Water Turn On

Pennsylvania’s Raystown Lake Fills Bill For a Short Drive and Long List of Fun

By Nancy Luse

RAYSTOWN LAKE, PA.—Whether it’s being gob-smacked by the crashing force of Niagara Falls, sitting on a beach hypnotically gazing at ocean waves or paddling down a lazy river, people are drawn to water when planning their getaways. Raystown Lake, taking up 8,300 surface acres in southcentral Pennsylvania, is a water destination perfect for boating enthusiasts, anglers, campers and hikers, or those preferring to stretch out in a comfy chair and scan the skies for Bald Eagles.

Raystown Lake, a little more than 125 miles from Frederick via Interstate 70 west, started out in Huntingdon County, Pa., more than a century ago when a family in the area sought to build a hydroelectric project. The current lake, with depths of up to 200 feet, was completed 50 years ago by the Army Corps of Engineers. Beneath the waters are the remains of bridges, roads, railroad tracks and buildings, some of which reappear when the lake is drawn down for the winter.

As a kid growing up in neighboring Centre County, home to Penn State University, the creation of Raystown was big news and the locals soon flocked across the mountain and even considered buying their own fishing boats. Moving to Frederick, I was surprised by the number of people I encountered who had also discovered the lake, including one woman whose family takes up residence there for most of the summer and early fall.

My friends and I have also spent weekends at Raystown over the years, staying in comfortable cabins among the pine trees with a short walk to a small sandy beach. For a girl’s-only getaway, a vacation including the kids or a fishing trip with the guys, Raystown Lake tops many lists.

Lodging is as varied as the lake’s activities. In addition to tent camping sites and places to bring your own or rent an RV, there are hotels, houses, bed and breakfasts, cabins, and, perhaps coolest of all, a fleet of houseboats from which to choose.

They come with full bathrooms and showers, complete kitchens, and can sleep from four to 10 people. Some boats even have hot tubs and slides for tumbling into the lake when you need to cool off. Luckily, Raystown is one of a few lakes that hasn’t been developed with houses and docks along the shoreline, offering about 80 miles worth of open spots for mooring. There’s also the option of just staying parked at the dock, but then you miss the chance to swim, fish or tool around the lake.

For those staying on land and desiring a tent experience that’s a bit cushier than sleeping on a ground cloth, there are yurts to be had. The circular structures with climate control have wooden floors and towering ceilings to accommodate several comfortable beds with fresh linens. The kitchen is just a mini-fridge and the bathroom is a nearby bathhouse, but you have to have a certain amount of roughing it, right?

Matt Price, executive director of the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau, says the lake attracts roughly 1.8 million visitors a year, mostly those living within a four-hour drive. “It’s a pretty pristine forest,” Price says, and the unobstructed shoreline adds to the appeal for vacationers and Bald Eagles. “They have really made a comeback,” he says, and despite the lake’s heavy recreational use, the majestic birds are easily seen sailing through the skies.

Speaking of recreation, the lake is filled with striped bass, rainbow trout and other species for anglers to try and hook. Water skiing, swimming and boating are also popular, and the Proud Mary showboat gives passengers a spin around the lake and offers brunch and dinner cruises. A water park is a fun diversion for those wanting a change from the beach and there are numerous trails for hiking.

Outside the lake area are historic and scenic sites to visit, including the Rockhill Trolley Museum, Saint Mary’s covered bridge, the Swigart Auto Museum, the largest such museum in the United States, and the East Broad Top Railroad, a National Historic Landmark, with its fleet of six steam engines. 

With this year being the 50th anniversary of the lake’s construction, there will be some special events planned in the coming months, says Price, making it the perfect time to enjoy the waters at Raystown Lake. Go to www.raystown.org or www.visitpa.com.