Thriving mom and pop shops: Falls Market in Ohiopyle offers new hotel rooms

The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation gave a shout-out Monday to local stores, restaurants and outfitters for National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day.

A Penn State study on the economic impact of state parks in 2012 estimated park visitors generated more than $1 billion in sales to the state economy and supported more than 12,000 jobs.

“Local general stores, diners, gift shops, wineries, breweries, unique lodgings and more complement the experiences that visitors to our state parks and forests have each year,” said Marci Mowery, president of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation.

Several local mom-and-pop shops credit visitors from state parks with helping to grow their businesses.

Ohiopyle State Park’s go-to store with great ice cream cones and essential supplies, Falls Market Restaurant and Inn along Route 381, just finished work on the last of seven renovated hotel rooms, which opened last year.

“We’re extremely fortunate,” said Pamela Kruse, owner of Falls Market Restaurant and Inn. “It’s a beautiful place to be, and we are lucky so many people come here to enjoy nature.”

As the number of visitors increases — the typical annual number of park visitors averaged about 1.5 million before the pandemic — offering overnight lodging is helping Ohiopyle-based businesses even more, Kruse said.

She established the website vacationohiopyle.com last year to promote lodging.

“The great thing is, people can come for multi-day trips,” she said. “When people stay here, it funnels more money to the local economy when more people are buying pizza, hoagies, beer and whatever they need.”

At North Country Brew Pub in Slippery Rock near Moraine and McConnells Mill state parks in Butler County, even with pandemic closures, the restaurant has been doing well, said Kevin Younger, a bartender.

“We get a lot of parkgoers. We do have an outdoor patio area that hikers like to come and sit by the fireplace,” he said. “They can bring their dog. It’s a great space.”

The brewery attracts visitors from the parks and special events in the area as well as its own events, such as Brew Fest, later in the summer.

Although the customer base has been growing since they opened in 2005, the brewery has kept the menu consistent with a selection of burgers. Although, Younger added, they don’t serve typical bar food. A popular special is the shareable appetizer “Pennsyl-­Tucky sushi” — meatloaf stuffed with spinach and provolone cheese, encased in bacon.