Central Pennsylvania’s State College is a truly happy place for avid anglers. It’s recognized as one of the Keystone State’s best trout fishing destinations with more than 216 miles of trout fishing waters. But trout is not all you can catch in the areas waterways, perch, catfish, and bass are also abundant. Whether you fly fish or cast a line from the shore, here are the places to drop a line in Centre County.

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.”

I slowly retrieved my gold spinning lure past a small boulder and through a deeper pocket on the small Centre County stream. My retrieve was pleasantly interrupted by a strike from an eager trout. After a brief battle, I brought the colorful trout to my boots and admired its chocolate and cherry spots.

Descendants of the families that lived and worked at Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village are invited back to Curtin on August 13, 2022 to a “Come Home to Curtin” reunion to spend the day enjoying activities and sharing stories and family artifacts handed down from generation to generation.

July 26, 2022 - What a great day for the Bryce Jordan Center and State College, PA. Concert promoter Stuart Green, President of Magic City Productions, would like to thank Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band for one of the fastest sellouts in Bryce Jordan Center history. The demand for tickets was overwhelming and we can't wait until March 18, 2023 when Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band return to State College.

Mike Szczesny, is the Executive Director of Sales for HFL Corporation, and oversees Sleep Inn and the number-one-rated Comfort Suites in the world. He says that his hospitality journey has continued to bring him back to the area, and for him and his family, that’s a very good thing. “All roads have led me to Happy Valley,” he said.

Michael Houser is only 19, but he says that it’s long enough to know exactly what he wants, and where he wants to be. “In the future, I see myself in a sales and management role, either in the hospitality industry or somewhere else that fits me. And I definitely want to stick around Happy Valley, as the overall environment is like no other! The area is amazing with all of the small businesses, local restaurants, and of course, the diverse Penn State student atmosphere.”

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.”

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.