Published Sunday, August 11, 2002
tours wonders of Moraine
Lake Arthur
Herald Staff Writer
Visitors to Moraine State Park in Butler County can go for a ride to learn about all the park has to offer on the Nautical Nature.
On the Nautical Nature, an enclosed and roofed pontoon boat that seats 50-plus people, visitors can get a duck's-eye view of Lake Arthur, its beaches and popular fishing spots -- and they might spy a few great blue herons and osprey to boot.
The tour can be picked up from McDanel's Launch on the north shore near the Owlet Gift Shop where ride tickets can be purchased.
The hourlong tour is like a relaxing swing in a hammock with cool breezes from the lake pushing the recent humidity right out the window.
Some of the sights include an osprey tower; a waterway that follows the former route of U.S. Route 422, flooded by the creation of the man-made lake; Barber's point -- an area frequented by wind-surfers; and Davis Hollow Marina, site of Davis Cabin, a pre-Revolutionary war structure, and the Marina restaurant, a seasonal business which offers a variety of foods from sandwiches to surf and turf.
The over 3,000-acre lake has approximately 42 miles of shoreline with an average depth of about 15 to 18 feet -- 40 feet at its deepest point -- according to Captain George Sonnett and his wife Sharon, of Slippery Rock, who lead the tour.
Besides an old freeway, part of the Western Allegheny Railroad line and several family farms are underneath the water.
The boat and tours are sponsored by the Moraine Preservation Fund, a 14-year-old non-profit organization that supports improvements in the state park and helps protect wildlife in the area.
Besides boat tours on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the fund also sponsors Saturday dinner cruises on the Nautical Nature with catering done by Fairground Market. There are also boat tours with musical guests on Wednesday evenings and fall foliage cruises in September and October. The ship can also be chartered for business meetings, seminars, parties and reunions.
The pontoon will also double as a water-taxi Aug. 24 and 25 during Moraine State Park's Regatta at Lake Arthur. Some of the events during the regatta include sailboat races, nature tours by canoe, a dozen hot air balloon launches, a classic car cruise, and musical guest Christopher Cross and Johnny Angel & the Halos, both at the North Shore Amphitheater.
For more information, or to make reservations, call (724) 368-9185 or check out www.butlercountychamber.com