CENTRE HALL — After 118 years of family ownership, Historic Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park is looking for its next owner.
Historic Penn’s Cave has welcomed millions of visitors from around the country in its nearly 150-year history. Nestled on 1,400 acres of land, the cave is one of three all-water caverns in the country and the only cave in Pennsylvania on the National Register of Historic Places.
Owned by a member of the Campbell family since 1908, great measures have been taken by family generations to ensure the environmental preservation of the land, which generates up to 11 million gallons of water per day. The property is ideally situated at the headwaters of Penn’s Creek, named among the nation’s top 100 trout streams and feeding into the Susquehanna River basin and the Chesapeake Bay. The family has meticulously preserved the land, established water rights, and purchased surrounding property to ensure controlled drainage and continued stewardship of the property’s abundant natural resources.
In addition to the thriving water resources, the Wildlife Park at Penn’s Cave is home to several North American native species on exhibit, including bison, Texas Longhorn, elk, whitetail deer, wild horses and burros, mountain lions, and wolves. The property is also home to abundant wildlife including whitetail deer, black bears, herons, bald eagles, hawks, turkeys, rabbits and foxes — making it a unique microcosm of Pennsylvania wildlife.
The decision to sell Historic Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park was not taken lightly. The family would like to preserve this PA treasure and is dedicated to finding the next steward of the land who can see the immense potential of the property and continue the legacy.
“Penn’s Cave has been our family’s legacy. We have a lot of pride in this property and the business,” said Russ Schleiden and Jeanne (Campbell) Schleiden. “We will continue to maintain the property and business with the same level of commitment and care as we search for Penn’s Cave’s next owner. Continuing the experience we’re known for is our greatest priority throughout this transition.”
The property functions as a turnkey tourism business that features a historic cavern with established water rights, an estate home, a wildlife preserve, and an active airport. The Schleiden family is asking the community to come together to help identify the family or entity that will treasure the land for generations to come.
Proposals will be accepted starting Oct. 1.
