Schleiden said.

State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, who helped coordinate with the state on the proposed transition, also joined the commissioners for the discussion.

Benninghoff said the move would require the endorsement of the governor and both chambers of the General Assembly. The governor is aware of the plan and visited the site last year, and Benninghoff said he has drafted legislation outlining the mechanics of the transition.

“I can’t think of a better time in our country and our county’s history, at the semiquincentennial, to make this a reality,” he said. “If you want to look at Americana in its best, the park I think exemplifies that.”

“In the long run, I think this is a tremendous investment for the commonwealth,” Benninghoff said, noting the transition would not be easy but the commissioners’ endorsement could help move the project forward during this budget cycle.

The proposal also carries potential economic benefits for the region.

Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park already attracts visitors from all 50 states and several countries. During its peak season, the park employs dozens of local community members. The attraction is a multigenerational employer in Gregg Township, providing jobs for members of the Schleiden family and their employees, many of whom are young adults and teens.

Transferring ownership to DCNR and becoming Pennsylvania’s 126th state park could increase tourism and economic engagement in the area, the owners said. State parks in rural communities often bring tourism dollars and expand employment opportunities as operations grow.

Benninghoff said he could envision additional public amenities, including a campground, while emphasizing the property would remain accessible.

“This is not going to be an exclusive property that no one can access,” she said. “It’s actually one we want more people to enjoy.”

The commissioners each praised the work Schleiden and Watson have done and expressed support for the state park designation, citing the conservation, education, historical, tourism and recreational benefits of the proposal.

“Penn’s Cave is a premier tourist attraction in Centre County,” said Commissioner Mark Higgins, who noted it is one of only a few caves accessible by boat worldwide. “With the trout in the water and the wild animals surrounding it in the wildlife park, it’s a really, really fun half-day attraction to visit.”

“It’s just irreplaceable,” he said.

Commissioner Amber Concepcion called the property “an outstanding area of natural beauty” and added that it provides an opportunity for education and recreation.

“It’s a great place for kids to learn and for adults and people of all ages to spend a summer afternoon,” she said. “It would make a fantastic state park.”

Dershem called the opportunity “once in a lifetime” and said it would be a “crying shame” if the property were developed instead.

“This is an amazing opportunity for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to invest in a property that is literally irreplaceable, iconic to our region and unique. I don’t know that you’ll find anything quite like it,” Dershem said. “It’s an amazing place.”

Penn’s Cave, he added, “represents who we are in Centre County” and is “natural splendor at its best.”

Benninghoff said their support will emphasize the urgency of completing the transition to state legislators.

“This endorsement by the county, visitors bureau and other people helps to emphasize that we’d really like to get this done, and time is of the essence,” he said. “People have been knocking on their door, wanting to purchase this land and break it all apart, and a lot of it would go into development.”

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