Our host park as we filmed this week’s episode was Cook Forest State Park — a
breathtaking 11,536-acre natural wonder tucked away in northwestern
Pennsylvania. Bordered by the picturesque Clarion River, the park is best
known for its towering virgin white pines and hemlock forest. Designated a
National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service, Cook Forest is often
referred to as the “Black Forest” of Pennsylvania. A little history . . . When
Europeans first arrived in the region during the 1700s, the Seneca Nation of
the Iroquois Confederacy used this land as hunting grounds. In 1757,
Pennsylvania’s Proprietary Council sent a missionary to persuade the Seneca to
join the British during the French and Indian War — but the Seneca sided with
the French. After the British victory, the land was eventually purchased from
the Iroquois. John Cook became the first permanent American settler here. He
arrived in 1826 to assess the possibility of building an east-to-west canal
along the Clarion River for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Two years later,
he purchased 765 acres and settled there with his wife and ten children. What
struck us most was just how untouched, vast, and beautifully wild this place
remains. The towering forest — and the majestic wildlife that call it home —
seem to stand above everything else. There’s something incredibly humbling
about being surrounded by a place that has remained so connected to its
natural roots. It was hard leaving this beautiful corner of the world, and
we’re grateful for the time we spent simply listening . . . and talking to the
trees. We can’t wait for Sunday’s episode to kick things off.
Some of the nicest, most creative, weirdly wonderful people we've met along
our travels have been artists. (Heck, I married an artist - Mr. Producerman
- Kevin McCabe.) In this week's episode we take a little detour inside
Cook Forest State Park to visit the Cook Forest Sawmill Center for the Arts
and meet a few of the talented contributors who keep the heart of this
community beating and the walls of this historic building filled with
handmade treasures. We were treated to an unforgettable experience,
including an oil painting created right before our eyes, a hand-carved
wooden map of Pennsylvania with interactive markers to track every
Pennsylvania State Parks we visit, locally sourced honey that was rich,
dark, and absolutely delicious, and - if you've noticed the earrings I'm
wearing in our Season 5 promo photo - they're handcrafted from wood,
too! Don't miss the premiere episode from Leeper, Pennsylvania! Come
meet these incredible local artists, discover their amazing work, and maybe
even start planning your own visit to shop, explore, and support this
special creative community.
Watch the episode
here
or click the link below to watch:
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