Centre County commissioners unanimously approve letter backing transfer of Penn's Cave to state

Centre County commissioners voted July 2 to approve a letter of support asking the Commonwealth to acquire Penn's Cave and Wildlife Park and incorporate the property into the state park system.

Rush Bridal, CEO of Penn's Cave ("My name is Rush Bridal," he told the board), said the estate comprises about 1,400 contiguous acres and includes the cave, headwaters of Penns Creek and habitat for native brook trout. "We decided that the headwaters needed protected," Bridal said, and described multigenerational family stewardship and investments in wetlands and ADA-accessible improvements.

Janine (speaker 3), who said she and her family have been custodians of the property for decades, echoed Bridal: they have worked with the state for three years and want the property preserved rather than sold for development. "We strongly desire this to go to the state to protect and continue to conserve and have it available to the public," she said.

Pennsylvania State Representative Carrie Benninghoff (introduced to the board as "Pennsylvania state representative Carrie Benninghoff") told commissioners she has had legislation drafted and called for urgency in the budget process to include funding for the conveyance. "This will take the endorsement of the governor… but I can't think of a better time…to make this a reality," Benninghoff said.

Commissioners praised the property as an irreplaceable local attraction and noted potential economic and educational benefits, including suggested DCNR plans for an on-site education center. "Penn's Cave is just an irreplaceable attraction in the county and really should be preserved," the chair said before the board voted in favor of approving a letter to be emailed to legislators and relevant state agencies.

The board's action was procedural: it authorized staff to send the requested letter of support. Commissioners and presenters said additional steps — including legislative action and a budget appropriation by the governor and General Assembly and a DCNR acquisition process — will be necessary before any transfer occurs. The board did not authorize funding for a purchase.

Next steps: staff will email the letter to contacts provided by the Bridal family and Representative Benninghoff; commissioners urged nearby legislative offices to consider including the acquisition in the current budget cycle.