Tionesta

Nestled in a valley on the edge of the Wild and Scenic Allegheny River, at the juncture of Tionesta Creek and under the beacon of the Tionesta Lighthouse, Tionesta exudes Americana. It is about 15 miles east-northeast of Oil City.

Driving from Oil City to Tionesta along the River, you are treated to a dramatic display of thickly forested slopes ascending steeply from the wild and pristine Allegheny. The River, Big Tionesta Creek, and the great Pennsylvania forest shaped the destiny of this small nineteenth-century village.

The town of Tionesta serves as the region's western gateway to the Allegheny National Forest and the Pennsylvania Wilds. Located in a picturesque valley alongside the Wild and Scenic Allegheny River, countless outdoor recreation lovers begin their "natural escape" vacation here.

By the 1850s, rivermen coming down from Warren or New York were accustomed to pulling up and seeking public lodging in this then remote place. Around the village, even then, rafts of rough timber cut in the forest covering the hills above Tionesta Creek were being assembled for floating downriver to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, and beyond.

By the 1860s, several prosperous timber companies had sawmills along Tionesta Creek. Tionesta became a central assembly point for both rough-cut timber rafts, some as long as 300 feet, and loads of semifinished lumber shipped downriver on shallow-draft flatboats. The flatboats were constructed on-site.

Canoeing & kayaking the river and streams, boating on the lake, fishing, hiking, and horseback riding can be experienced in this wooded paradise. Cabins, campgrounds, B&Bs, and family-owned motels are all available for your custom nature-based vacation.

The town's Native American heritage is celebrated each August with the week-long Tionesta Indian Festival. Community spirit runs year-round, as the merchants of this rural community welcome you into the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of their shops. As the Western Gateway to the PA Wilds, Tionesta begins your journey the right way.

The township of Tionesta is situated in Forest County, Pennsylvania. One of the most popular attractions in this township is Lake Tionesta, offering various opportunities for enjoyment. The township is relatively small in terms of demographics: according to the 2000 census, approximately 610 people lived there.