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If you want to take in a little nature, this is a great tour for you. You'll encounter deer, wallabies, bison, thousands of trout and Emu. This tour involves a fair anmount of walking, along with some mild climbs. You may want to pack a picnic lunch/dinner if the weather is good because there are picnic tables in a nice setting near the Reynoldsdale Fish Hatchery.

Start out at CeDarrow Bison Corral, on Route 30, a couple miles west of Schellsburg. You can visit the Bison Corral Gift Shop, or just look for the bison in the field along route 30. If there are none visible, drive toward the back pasture. From the gift shop parking area, turn left and drive 4/10th of a mile west and turn right onto the first road you come upon. Follow this road about 3/10th BISON miles, checking the fenced pasture to your right. Stay out of the pasture. The bison could hurt you if you got inside the fence. Once you've seen the bison, continue on this road for a short distance. After the bridge, turn right onto Rose Road and continue until it intersects again with Route 30. Turn left and drive east on Route 30 (toward Bedford). Just before you come upon Schellsburg, you'll see the Old Log Church (to your right) built in 1806. The cemetery is the final resting place for several revolutionary war veterans.

Continuing east on Route 30, be sure to check your odometer when you pass the traffic light in schellsburg. Drive 5.4 miles and turn left onto Route 56 west. Drive 2.3 miles and turn left onto Dogwood Road. Our New York City friends may consider this to be "off the beaten path". Drive 1.1 miles and turn right up into the steep driveway. Park along the side of the drive. This is Acorn Acres Deer Farm.

If you have a dog, please leave the dog in your car. I emphasize again .... no dogs in this area! Once you've parked, walk down the small pathway along the fence. (There are two pathways ... take the one that's furthest from the "main" road.) There will sometimes be deer in this area. Walk to the end of the fence and notice the small pen. These are pet wallabies. To your right, and down past the deer shed, there is another pasture for the deer, for Emu and even the occasional turkey. The deer are very people shy, so binoculars are helpful if you want a really good look at them. The Emu are usually more willing to let you get close. These big birds have faces that only a mother Emu could love and give concrete meaning to the term, "big-bird". When you're ready to head back to your car, you can use the "walk over" bridge. This path is a little steep.

After returning to your car, turn around and turn left out of the driveway area. Drive 3/10 miles and turn left onton the semi-paved road. Drive 1.2 miles to the intersection. Turn left (west) at this intersection. Drive 5.5 miles on Route 56 and turn right. (You'll see a sign for the Fish Culture Station.) Drive 100 yards and turn left. Then, make your next right and follow the "parking" signs.

There are picnic tables near the end of its parking area in a nice setting ... most suitable for a relaxed picnic.

You're welcome to walk along the outside areas .... just be carful not to fall into the pools! This is a working fish hatchery that also maintains a mini museum in the main building. Inside, you'll see fish, reptile and ecosystem displays and more. There's even a two story tack filled with some mighty big trout. Although their main mission is to raise and stock trout, the staff here is very friendly and if they're free, may be able to answer soome questions for you.

HATCHERY After completing your tour at the Fish Hatchery, exit the driveway to the left then, turn right onto the small road, and turn left onto Route 56. If you want to see if the llamas are out and maybe grab a birch beer (a non-alchoholic and very Pennsylvanian drink), drive 5.6 miles to the stop sign and turn left onto Business Route 220. Drive 1 mile to Fishers Country Store (on the right side of the road). John Fisher keeps Llama out back, but the store itself is treat to behold. There's usually cold birch beer in the cooler and the old fashioned deli is kept busy by people who come from all around to shop here. Strong Mennonite faith is apparent in the operation and the charm of this wonderful store.

When finished with your visit, turn right out of the drive and left onto Route 220 South. From here, it is a few miles back to Bedford ... or for access to Route 30 which will get you to Breezewood or Schellsburg.