Mifflin County Valleys and towns
Progress 2022 The Sentinel
REEDSVILLE RENAISSANCE
Community makeover mixes small-town atmosphere with new business success BY GREG WILLIAMS Sentinel reporter
gwilliams@lewistownsentinel.com REEDSVILLE — After opening the Briar Rose Bed and Breakfast in Reedsville, owner Lisa Everetts debated if Reedsville was the right place for her business. Everetts came close to shuttering the business and putting the property up for sale. “We had wished us to stay here, but guests would come here and there was really nothing for them to do,” said Everetts, who opened the bed and breakfast with her husband, Jim in April 2006. “We needed a really good restaurant and a gas station.” Within a year or so, the Everetts saw a dramatic turn of events that saw the Revival Kitchen and Sheetz open. “Those things happened, which is what we wished for,” Everetts said. “It was like we won the lottery.” Everetts held themed events at her business but was frustrated. “We used to do all this stuff and not get anywhere,” she said of Halloween parties and pumpkin-carving. “To see what’s happened now is amazing. We’ve dreamed for 20 years for Reedsville to be like this. We have places to send our guests.” Today, the bed and breakfast is booming with reservations — so is Reedsville.
Everetts’ guest list is filled with VIPs. “We’ve had people you can’t believe,” she said. “The richest men in the world stay. We’ve had entertainers and some other people you wouldn’t believe stay here.” She didn’t name drop, but she did say world travelers have also frequented the bed and breakfast. They’ve have also been doctors, businesspeople, wedding parties, families and football fans. Guests have traveled from Italy, Sweden, Belarus and New Zealand to name a few. “We’re bringing people in from out of the area,” Everetts said. “They stay here and can walk to our adorable town now. They’ve walked down to (Seven Mountains Wine Bar and) Stonefly (Café) or we’ve sent people to Toot’s Place, Revival Kitchen or the wineries. “It just looks adorable, and people are talking about Reedsville a lot,” she added. “We’ve always been able to bring in people here, but we needed to have something for them to do.” There’s also a new gazebo in Brown Township, which was donated by Kay Groninger in memory of her husband Larry. The annual Apple Festival at Bender Park and Big Valley Harvestfest at the youth park also brings in crowds. “There’s tons of stuff to do,” Everetts said. “We’re in a time period where small towns seem
Main Street in Reedsville, looking toward Manns Narrows. come and go since she bought her eatery in 2008. After some lean years, she said, “Business is pretty good. Things are improving in Reedsville — all for the better.” Lasher said a downward trend started with the school mergers Trending the right way when fewer sporting events were Michele Lasher, owner of Mi- held in Reedsville. “We’d get a lot chele’s OIP Restaurant and Piz- of business from that,” she exza, has seen a lot of businesses plained. like they’re going by the wayside. This town is flourishing. It’s like a boom and it’s really cool to see little towns and little businesses coming back. To see people fixing up things and more positive changes, we’re really happy with all of it.”
Sentinel photo by JEFF FISHBEIN
There were also events that left the area, including the Bluegrass Festival that left the Mifflin County Youth Park. Businesses, like Michele’s OIP, benefited from those crowds. It took some time, but she said newer businesses have come to the area. Geisinger built its 65 Forward Health Center, a See Reedsville / Page C8
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