Eat and visit in Shirley

The Hill Valley Inn says it prides itself on a friendly atmosphere and competitive prices. Its menu has finger foods such as battered mushrooms, onion rings and mozzarella sticks, plus a quarter-pound cheeseburger with fries, a triple-decker turkey club on toast, a steak on garlic toast and wings.

The home page advertises karaoke on request and says its drink specials change often. The About Us page prints the hours as Monday to Saturday, 2pm to 10pm or later. The phone number is 814-542-4446.

The site carries a footer dated 2023, so its hours and menu are not confirmed for 2026.

• Family owned and operated, per its About Us page source
• Karaoke on request, per the home page source
• Menu lists a 1/4lb cheeseburger with fries and a turkey club with fries source

“We pride ourselves in a friendly atmosphere and competitive prices.”The Hill Valley Inn, undated

“Karaoke is available most nights upon request.”The Hill Valley Inn, undated

Bell Furnace Picnic Area is a picnic site in Shirley Township, Huntingdon County. OpenStreetMap, the open map database, tags it as a picnic site. The map record carries no hours, phone number or website for it, and it was last edited on 18 September 2023.

The Pennsylvania CCC Online Archive lists a state forest camp named Bell Furnace, with a current landholder of Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources. The camp opened on 30 May 1933 and closed on 1 October 1937. Its listed coordinates sit about 110 meters from the picnic area point in a straight line, but the archive does not say the two sites are the same place.

• OpenStreetMap carries two tags on the way: a name and tourism=picnic_site. source
• The OpenStreetMap way is at version 1, last edited 2023-09-18. source
• The CCC archive lists a State Forest camp named Bell Furnace, opened 5/30/1933 and closed 10/1/1937. source
• Nominatim places the point in Shirley Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. source

Colgate Grove is a picnic area on the East Broad Top Railroad near Shirleysburg. Jim Cheney's 2023 Uncovering PA article puts it about 3.5 miles north of the Rockhill station. Excursion trains stop there so passengers can get off for a picnic and catch a later train back. The railroad says its standard timetable usually allows a 90-minute layover on the 10:30am and 12:00pm departures.

The grove has two large picnic shelters and picnic tables. The railroad's own history says passengers could get off here as early as the 1890s. The EBT Foundation replaced the old shelters with two new pavilions in April 2023 and reopened the grove for picnics that summer. There is no running water or electricity, and campfires are not permitted at this time.

The regular season runs from early May through late October. Pavilions and tables can be reserved for private parties through the railroad's group sales office. Trained service animals are allowed on the train and at the grove, and passengers must return to Rockhill Furnace on the last departure of the day.

• Two large picnic shelters and picnic tables. Running water and electricity are not available. source
• Picnic layover is available on the 10:30am and 12:00pm train departures on non-event days. source
• The EBT Foundation replaced the 60-year-old shelters in April 2023 with two new pavilions. source
• Adults (13+) coach fare $25.00 and Child (2-12) coach fare $15.00 on the northbound train. source
• Uncovering PA puts the grove about 3.5 miles north of the Rockhill station, near Shirleysburg. source

“Situated among picturesque farm fields and enchanting forests, Colgate Grove is the halfway point for our excursion trains”East Broad Top Railroad

“Excursion rides start their one-hour journey from the historic train station in Rockhill and head north about 3.5 miles to the Colgate Grove Picnic Area near Shirleysburg.”Jim Cheney, Uncovering PA, 27 July 2023

“Passengers will disembark at the Colgate Grove picnic ground for one hour and 30 minutes”Centre County Gazette, StateCollege.com, 17 September 2026

State Game Lands Number 71 is a state game land in Huntingdon County, managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The Commission says the primary purpose of its state game lands is wildlife habitat, with lawful hunting and trapping, and that other recreation is permitted under its rules.

The Standing Stone Trail runs across the land. The trail's own website lists State Game Lands 71 among the four state game lands it passes through, along with two state forests and a natural area. The Huntingdon Daily News named the trail as one of the hiking routes in the county that run through state game lands.

Hunters and nonhunters must wear fluorescent orange on state game lands from October 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027, according to a Game Commission reminder reported by the Daily News. While in the woods, the orange must total 250 square inches and be visible from 360 degrees.

• The Standing Stone Trail crosses State Game Lands 71, one of four state game lands on its route. source
• Hunters and nonhunters must wear fluorescent orange on state game lands from Oct. 1, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2027. source
• The Game Commission owns and manages more than 1.5 million acres of state game lands. source
• OpenStreetMap lists it as State Game Lands Number 71, ref 71, operated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. source

“The Game Commission owns and manages more than 1.5 million acres of state game lands throughout the Commonwealth.”Pennsylvania Game Commission

“The trail passes through vast tracts of State owned land, traversing four State Game Lands”The Standing Stone Trail

“Hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts are also soaking up the time they have left outdoors before the winter months arrive.”JORDAN RHODES, Huntingdon Daily News, 5 September 2026

The Aughwick-Germany Valley Church of the Brethren announced its festival in Huntingdon Daily News notices in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Each named a Saturday in August at the intersection of Loop Road and Loves Valley Road in Shirleysburg.

The festival begins at 4 p.m. and runs into the evening, according to the 2025 notice. Food sold for purchase includes soups, sandwiches, ice cream and baked goods. The 2026 notice says there will be lots of fellowship and good company, and that all are welcome.

• Soups, sandwiches, ice cream and baked goods for purchase source
• Begins at 4 p.m. at the church pavilion source

“All are welcome to the church festival at the Aughwick-Germany Valley Church of the Brethren at the intersection of Loop Road and Loves Valley Road in Shirleysburg starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22.”Huntingdon Daily News, 17 July 2026

“There will be lots of fellowship and good company.”Huntingdon Daily News, 17 July 2026