Daycation: Bedford offers bounty of history, heritage and hospitality
History and heritage collide for an educational travel destination in rural Bedford County. A daycation to the town of Bedford offers a variety of activities drenched in American history dating to the 1700s.
Bedford is positioned near the crossroads of two ancient Native American trading routes and served as a supply depot under the command of British Brig. Gen. John Forbes.
Fort Bedford’s position as a European-American trading area in 1758 attracted Colonial settlers to the area, and, by 1800, the town served as the county seat, complete with a jail, courthouse, shops, ornate homes and multiple taverns and inns.
Travel the historic Lincoln Highway along Route 30 for about 100 miles from Pittsburgh for the most authentic road trip to Bedford.
Spend the day dining at one of the oldest taverns in Pennsylvania, take a covered-bridge driving tour, snap a selfie at quirky roadside attractions, engage in retail therapy and shop antique, bulk foods and specialty stores and explore Old Bedford Village’s living history village.
Longtime Bedford resident and business owner Michael Fisher, 44, said tourists appreciate the small-town feel of Bedford.
“We don’t have the congestion of a big city, but we have a large selection of great amenities for visitors,” Fisher said. “My favorite points of interest are the historic sites. Downtown Bedford is a treasure, and you can easily spend the day exploring the small shops, restaurants, and learn about the historical significance of the area.”
Jean Bonnet Tavern
Before he was president, Gen. George Washington camped on the grounds where the Jean Bonnet Tavern sits, visible traveling east from Pittsburgh along the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
“He camped on the property with his troops. Usually the head guys stayed inside, but it was never documented accurately, so we cannot guarantee that Washington slept here. But it makes sense he did,” said Jean Bonnet owner and chef Brandon Callihan.
Callihan grew up in Bedford, a few miles away the tavern he now owns. He studied at the Culinary Institute of America and worked at a few large resorts before purchasing the tavern seven years ago.
“I worked here about 10 years ago,” Callihan said. “I ended up back home and couldn’t be happier.”
Customers travel from far and wide to drink and dine, and even stay overnight, in one of the four fully renovated guestrooms located upstairs.
The circa 1762 tavern has welcomed patrons for more than 250 years.
The establishment boasts original stone walls, chestnut beams, oversize fireplaces and a menu featuring regional favorites such as prime rib, crab dip and oatmeal pie.
“What makes us special is we make our soups and sauces, breads and desserts, daily from scratch,” Callihan said. “Customers come from literally all over.”
The tavern was purchased by Jean (John) Bonnet in 1779, and more than 500 men assembled at the tavern in 1794 to protest the tax on alcohol during the Whiskey Rebellion.
The establishment is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been featured in countless paranormal investigations and chronicled in books and televised ghost programs.
“My most-asked question is, ‘Is it haunted?’ ” Callihan said. “It is.”
Callihan said there are seven ghosts, including a cat spirit, that occupy the tavern.
“I’ve personally had experiences but would rather not get into it,” he said.
Guests have reported the cat spirit sleeping against people at night and making some people’s allergies flare up.
When asked about any backstory related to the cat ghost, Callihan drew a blank.
“He won’t tell us,” Callihan said.
Note that reservations are no longer accepted at Jean Bonnet Tavern, located at 6048 Lincoln Highway.
Patrons are encouraged to browse the on-site Cabin Shoppe, built in the 1700s, selling period-related wares and gifts, and stop by to pet the resident goats near the seasonal garden on the grounds.
A Bevy of Covered Bridges
Bedford County features 14 covered bridges.
A covered bridge driving tour is available at VisitBedfordCounty.com.
Some of the bridges, situated on public and private lands, are easy to find, while others are more remote and not drivable.
The Herline is the longest covered bridge in Bedford County, built in 1906 featuring a Burr Truss design.
Looking for a beautiful bridge backdrop for a selfie? Check out the Kniseley Bridge crossing Dunnings Creek, constructed in the 1880s on what was once the main road to Johnstown.
Country Store Shopping
Get cheesy at Fisher’s Country Store, where more than 120 deli meats and cheeses are sliced to order and sold by mostly Mennonite employees.
Bulk foods, spices, produce, jams, honey, baked goods and more are all packaged in the store, at 111 Hoagland Road.
John Fisher of Bedford purchased the store, orginally Kauffman’s Country Store, from the Kauffmans in 1990.
A 2,300-square-foot addition was built in 2003, and the shop is popular with tourists and locals alike.
Roadside landmark
An oversize historic landmark 1 mile west of downtown Bedford provides plenty of free photo perks for visitors.
The Coffee Pot stands 18 feet tall and 22 feet wide and is a fine example of what’s referred to as novelty architecture.
Built in 1927 by David Koontz, a local businessman, the pot served as a small eatery at his gas station.
Interestingly, it was never a coffee shop. It was a bar during the 1930s and also served as a bus stop.
The pot closed in the 1980s and faced demolition during the 1990s.
Community members and members of the Lincoln Highway Experience rescued the pot, relocating it across Route 30 to the entrance of the Bedford County Fairgrounds in 2004.
It’s on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is at 108 Telegraph Road.
French & Indian War Commemorated
The Fort Bedford Museum offers a glimpse into Bedford’s past, housing more than 4,000 objects.
The museum, at 110 Fort Bedford Drive, was constructed by Bedford residents in 1958 to commemorate construction of the original French and Indian war fort built in 1758.
Nestled along the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, the fort offers several large rooms inside a re-created house featuring a detailed overview of Native American history in the region.
Visitors can explore two interpretive exhibits, “Cave to Empire” and “Becoming Bedford,” along with the most recent exhibit, “The Story of ‘Indian Eve’ Ernst.”
Washington slept here
President George Washington stayed in the stone Espy House in downtown Bedford, built in 1771.
Revoluntionary War activist Col. David Espy purchased the home for 600 British pounds from its orginal owner around 1789.
Washington used the home as his headquarters for several days during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794.
The Espy House is designated as a National Historic Landmark, and current owner Todd Eichelberger created a whiskey named for the home to commemorate the historic residence and its previous inhabitants.
The Espy House is not open to the public but is open for private tours upon written request to 123 E. Pitt St., Bedford, PA 15522.
More Daycations:
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• Smicksburg offers a rural retreat 60 miles from Pittsburgh
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• Coshocton, Ohio, America's canal town
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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