2505 Swiss Mtn       $195,000

8C1 Mtn Villa          $65,000

72 Southwind          $605,000

150 Southwind        $813,117

2807 Swiss Mtn       $110,000

S4 SunRidge           $350,000

Finn and Feather     $900,000*

As this posting takes us through the first half of 2009 we thought you would enjoy some other statistics. The good news is that the first half of 2009 resale transfers have exceeded 2008 numbers, 18 sales to 12! The bad news for sellers is that the average sales price for the first six months is off from the same time frame last year.  

Below are the Active Listings by number of bedrooms and their price ranges! Information is from the West Penn MLS

We keep a multitude of statistical information and welcome the opportunity to share our market knowledge with motivated parties.

Recorded sales transfers for the resorts are acquired electronically from records inputted at the Somerset County Court House, Office of the Recorder of Deeds. We review sales in Jefferson (Hidden Valley) and Middlecreek (Seven Springs) Townships on a weekly basis.

Prices do not reflect bill of sales and other out of settlement transfers. Furnishings, which are included in the majority of sales are assigned no monetary value. We do not post transfers that carry $1.00 values.

 * This transfer was not an active listing and was purchased by Seven Springs. It is a large lodge with guest house, 2.9 acres, and several fine amenities located off of Village Road.

1610 Snowfield   $174,600

As this posting takes us through the first half of 2009 we thought you enjoy some other statistics. Total transfers for Hidden Valley are substantially off with Jan through June only seeing 18 sales compared to 56 last year. The average sales prices here have declined compared to the same time frame in ‘08.

Active Listings by number of bedrooms and their price ranges! Below information is from the West Penn MLS.

We keep a multitude of statistical information and welcome the opportunity to share our market knowledge with motivated parties.

Recorded sales transfers for the resorts are acquired electronically from records inputted at the Somerset County Court House, Office of the Recorder of Deeds. We review sales in Jefferson (Hidden Valley) and Middlecreek (Seven Springs) Townships on a weekly basis.

Prices do not reflect bill of sales and other out of settlement transfers. Furnishings, which are included in the majority of sales are assigned no monetary value. We do not post transfers that carry $1.00 values.

For years Seven Springs has been providing a multitude of camp offerings. Here's their line up for this year. Of special interest to folks who come up JUST for the day and would enjoy some grown up time is the Kids Adventure Day Camp. You can check out the new spa. golf, lounge by the pool, take a hike or any of the many other amenities offered while the kids have the best day of the summer without you!!

Overnight Adventure Camps These are week long camps that are designed to "challenge your limits in adventurous activities, and build self-esteem through conquering gaols and supporting others through team building activities." You'll find these offered throughout the summer for pre-teens and teens (8-17). $649 per child with sibling discount available, call 800-452-2223 extension 7396

Kids Adventure Day Camp  Walking age through 10 years this camp is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. DAILY, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Yippeee for mom and dad!! RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. "For $35 a day the kids enjoy swimming, fishing, team games, paddleboating, hiking, adventures on the mountain and mind challenging activities!"

Junior Golf Camp This five day camp teaches "the fundamentals of the game, including full swing, chipping and putting, while introducing them to the rules, course management and proper golf etiquette."  Available camps are July 12-17 with a half day camp offered July 6-10

Back at Hidden Valley under the new Buncher Ownership are summer camps!  Valley Day Adventure Camps and the Junior Golf Camps are two choices that will give you some free time this summer. The camps were set up to give the "kids an educational element with some professional instruction."  If they're between 7 and 12 this program is designed for them!

"Each Valley Adventure Day Camp program runs from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. for five consecutive days. Valley Day Adventure Camp is available July 13 -17, July 27 - 31, and August 3 - 7. The cost for the camp is $245 per camper per 5-day program. The price includes all of the activities, instruction, supplies, lunch and snack for all five days. Space is limited, to make your reservations today call 814-443-8000, ext. 269 or click here for more details and an application."

The Junior Golf Camp program is designed for kids between 10 and 17. Craig Yutzy Head PGA Professional will be teaching. Instruction begins from the tee box to green along with the fundamentals of this life addicting sport. Each camp lasts three days.

"Junior Golf Camp is offered July 8-10 and July 22-24.The full-day program lasts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes lunch.  The half-day program runs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and does not include lunch.  The price for the full-day Junior Golf Camp is $299 and the half-day price is $149.  To make your reservations or for more information, please call the Golf Shop at 814.443.8000, ext. 350"

 Craig is also providing Tuesday Junior Golf Clinics.

What are the next steps for Donegal??

If you recall (or scroll down far enough) over the past few years there has been an out reach to the community to assist in improving the Rt 31 corridor. For branding purposes and as locals we refer to this Rt as the "Gateway to the Laurel Highlands." 

This Tuesday (July 7) at the Donegal Community Center beginning at 7 p.m. a review will be offered from the suggestions obtained during the public meeting last December. Concepts of the corridor enhancements will be available for inspection. The proposed and greatly needed Visitor Center will also be a focus of the draft report.   

HERE IS ONE MORE OPPROTUNITY FOR YOU TO VOICE YOUR THOUGHTS!! Please help to make Donegal a better place to live, work, play, and VISIT!! Attendees will be asked to list priorities including:

Development of a Visitor Center to include a community center, municipal services, historical exhibits, and entertainment space.

Adoption of Communtiy Design Guidelines

Improvements to Rt 31 that would improve efficiency and SAFETY

Development of a Park and Ride

Development of a community garden

This forum is being sponsored by The Pennsylvania Environmental Council.  For more details contact Brad Clemenson 814-659-3465 or Sarah Harkcom 724-593-2818 Remember there are forces working together for tremendously promoting this area as a MUST VISIT area. Let's help put our best foot forward!!

See you there!

They are more commonly referred to as EAB. Why are we writing about them? Have you seen the billboards that say, "I promise not to move firewood?" They started appearing locally a few months back and made us wonder, "What's behind that unusual message?" 

Shortly after that we started to notice purple hanging boxes in the trees. Turns out they are traps set only in Ash trees to determine if the EAB is here. In fact there's one on County Line road as you're headed up to Seven Springs on the right and several on Rt 31.

We owe all of this promotional marketing to the Emerald Ash Borer. In 2002 Michigan residents first identified this vibrant green beetle. Over 700 million dead trees later, (in Michigan ALONE) the fight to contain this pest wages on. Destroying Ash trees in twelve other states, Ontario, and Quebec, the EAB beetle has now been found in Westmoreland County.

Here's their MO. Adults lay their eggs on the Ash tree BARK from mid-May through mid August. Eggs hatch into larvae and tunnel into the tree.  The larvae live UNDER the bark and create S-shaped paths. This stage is where the damage is done. Their feeding disrupts the water flow from the roots to the crown and within a year to four the tree is dead. THERE IS NO CURE.

Getting back to the billboards the beetles are transferred from one area to another by moving infected firewood. ALWAYS use LOCAL FIREWOOD to help stop the spread of the EAB. Ash trees have been popular for landscaping as they grow quickly and can be found throughout the grounds at BOTH Hidden Valley and Seven Springs. To identify an ash tree look at the leaves. This site shows the different types of Ash trees. If you begin to notice the crown of your trees thinning out take a closer look at your bark!!  PLEASE DON'T MOVE FIREWOOD!  

Don’t be surprised to see the paparazzi lurking about the resort this week! Tomorrow, Wednesday (June 24) will welcome Irlene Mandrell and her sisters, Barbara and Louise to our mountains! Specifically to Seven Springs newly finished shooting lodge for Irlene’s Irlenes Celebrity Shoot 2009. There are several registration catagories and prices.

Thursday is Kid’s Day with celebrities signing autographs. According to her web site, “competition is 200 rounds of Sporting Clays with side games including, 9mm pistol side event, Paintball Challenge, Wobble Trap, 5 Stand, Tomahawk Throw, 22 revolver, Gamo air rifle, Two man flush, Terrible teal, and the Cotton ball drop.”

Wag’s has been shooting and watching the new facility go up and took some pictures for you! He says it’s awesome! There’s seven thousand square feet in the timber framed lodge that takes advantage of geo-thermal heating. Look for private lessons, tournaments, corporate and non-profit events to be on the line up! Even if you are not a shooter you need to visit this lodge on top of the mountain and overlooking a lake. Check out the new restaurant hours for a most enjoyable visit.

Here’s a list of the celebs listed on Irlene’s web site as attending, “David Caruso, Emily Procter, Rex Linn, Lee Horsley, Frankie Anne, Alan Dysert, Leslie Easterbrook, Dan Wilcox, Steve Kanaly, James E. Partee, Jr., Branscombe Richmond, Charles Napier, Kevin Blake Weldon, Michael Gregory, Scott Shepherd, Tim Abell, Tracy Lawrence, Anne Lockhart, Zane Taylor, Brian Gates, Marshall Teague, Lindy Teague, Congressman Sam Graves, John Di Santi, Robert Guy Miranda, TJ Klay, Ray Kelly, Michael Stern, Lyle Omori, Chuck Stapel, Sherol L. Engel, Jeffrey L. Engel, Steve Scott, T Bubba, Michael Collins, Buck McNeely, Jack Allocco, Stacie Randall, Lu Parker, Mike Rogers, Congressman Bill Shuster, Jim Scoutten and many more ...”

Irlene’s site says, “In the past her shoot has supported Wish Upon a Star, Inc and the Boy Scouts of America.” There’s a charity auction with some very interesting offerings! Here’s to much success and wonderful weather!

It’s the lowest priced three bedroom condo available at Seven Springs! This Interlaken design is approximately two feet larger than comparable models that sit around the summer amenity center area in Swiss Mountain. Shuttle service pick up for you and your family is at the stop sign.

What makes this location especially appealing is that the building is at the end of a private road surrounded by trees. Rhododendron flanks the sidewalk that leads up to the front entry. Take a look at the slideshow and notice how the deck has a back drop of green leaves! Imagine the changing colors during the fall.

Inside the living, dining, and kitchen areas are all open to one another. An extended counter top creates a breakfast bar that allows for bar seating and quick meals. Cathedral ceilings have two skylights. The mountain stone fireplace runs from floor to ceiling! Furniture and appliances are included with some personal exclusions.

Priced at $195,000 we don’t expect it to be available very long. Especially when you consider the entry price for a three bedroom is at $180,000! Here’s the Visual Tour for you to see WHY! Pick up cell and call or text Wags to set up your appointment NOW! 412.551.1859 Mortgage money is available!

Still trying to figure out what to get Dad for Father's Day? At Hidden Valley Dad's get to eat for half price! From 10 to 2 this Sunday take advantage of the first time offered Sunday Brunch at the Clock Tower! Kids have to accompany DAD to take advantage of this special offering! Extra bonus, kids age 4 and under get to eat free! According to their e-mail update this kicks off "a new era in the resort's food and beverage service."

Stew Ireland, Hidden Valley's new food and beverage manager shares that "Father's Day seemed to be the perfect occasion to introduce guests to our new and improved quality, guest service and the resort's new Sunday Brunch, which will be offered every Sunday though out the season." Yes, reservations are recommended 814-443-8000 extension 259.

And there's more!! Treat Dad to 18 holes of GOLF, when you buy one round after 11 am you get another FREE!! This special for Dad is only available on Sunday, June 21 after 11 a.m., based on availability.  Please contact the Golf Shop at 814-443-8000, ext. 350 to reserve your tee time. How's this for making his day extraordinary!!  Check out more things to do Hidden Valley!

Fishermen friends have shared stories about the water running thigh high, not anymore. American Rivers (a Washington DC non profit) has listed this Pennsylvania treasure a seven out of ten in "America's Most Endangered Rivers in 2009."  This year's edition highlights missing safeguards that they feel are necessary to protect this creek from "excessive water withdrawals for development and energy extraction."

According to River Facts, Laurel Hill Creek is "16.2 miles long and has been determined by American Whitewater to be a class II+ section." The creek is a tributary of the Youghiogheny River.  Here's a map of how it runs through Laurel Hill State Park. (Make sure you increase the size!)

According to an article in the Tribune Democrat, before ‘09 is over, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will determine if this watershed "deserves a "critical" label that would guide future decisions on how much of its water can be consumed." Timely... considering there are currently three pending tap in applications. Two are renewals for Somerset Boro and Seven Springs.

In fact, Monday night, June 22^nd, at the Bakersville Fire Hall, there will be a public hearing on the third permit application for Cooper Springs, a water bottling company. They would like to draw 108,000 gallons daily from Laurel Hill Creek.  DEP has had this application since June 2008. In March, Pennsylvania's new State Water Plan was signed.

If you can't make it, here's a link to help you take action.