Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson has roots in Happy Valley. Not only was he raised in Howard, spending his spare time helping his dad run a sporting goods store, but he graduated from Bald Eagle High School and then went on to graduate from Penn State University. But when you ask him, his roots go much deeper than that.

Coming back to Penn State for the weekend? Make the easy choice and book a room at one of Happy Valley Hotels’ four hotels. You’ll find a comfortable, modern living space that’s close to everything.

The Comfort Suites is the area’s only all‑suite hotel, and one of the top in the nation, while the Sleep Inn also provides all the features, benefits and amenities for those on a budget for less! Here’s what you need to know about Happy Valley’s top ranking hotels.

Discover Happy Valley’s Amish-made, cave-aged artisan cheese at Goot Essa. All of their cheese is made by hand, in small quantities, giving each one their individual attention.

Like most kids who grew up living and breathing skateboarding, Tommy Ries knew about Camp Woodward — the elite skills-building camp for aspiring athletes — he just didn’t know where it was. “I don’t think I’d ever even been in the state of Pennsylvania before I visited,” he recalls. By 2012, he’d made the drive (albeit one that included a speeding ticket right around DuBois on I-80). And as soon as he took the Pleasant Gap exit and headed up over the Centre Hall mountain, he fell in love.

After Aaron Weyman graduated from Penn State, he worked for the athletic department for a short time and then accepted a job at Tussey Mountain. That was 14 years ago, and the magic still hasn’t worn off. “It's hard to name another big time school that can see ski slopes from their campus,” he says. “Then add in outdoor concerts, events and activities in the warm months, located right at the entrance to a gorgeous state forest like Rothrock... how can you beat that?”

Before moving to Happy Valley in 2019 — and becoming President and CEO of the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau — Fritz Smith served in leadership in tourism with Visit Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Over the years, his career took his family from New York City to Philadelphia to Baltimore to Washington, D.C. And when he and his wife Leslie decided on a move, he says that they were drawn to Happy Valley as a chance to slow down and enjoy a life that he says was “a bit less hectic, less expensive, less loud and dirty.”

After a challenging year, Happy Valley, PA is well-positioned to become a premiere four season destination across visitation segments.

Greg Guise puts a new meaning on the term ‘active retirement.’ After graduating from Penn State and working as a videographer in Detroit and then in Washington, D.C. for 40 years, he’s back in Happy Valley. And when I call him, he’s climbing Rattlesnake Mountain to install communications gear for the amateur radio community. It’s “just a way of giving back,” he says just before he drives out of cell phone range. When he calls back, he tells me just why community is so, so important. Read on.