Things to Do in Johnstown

Extending up to 140 feet below ground level beneath a foothill of the Allegheny Front, the natural limestone formations of Indian Caverns yield beautiful glimpses of the Earth's inner geological mechanics. The majority of the cave's stalagmites, stalactites, and flowstone are actively growing at a pace of 1 cubic inch every 120 years, just like the hair of a petrified cave mouse. Knowledgeable guides lead tours along nearly 1 mile of the cave's length in an hour, pointing out limestone formations and such cave wildlife as brown bats and salamanders from the comfort of an artificially lighted walkway. Guides recommend that visitors wear comfortable walking shoes and a light sweater, jacket, or the warmer half of a two-person horse costume as the cavern stays a constant 56 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year.

As tour-goers gaze on the cave's beautiful features, a guide elucidates its rich history from the first limestone deposit formed 405 million years ago to its opening to the public four months before the stock-market crash of 1929. Many Native-American artifacts were found in the cave during development and can be seen both inside the cavern and at the gift shop.

Sprawling across 16 acres of mountain terrain atop Wisp Resort and the 550-acre Fork Run Recreation Area forest, Adventure Sports Center International immerses thrill seekers in a range of river sports, climbing, hiking, and other outdoor programs. On the river, experienced rafting guides—some of whom are U.S. Olympians—pilot adventurers down a one-third-mile artificial whitewater river, through four classes of changeable but authentic rapids bordered by boulders excavated onsite. Those who have reached the bottom return to the starting pool on a raft conveyor belt that defies gravity better than when Newton threw apples back into the trees. In the forest preserve, visitors frolic along rugged mile-long trails on bike or on foot, or scale natural limestone boulders and ledges. Climbing guides teach basic bouldering and rappelling while keeping the ledges clear of heckling mountain goats, or send adventurers off geocaching to hunt for a container hidden somewhere on the rocks or forest floor.

As visitors explore freely, youths hone academic and social skills through outdoor adventure and learning programs where guides teach them to raft, kayak, climb, mountain bike, and hike using only their imaginations and any required gear. The center’s artificial aquatic park and preserve have also hosted a range of festivals and competitions, including seven national whitewater championships and a bouldering championship.

The New Hazlett Theater, built in 1889 as the Carnegie Musical Hall, pays more of a resemblance to a cathedral than a concert space, from its austere stone walls to its soaring bell tower. In fact, the hall would serve as a religious retreat through the early 1900s. Saved from demolition in 1967 and renamed the Hazlett Theater in 1980, the venue would serve as the home of the Pittsburgh Public Theater for 24 seasons, followed by a brief stint as the summer home of a Pirates-obsessed vampire.