Eat and visit in Franklin

Colerain Forges Mansion is an ironmaster's house on Spruce Creek Road in Franklin Township. The site says it was started around 1800, with additions by ironmaster David Stewart and his family from the 1830s through the 1860s. The National Register of Historic Places listed it in 1990, and its grounds include 10 acres of woods and formal gardens.

Historical tours run on the first and second Sundays of each month, May to October, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and last about an hour. Executive director Dave Petit guides them. The site says Colerain produced 29,616 tons of wrought iron blooms from 1823 to 1860. Walk-ins are accepted, though tickets bought in advance are preferred.

Tours cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 16. Tours outside the regular dates can be booked by appointment for $15 per person. The Colerain Center for Education, Preservation, and the Arts received the mansion and its grounds as a gift in 2019.

• Tours run the first and second Sundays of each month, May to October, and last about an hour. source
• Tours cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-16. source
• Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. source
• Donated to the Colerain Center in 2019 with its grounds. source
• The site says Colerain produced 29,616 tons of wrought iron blooms from 1823 to 1860. source

“When you visit Colerain Forges Mansion, it can be hard to visualize it as the center of a busting iron industry.”Dave Petit, Colerain Center for Education, Preservation, and the Arts (Colerain Courier Newsletter), 2025

“We are excited to have Dave Petit as an extraordinary addition to the Colerain Center”Jerry Zolten, Colerain Center Board President, Huntingdon Daily News, 23 January 2026

“On the National Register of Historic Places, Colerain Forges Mansion was started around 1800, with additions by the ironmaster David Stewart and his family in the 1830s through the 1860s.”Colerain Center for Education, Preservation, and the Arts, Colerain Center website, 2025

Spruce Creek flows across the former Indian Caverns property on Route 45, near Franklinville in Franklin Township. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy bought the land in 2017 to repurpose the caves for bats and to provide public access for fishing. The state Fish and Boat Commission took ownership in 2019. Indian Caverns had operated as a show cave from 1929 until it closed in 2016.

In 2018 the Altoona Mirror reported that anglers could use an access bridge with a 6-ton weight limit and park in the old cave lot. A bridge replacement was expected to finish in May or June 2018. In 2023 the Daily News reported that the conservancy and the Commission had planted native trees and shrubs on 0.7 acres that had been the parking lot.

• The Fish and Boat Commission bought the property from the conservancy in 2019. source
• In 2018 the access bridge had a 6-ton weight limit. source
• By January 2023, native trees and shrubs had been planted on 0.7 acres of the former parking lot. source
• Indian Caverns opened June 15, 1929, and closed in October 2016. source

“The two public sections of this stream are both regulated as catch-and-release, artificial lures only.”Jeff Deitrich, StateCollege.com, 19 March 2026

“For now, fishermen can use the bridge, which has a 6 ton weight limit, and park in the old Indian Caverns parking lot to access Spruce Creek.”Walt Frank, Altoona Mirror, 18 April 2018

“Since then, the two agencies have worked to restore Spruce Creek and open the 1,200 feet that flows on the property to increase accessibility for the nationally-renowned wild brown trout fishery.”MEREDITH PEACHEY, Huntingdon Daily News, 23 January 2023

The Colerain Center has staged Shakespeare productions at Colerain Forges Mansion, a National Register property in Franklin Township. Its Shakespeare page lists three runs. In 2023 it staged As You Like It on July 22 and 23, performed near the forest with the holly room as backdrop and backstage. In 2024 it staged Coriolanus on June 15 and 16, and in 2025 Much Ado About Nothing on May 24 and 25, both on the mansion porch.

Mary Rose Valentine, Director of Theatre Programming, hopes to support local theatre artists and produce site-specific theatre. A Huntingdon Daily News article from January 2026 lists Shakespeare performances among the center's past events. The home page calendar lists July and August 2026 events with no Shakespeare run, and the Shakespeare page lists nothing after 2025.

• 2025 run: Much Ado About Nothing, May 24 and 25, performed on the porch of the Colerain Forges Mansion. source
• 2024 run: Coriolanus, June 15 and 16, performed on the porch of the Colerain Forges Mansion. source
• 2023 run: As You Like It, July 22 and 23, performed near the forest with the holly room as backdrop and backstage. source

“As Director of Theatre Programming at the Colerain Center, she hopes to encourage new ideas in conversation with the area’s rich history by supporting and spotlighting local theatre artists, producing site-specific theatre, and more.”No byline printed. Bio of Mary Rose Valentine, Director of Theatre, on the page., Colerain Center for Education, Preservation, and the Arts

“Among other events, the center has held indoor and outdoor concerts that have included a benefit festival for Ukraine, visual arts exhibitions, historical talks, living history days, archeological classes, conservation workshops, Shakespeare performances, poetry readings, and mansion tours.”no byline printed, Huntingdon Daily News, 23 January 2026

Run & Reel Spring Festival is a spring family day at Camp Kanesatake, a camp on 307 acres north of Spruce Creek along Huntingdon Furnace Road. The camp's page lists the next festival for Saturday, April 17, 2027, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and calls it a free family day with free parking on site.

The trail run offers a 5K or a 10K over dirt trails, field roads, a small section of pavement and some technical side hills. The page calls it a challenging course with plenty of runnable trail. A free Kids Fun Run for children 12 and under starts before the races. Runners can set up personal fundraising pages, and the camp says 100% of proceeds benefit Camp K.

A fishing tournament on the waters of Spruce Creek, hay rides, a zipline, food and craft vendors, a camp coffee and snack shop and a kids carnival fill out the day. Online runner registration is due April 14, 2027 at 3 p.m.

• Next date listed: Saturday, April 17, 2027, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. source
• Festival is a free family day, with free parking on site. source
• Trail run: 5K and 10K, plus a free Kids Fun Run for children 12 and under before the races. source
• Online runner registration is due April 14, 2027 at 3 p.m. source
• The camp sits on 307 acres north of Spruce Creek, along Huntingdon Furnace Road. source

“Join us this spring for a free family day at Camp K, where guests of all ages can enjoy a full day of outdoor entertainment!”Camp Kanesatake

“The trails you will be running or walking on will take you through the beautiful hills and fields of the camp.”Camp Kanesatake

“Bring your gear, enjoy the creek, and make lasting memories.”Camp Kanesatake