Pennsylvania has invested $986,000 in road improvements, observation tower repairs and visitor facilities at Mount Davis in Somerset County, upgrading access and safety at the state’s highest natural point as part of a broader infrastructure program supporting public lands and outdoor recreation
Department of Conservation and Natural Re, to highlight the improvements at Forbes State Forest, including a refurbished observation tower, resurfaced access roads and parking areas, and updated educational displays
The investment is part of more than $246 million committed by Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration to modernizing Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests.
The Mount Davis project included resurfacing the entrance
The Mount Davis project included resurfacing the entrance road and parking lots near the intersection of South Wolf Rock Road and Mount Davis Road. Crews also completed drainage improvements, established accessible parking spaces and designated an area where buses can turn around safely.
Contractors performed the first major refurbishment of the Mount Davis Observation Tower in years, partially dismantling its steel structure to remove corrosion and deteriorated paint.
The work included abrasive blasting, repainting and reinstalling the tower’s platforms, stairs and other components. A containment system was used to manage debris during the repairs.
DCNR also replaced or updated more than 30
DCNR also replaced or updated more than 30 interpretive displays and directional signs in collaboration with the Gecko Group. A new information kiosk provides visitors with guidance about the summit area and its natural and cultural history.
“Visitors come from across the country and around the world to experience this site, which is why continued investment in access and safety matters so much,” Dunn said.
Mount Davis rises 3,213 feet above sea level within Forbes State Forest, which encompasses nearly 59,000 acres across Somerset, Fayette and Westmoreland counties.
The Commonwealth acquired most of the Mount Davis
The Commonwealth acquired most of the Mount Davis property in 1929. The surrounding forest supports hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and other recreational activities.
The area also includes the ADA-accessible Bog Trail at the Spruce Flats Bog and Wildlife Area and lies within the Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape and National Road Heritage Corridor.
The improvements are intended to support tourism in the Laurel Highlands, where outdoor recreation is a component of the regional economy.
Ann Nemanic, executive director of Laurel Highlands Tourism,
Ann Nemanic, executive director of Laurel Highlands Tourism, reported that 42% of visitors to Somerset County participated in an outdoor activity during the preceding 12 months.
She also cited a Mount Davis promotional video that generated approximately 475,000 social media views over 10 days, reflecting interest in the destination.
The Highpointers Club, whose members visit the highest elevations in each state, has maintained a longstanding relationship with the Mount Davis site.
Dave Covill, president of the Highpointers Foundation, emphasized
Dave Covill, president of the Highpointers Foundation, emphasized the importance of road access and the observation tower for visitors traveling to the summit. The foundation has also worked with forest officials to provide a bench at the site.
The improvements have implications for organizations that use Mount Davis for environmental education, including Deer Valley YMCA Family Camp.
Jay T. Summerville, the camp’s senior program director, said the organization has begun working with Forbes State Forest personnel to strengthen educational opportunities associated with visits to the mountain.
Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry generates approximately $20.4 billion
Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry generates approximately $20.4 billion annually and supports more than 177,000 jobs, according to figures cited by the Shapiro administration.
DCNR oversees 125 state parks and approximately 2.2 million acres of state forestland, with public access provided free of charge.
The department’s infrastructure program also includes a $7.5 million visitor center at Marsh Creek State Park in Chester County, designed to pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.
DCNR’s Bureau of Facility Design and Construction manages
DCNR’s Bureau of Facility Design and Construction manages the department’s state park and forest infrastructure projects, including work intended to improve accessibility, extend the useful life of facilities and support recreational use.
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