Our latest bike ride took us through the countryside and included several local bar/restaurants. The total trip for use was just over 100 miles, and if you follow the same route we took it will include a short amount of time on some dirt roads, but not much.
Heading towards our first stop, we passed through Cochranton, PA and over French Creek. We took a few minutes to stop and walk along the water at a boat launch near the bridge. This area also had a couple picnic tables tucked under the trees along the creek. This would be a great spot to grab some food from the Country Fair gas station or Cochranton Marketplace, located just up the street and bring it back to enjoy while sitting by the creek.
According to the informational signage the Cochranton area has been inhabited since 1100 AD, and was chartered as a borough April 5, 1855. The creek itself played an important part in the French and Indian War as well as in the settlement of northwest Pennsylvania. It’s original name was Riviere aux Boeufs of the French, but was renamed in 1753 by George Washington to French Creek.
Next we made our way to J.I.’s Place overlooking Sugar Lake, previously name Sugar Lake Hotel. The road to J.I’s Place winds along the lake so make sure to drive cautiously and watch for the local wildlife.
If you are on a bike you will also want to be careful in the parking lot. It is on a hill and is gravel. Unfortunately we have seen many tip overs in this parking lot.
This has always been a popular spot for bikers and is often a stop on benefit rides. There is both inside and outside seating allowing you to enjoy the view of the lake on nice days. They will also have bands on the outside deck when the weather permits.
We stopped on a Sunday just after they opened so the staff was busy prepping for the day, but the ladies were very friendly and made time to chit chat with us while we sat at the bar.
When I was doing my normal research for new places to see a found a historic site that would fit into our route, so off we went to check it out. The historic site was the remnants of a tannery built in 1825 by the famous abolitionist John Brown, who lived at this location from 1825 to 1835. The tannery was a major stop on the Underground Railroad.
We made our way down the dirt road that leads to the historic site, but when we reached the location all we saw was the historic marker sign. The area was overgrown and appeared to be on private property. We did not want to take a chance on trespassing on someone’s land, so unfortunately this stop was a bust.
Next up was a stop at Woodcock Creek Lake. The lake is Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and offers hiking, fishing, bird/butterfly watching areas, camping and many other recreational options. There are several areas of interest. The first is the Overlook Recreation Area, offering a panoramic view of the dam which provides flood protection for the French Creek system. There is also a picnic area and restrooms available here.
The Woodcock Creek Lake visitors center is just down the road from the overlook. This area provides visitors the opportunity to walk across the dam. Near the parking area just before you reach the dam you will find a butterfly garden. If you walk to the other side of the dam there is access to two hiking trails.
Across the road from the visitor center is the Bossar Nature Area Parking which offers a Nature Area and Center, restrooms and access to another hiking trail.
Last stop at Woodcock Creek Lake was the Overflow Recreational Area and Woodcock Creek Park. The area offers several picnic areas, restrooms, playground, disc golf, access to the hiking trail and a fishing area at the outflow of dam.
After stopping at the lake we were off to Saegertown, PA to check out Hitchy’s Tavern & Grill. We had never been to this place so I was very excited to check it out. Hitchy’s has both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor patio also has it’s own bar area. We opted to sit inside and grab a couple drinks and a little bite to eat.
The inside bar had a beautiful live edge bar top and the interior had an eclectic rustic feel. On the wall above where we sat there were several wall hangings related to the prohibition that made for an interesting read while we were there.
We tried the deep fried banana pepper rings and the Bourbon Siracha wings, and boy were they yummy. This will definitely be a repeat stop because they have an extensive menu and it all looked good, so we will need to go back to try their other offerings.
Up next, was Fatboy’s Saloon in Conneautville. This is a regular stop for us when we are in the area. Fatboy’s has a inside bar and small dining area, as well as an screened in dining area at the rear of the bar.
Inside you will find games of chance, shuffleboard table and more. Outside, under pavilion, they have cornhole boards setup and host tournaments. Fatboy’s is a another popular stop for biker’s and serves as a stop for many benefit rides.
Just a short ride from Fatboy’s was our final stop, Tavern 618 located in Conneaut Lake near the site of the historic Conneaut Lake Park. If you are familiar with the area, you may remember the location under the old name, The Palms.
Do not let the outside fool you. While the exterior may look plain jane the inside is beautiful and has many unique features, such as the live edge planks hanging down serving as a floating ceiling.
On this day we only stopped in for a quick drink before making our way home, but next time I would like to try out some items off their menu.
Click here to see the trip route we took.
That’s it for this ride, check back for more adventures.
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