Ridgway blends history, nature and small-town industry
About 11 miles west of St. Marys, Ridgway is a residential borough with historic homes and access to the Allegheny National Forest. The area is surrounded by thick trees, with Clarion River and Elk Creek flowing through. “The town was built for its lumber and natural resources, and those industries have developed future generations, helping make the community successful and thriving,” says Ben Kmetz, a Realtor with Elk County Real Estate, who has about 10 years of experience. As the county seat of Elk County, Ridgway’s downtown area provides shopping and dining opportunities, with annual events bringing the community together.
Century-old single-family homes and midcentury subdivisions
Homes in Ridgway are found along residential streets near downtown and within subdivisions. Most have grassy front lawns with trees and shrubbery. American Foursquares are common, along with multistory Victorian homes with simple exteriors. Some have farmhouse features such as decorative trim and front porches – most were built between the 1880s and 1920s. South Street within Ridgway’s historic district is known as Millionaire Row. “Back in the 1800s, a lot of lumber and coal barons settled here and built these beautiful mansion homes,” Kmetz says. Traditional single-story homes, midcentury ranchers and split levels are found farther out from downtown in residential neighborhoods. The median sales price for homes in Ridgway is $155,000, which is low compared to the national median sales price of around $422,000, as reported by the National Association of REALTORS®.
Enjoying recreation at parks and in the Allegheny National Forest
Olson Park is one of Ridgway’s green spaces, outfitted with a playground, basketball court and multi-purpose field. There’s also O.B. Grant Park and its playground area with swings. Lyle G. Hall Community Pool offers seasonal membership passes and sits adjacent to basketball courts and a skate park. On the borough’s west side, Ridgway Mills Campground has multiple campsites along Clarion River and access to hiking trails. Nearby is Laurel Mill Golf Course, which has nine holes.
Sandy Beach Park is about 3 miles west and has a playground, frisbee golf course and fields for baseball and softball. Fishing and tent camping are allowed along Big Mill Creek, and an observation deck goes out over a pond. Sandy Beach Park is located on the cusp of the Allegheny National Forest, which comprises over 514,000 acres of woodlands, meadows and streams. The national forest allows hiking, camping, hunting and snowmobiling, plus boating and fishing along the Allegheny Reservoir. “We get a lot of tourism here for the recreation. People want to get to the mountains,” Kmetz says.
Celebrating the community through a lumber-themed event
Ridgway’s Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous in April is the borough’s largest, most popular event, paying homage to the lumber industry. Artists come from all over the world to participate. “They take chunks of certain types of wood, and they mold them into creatures and signs. Some are as large as 25 feet, and some are so small they can fit in your hand,” Kmetzs says. Spectators can watch the artists’ live carving sessions and demonstrations. There’s also live music and food and craft vendors. The festival ends with an auction of the pieces created that weekend.
Additional community events include the Fire Department Carnival in July, and Mountain Fest, which is held in March and has live music and food and craft vendors.
Downtown’s Main Street has retail and dining
Ridgway’s Historic Downtown area has multiple shops and restaurants lined along Main Street, including Dan Smith’s Candies & Gifts. Joey’s Bakery & Restaurant is a borough staple, serving handmade donuts and pastries on top of its full breakfast menu and homestyle dinners. The Brew Bank Brewing Company is a microbrewery located in the old Elk County National Bank, where pop-singer Taylor Swift’s great-grandfather, Archie Dean Swift, used to work. The brewery serves sandwiches in addition to craft beer. There are also gas stations, an antique shop and Family Dollar in Ridgway. Elk County Foods is the area’s grocery store, located off Broad Street. “The amenities here are pretty decent. They’re well-equipped to handle a small borough,” Kmetz says.
Getting educated in Ridgway public schools
The borough is served by the Ridgway Area School District, which enrolls around 800 students. Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary School earns a B grade from Niche and offers STEAM-oriented activities. From there, students attend Ridgway Area Middle/High School, which shares a campus, for grades six through 12. The middle school receives a B-plus, while the high school scores a B-minus. High school students are required to participate in job shadowing for career exploration.
Navigating Ridgway by foot, bus or car
Downtown Ridgway’s sidewalks and crosswalks are pedestrian friendly. When it comes to public transportation, the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) of North Central Pennsylvania has bus stops throughout the borough. U.S. Route 216, known as Pittsburgh-Buffalo Highway, travels north and south, while Pennsylvania Route 120 travels east and west. PA 120 can be used to reach St. Marys to the east. The DuBois Regional Airport is about 28 miles south and offers flights to Pittsburgh International Airport.
