Originally opened in the 1960s as Skimont, Tussey Mountain in Boalsburg has grown from a small skiing mountain into a year-round outdoor family attraction. From the traditional skiing and snow tubing to summer activities and festivals to party and event rentals, Tussey Mountain has evolved into a one-stop-shop for fun in the sun — or snow.
After humble beginnings as a public skiing area, Skimont closed, causing the mountain to sit unclaimed until the mid-1970s when it re-opened as the private Bald Knob Ski Club. In the early 1980s, the skiing mountain was transformed into the public Tussey Mountain Ski Area that local winter sports enthusiasts know and love today. But it was soon discovered that the skiing season couldn’t keep the small resort alive. A few financially taxing winters in the early 1990s caused Tussey owners and employees to look toward sunnier times — literally.
Sue Matalavage, general manager of Tussey Mountain, says expanding Tussey’s options to include year-round activities was something that just made sense. The first warm weather activity to grace the mountain was a nine-hole, par-three golf course. A driving range and go-kart track soon followed.
“We did some research and those were things State College and the surrounding area really didn’t have at that point,” Matalavage says. “You have to do something different.”
Matalavage says finding the niche of par-three golfers was Tussey’s first sweet spot outside of powder.
“It doesn’t take you all day to play golf here,” she says. “You have so many other full golf courses in State College and this is something different. The driving range went hand-in-hand with the par three. You need to offer more than one item or you are back in the same square.”
A skate park was also added in the early 1990s, thanks in part to monetary donations from local townships and community members’ time and effort. Tussey Mountain donated the property for the park and became the owners once the original 10-year lease expired. Matalavage says Tussey now oversees all the maintenance of the park, insures it, and adds new features when able.
Batting cages and a mini-golf course were added to round out Tussey’s Fun Centre, the mountain’s summertime family attraction. Located just below the Fun Centre is Tussey’s Pavilion by the Pond, which offers picnicking, catch-and-release fishing, and paddle boating.
Holly Swanson, of State College, says her family visits the Pavilion by the Pond often, for picnics and catchand-release fishing. But, her 5-year-old daughter Megan’s favorite summertime Tussey activity is the outdoor Movies on the Mountain.
Swanson says after hearing about the event two years ago, she now watches Tussey’s website (tusseymountain.com) for the schedule. As soon as the movie list is released, she blocks out the time on her family’s schedule and plans weekends around it.
“It’s an inexpensive and low-key way to have fun as a family. We go to the movies a lot, but at Tussey, there’s no pressure to keep kids quiet or in their seats. Megan has as much fun running around in the grass with the other kids as she does watching the movie,” she says. “It’s so much fun to spread out a blanket in the evening, get comfy with snacks and lay under the stars and moonlight. It’s a beautiful setting to watch the sunset over State College while we’re waiting for it to get dark enough for the movie to start.”
Swanson’s reasons for loving Movies on the Mountain are exactly why Matalavage says Tussey began the tradition.
“The local drive-in was always a fun thing. When that closed, we thought people were going to miss out on that fun. We had a stage, so it was just a matter of finding a screen to hang off the stage,” she says.
Swanson agrees, saying that she encourages friends to go because of the fun and family-friendly atmosphere. She says there’s a real enjoyment for her kids to be up past their bedtime, even though it’s still for a family-oriented event.
“It reminds me of going to drive-in movies when I was a kid. It’s a much more family-based atmosphere than going to the regular movie theater. There’s just something so exciting about being out under the stars that makes it a better event than just going to the movies,” she says. “I love packing a blanket, glow sticks and extra sweatshirts for the cooler air that hits after the sun goes down. It shows a different side of State College that many people don’t see, unless you’re watching a movie at 10 p.m. on the side of a mountain.”
For five years, Tussey offered Movies on the Mountain for a small admission cost, but thanks to a sponsorship in 2016 from Penn State Health, the mountain was able to offer free admission. A renewal of this sponsorship will continue free admission for the 2017 season. Concessions with food, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are available during movies and often center around the theme of the movie.
To attract movie-goers young and young-at-heart, Tussey offers both new releases and beloved classics during weekends from June through September. This year’s schedule includes MoanaRogue One: A Star Wars StoryMary Poppins, and Beauty and the Beast. Past classics have included Wizard of Oz and Casablanca.
By combining movies with the outdoors, Tussey is able to attract families like that of Jody Kluskiewicz, who loves Movies on the Mountain because Tussey is close to home and because of the convenience and availability of the snack bar and restrooms.
“It’s a nice environment for family and friends,” she says. “It builds stronger families and neighbors by allowing a fun evening together.”
Tussey holds other outdoor events through October, including What the Deck, CelticFest, OktoberFest and the famed WingFest.
Matalavage says the popular “best chicken wing” contest began just like many things at Tussey — from simple beginnings on the back patio with high school bands and 50 people in attendance. A partnership with QWiK Rock to draw people to the ski mountain during the summer has turned into one of the most attended events hosted by Tussey.
“It just evolved and took off — and now we are in our eighteenth year,” Matalavage says.
Each year, about 30 local restaurants compete to be dubbed “Tussey Mountain Wing King,” a people’s choice award. Each night of the fest, attendees are given one ticket to vote their favorite on to the finals. A winner is chosen from each week — with the six winning restaurants competing in the championship round. In addition to being known for its savory wings, WingFest has also been recognized as one of the best places to see live music during the summer. Local bands and tribute acts provide entertainment to wing eaters every week.
Amber Hubert says her family has been going to WingFest for three years and loves the opportunity to experience local music and food.
“The food is good and the music is great,” she says. “As a mom, I don’t get to see a lot of my favorite local bands because they play at night, so getting a chance to watch them with my kids is great.”
Kluskiewicz has also attended WingFest for several years and enjoys the atmosphere. She feels the uniqueness of the local, live music and ski lift rides provide attendees with an experience other festivals aren’t able to offer.
“I enjoy the live bands, community aspect and riding the ski lift for sightseeing,” she says.
CelticFest centers around Celtic culture and includes timehonored activities such as a stone throw, caber toss and tug-ofwar. Vendors offer foods including shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, grilled corned beef and fontina sandwich, and Scottish and Irish beers.
OktoberFest brings the best of the German tradition to Happy Valley and includes imported beers such as Hacker-Pschorr, Warsteiner, and König Ludwig Weissbier and local brews from Otto’s Pub & Brewery.
What the Deck continues the fun of WingFest into fall. Each night is themed — and pairs local music with food and drink.
Tussey Mountain also includes The Lodge, an indoor rental space for weddings, birthdays, and other special events. The Lodge offers a full-time food service staff and full bar service.
“We don’t turn away any kind of party,” Matalavage says. “If The Lodge fits into the scheme of what you want to do, we are happy to host it for you.”
Special events are also planned throughout the year and vary season-to-season and year-to-year. Upcoming summer and fall special events include Rock for a Cure, Rothrock Trail Challenge, State College Brew Expo, Hardcore Mudd Run and Tussey Mountainback. For those looking to simply relax and get back to nature, Tussey is steps away from Rothrock State Forest. Visitors can prep for a day of hiking or biking with a quick round of mini-golf or get their blood pumping with a few laps around the go-kart track.
“It is really relaxing here,” Matalavage says. “It’s pretty; it’s close to home.”
Though no current plans exist for physical additions at Tussey Mountain, Matalavage says plans for a summertime bluegrass festival are in the works.
No matter what Tussey offers throughout the year, Swanson knows there will always be something for her 5-year-old and 13-year-old children.
“We go snow tubing at Tussey during the winter, but it’s great that they offer summer events,” Swanson says. “Megan loves pointing out the mountain when we drive by or see it from a distance in town, and it’s a great way to reference family outings that will remain in our memory for years.”
Samantha Chavanic is a freelance writer living in Bellefonte.
