Ligonier, PA

When I retire, it will be to Ligonier, Pennsylvania. What a great little town!!! Ligonier is one of those places I would hear about from time to time growing up, but I had no idea where it was. Two years ago, my wife and I attempted to visit a china outlet store somewhere southeast of Pittsburgh in what is known as the Laurel Highlands. When we got there, it was closed. The town we were in was a tad dumpy, so we looked at a map and saw that Ligonier was about 20 miles away…and decided to check it out.

Ligonier is one of those places that you can’t get there from here. It is not a particularly easy drive. It is not close to any freeway or the Pennsylvania Turnpike, although that is the best way to get there (Donegal exit off of the turnpike). It is located at the intersection of Route 30 (the old Lincoln Highway) and 711 in Westmoreland County, Pa., with not too many ways in or out. It is separated from the rest of the world by 2 relatively innocuous “mountains,” down in the valley, towards where Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania come together.

I suppose getting there could be deemed a pain in the neck, except that it is a spectacular drive. It is called the Laurel Highlands because it is up high. Here, the Pennsylvania mountains are more like rolling hills, and the way in and out is lined with manicured farms, some old time ski resorts (think rustic cabins in every sense of the word), clubs and golf courses accented by stunning vistas. It was fun exploring the area, taking side trips to visit what was advertised along the side of the roads.

Ligonier was originally one of a series of British forts built on the road west from Philadelphia, and played a major role in the French and Indian War, marking the site of a major French defeat at the hands of the British, allowing the Brits to march to the abandoned Fort Duquesne, renaming it Fort Pitt at the juncture of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers. A replica of Fort Ligonier is built in its original location, and opened to the public for tours.

The town of Ligonier is built around a “diamond” which acts as the town square. It is neat and well kept, and loaded with stores offering all sorts of goods, including several jewelry stores, gift stores, and some spectacular ladies clothing stores. Its public buildings and facilities are new, and about as clean as you could want. Within the city limits, there is a Ramada Inn that is a step above the normal Ramada experience, as well as several Bed and Breakfasts. The Ligonier Tavern is probably the most upscale of the several local restaurants. But try one of the coffee houses. This is a town where everybody knows your name, and you can listen in on some of the local gossip.

Ligonier is a functioning town, and any tourist activity seems to be secondary to its daily business. Fort Ligonier Days, an October fall festival, is the centerpiece of the town’s celebrations. Christmas offers a town light up night, complete with a Santa parade and store open houses. Think Christmas in the movie Funny Farm with Chevy Chase. People actually live like this. The Mountain Playhouse and Green Gables Restaurant, about 10 miles from Ligonier, provides some serious theater to the area, as well as rustic-chic accommodations in The Huddleston Court.

After our visit, I checked out some of the real estate thinking it would be a very expensive place to live…and the entire Laurel Highlands area seems to be relatively affordable. Maybe it’s because of its isolation, or maybe it’s because the weather can be dicey in the winter, or maybe it’s because I can get to downtown Pittsburgh for an urban experience faster from my home in Canfield than from Ligonier, or maybe it’s because time simply forgot the area. Whatever the reason, Ligonier is worth the trip for a day, or for a weekend.