Zach Lorber lived the transient chef life before coming to State College. “My wife, Megan, grew up in State College and is a Penn State alum of the hospitality program. We met while both working at Bedford Springs Resort, fell in love, and knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. I moved here in the winter of 2009 and Happy Valley has been home since. In just a few more years, this will be the longest I've lived anywhere and that makes me happy.”

In 2021, Megan Marcaurelle-Jones and her husband Cody moved to Bellefonte to open their very own cocktail bar. Their passion project, The Republic, is located on the first floor of the Gamble Mill, and Megan says that opening it has been “so rewarding.”

Big Spring Spirits Tasting Room Manager Lucy Rogers has been part of the wine scene in State College since 2003. She started at Harrison’s Wine Grill when it was at the Hilton Garden Inn, where she ran weekly wine tastings and wine classes, and moved on to Zola and catering management. When she heard about an opening at a brand new distillery in Bellefonte, she said without hesitation, “I’m on board.”

Mike Olmstead is the manager of Axemann Brewery, a brewery and tap room located in a revitalized metal factory in Bellefonte. “I’m a people person,” Mike said. “And I try to stay positive in all situations.”

Pine Grove Hall’s Executive Chef Tory Glossner is a Happy Valley native, but creating and serving up some of the area’s most innovative and tasty dishes wasn’t always on his bucket list.

State College born and raised, Aidan Turnage-Barney went to the University of Wyoming for a year before returning to central Pennsylvania to enroll as a recreational management student at Lock Haven University.

Kate Kenealy, Big Spring Spirits’ Social Media Manager and Photographer got her degree in French from Penn State and taught for a few years before coming back to Happy Valley. “I fell in love with this area all over again,” she said. “It’s just as great as any place I’d been — I’m choosing to be here.”

Looking for your next adventure?

Explore Centre County with the Central PA Tasting Trail! Get your passport and travel through Centre County tasting the wine, beer and spirits.

Looking for a destination for a couples weekend escape (or a dudes weekend or girls getaway)? The Gamble Mill in Bellefonte is what you’ve been looking for. The historic landmark has been beautifully renovated and turned into a one-stop destination for your next adventure. The Gamble Mill has four must-see spots in Bellefonte, all together in one place: the Inn and Suites, The Republic bar, Speakeasy and Creekside at the Gamble Mill.