Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau

What Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau does

The Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau (DBA: Visit PA Great Outdoors) is a privately held, member-supported regional tourism promotion organization headquartered in Weedville, Pennsylvania (19073 Bennetts Valley Hwy, Suite 123). It serves visitors to and stakeholders within a three-county region in north-central Pennsylvania — Cameron County, Elk County, and Forest County — encompassing more than one million acres of public and forested land, including the Allegheny National Forest (Pennsylvania's only National Forest), Cook Forest State Park (a National Natural Landmark), and habitat for the largest wild free-roaming elk herd in the Northeast (~1,400 animals).

The bureau's product surface is a unified digital-plus-print tourism platform built on a WordPress stack. Core components include an interactive lodging directory (B&Bs, cabins/vacation rentals, campgrounds, hotels/motels) powered by embedded Google Maps, an outdoor adventures showcase (ATV/snowmobiling, elk viewing, equestrian, golf, trails, water activities, wildlife exhibits), a searchable events calendar, a destination-by-county content hub, a blog, downloadable guides (Elk Viewing Guide, Elk & Eagle Watching Guide, Pour Tour brochure), and a Live Elk Cam. Camping reservations are routed to Recreation.gov. Distribution extends to physical brochure and PAGO literature distribution across the 3-county region by dedicated staff.

Commercially, the bureau operates a community-led, partnership-and-membership model: revenue is generated through membership dues from local lodging providers, restaurants, outfitters, and attractions, supplemented by PA Wilds Designation fees and promotional partnerships such as the annual Wine, Beer & Shine Pour Tour (14 participating businesses in 2026) and the co-managed PA Wilds BDR-X 500-mile route with Backcountry Discovery Routes. Visitor-facing content — brochures, guides, and maps — is free; membership and partnership pricing is not publicly disclosed. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors of local business owners, and the organization is led by Executive Director John Straitiff with support from an Operations Manager (Stephanie Colwell) and distribution staff (Mike Muir).

Name

Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau

Legal name

Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau

Website

https://visitpago.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau (DBA: Visit PA Great Outdoors) is a privately held, member-supported regional tourism promotion organization that markets Cameron, Elk, and Forest Counties in north-central Pennsylvania — including the Allegheny National Forest, Cook Forest State Park, and a ~1,400-strong wild elk herd — to outdoor recreation visitors through an integrated website, lodging directory, events calendar, downloadable guides, and a multi-county brochure distribution network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Destination Marketing and Tourism Promotion

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Permitting, Reservations & Visitor Information Services (Passes, Booking, Visitor Centers) (THAAAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), Wildlife Photography & Filming Experiences (Permitted Visitor Programs) (THAAAFAI)

Keywords

• Regional tourism promotion
• Destination marketing services
• Outdoor recreation guides
• Visitor information resources
• Lodging directory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Weedville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Regional Tourism Promotion: As a visitors bureau, the organization generates value by promoting the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors region to attract tourists, with revenue derived from membership fees from local businesses, potential PA Wilds Designation fees, and promotional partnerships with local attractions and lodging providers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau is a regional destination marketing organization that promotes tourism across Cameron, Elk, and Forest Counties in Pennsylvania. It provides a central tourism information platform combining an interactive lodging directory, outdoor adventures showcase, regional events calendar, and downloadable visitor guides, supporting travelers seeking outdoor recreation such as elk viewing, hiking, fishing, ATV riding, and cabin stays.

Product overview

Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau operates a comprehensive tourism marketing platform for Pennsylvania's Great Outdoors region (Cameron, Elk, and Forest Counties). The core offering consists of a unified digital platform combining an interactive lodging directory, outdoor adventures showcase, events calendar, and travel blog. Key products include the Lodging Directory featuring accommodations across all categories, the Outdoor Adventures Platform highlighting activities from elk viewing to ATV trails, an Events Calendar for regional happenings, downloadable visitor guides (Elk Viewing Guide, Elk & Eagle Watching Guide), the Wine Beer & Shine Pour Tour annual program, and the PA Wilds BDR-X 500-mile motorcycle route. The platform integrates Google Maps for location discovery and Recreation.gov for camping reservations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lodging Directory Comprehensive lodging directory featuring bed & breakfasts, cabins and vacation rentals, camping, and hotels and motels across Cameron, Elk, and Forest Counties with interactive map listings for travelers planning overnight stays in the region.
• Outdoor Adventures Platform Platform showcasing outdoor recreation activities across the region including ATV/snowmobiling, elk viewing, equestrian, golf, parks and recreation areas, trails and recreation, water activities, and wildlife and animal exhibits for visitors seeking active outdoor experiences.
• Events Calendar Searchable events calendar listing activities, festivals, concerts, workshops, and community events throughout the region, filterable by date, county, and category, helping visitors plan trips around regional happenings.
• Elk Viewing Guide Downloadable guide to elk viewing in Pennsylvania's Wild Elk Country with history, tips, driving routes, viewing locations, and lodging information, designed for visitors planning wildlife viewing trips to the region.
• Elk and Eagle Watching Guide (Cameron County) Cameron County guide featuring GPS coordinates for 18 elk viewing locations and 9 eagle watching hotspots with descriptions and directions, targeted at wildlife photographers and nature observers visiting Cameron County.
• Interactive Map System Google Maps-powered interactive map system embedded throughout the site allowing visitors to browse lodging, activities, and attractions by location with filtering capabilities across the three-county region.
• Wine, Beer and Shine Pour Tour Annual brochure program featuring 14 participating wineries, breweries, and distilleries across the region with listings and map locations, targeting adult travelers interested in craft beverage tourism.
• PA Wilds BDR-X Route 500-mile backcountry discovery route loop through Pennsylvania mountains and forests, managed by Backcountry Discovery Routes, featuring dirt and gravel roads through state forests, promoted as a major outdoor recreation attraction.
• Counties Destination Pages Destination pages for Cameron County, Elk County, Forest County, Allegheny National Forest, and Cook Forest providing comprehensive visitor information for each area including lodging, activities, attractions, and dining options.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500-mile PA Wilds BDR-X route through the region created by Jack O'Connor and managed by Backcountry Discovery Routes
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBackcountry Discovery Routes manages the PA Wilds BDR-X, a 500-mile loop through Pennsylvania's mountains and forests created by Jack O'Connor. The route runs mostly on dirt and gravel roads through Pennsylvania State Forests, providing a major outdoor recreation attraction for the region.
• Pennsylvania Game CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe commission operates the Elk Country Visitor Center and manages Pennsylvania's elk herd (nearly 1,400 animals). They also maintain the live elk cam for wildlife viewing. The partnership supports elk conservation and tourism in the region.
• Keystone Elk Country AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Elk Country Visitor Center, a premiere elk-viewing facility and conservation education center with 4D theater, exhibits, and gift shop. Located at 950 Winslow Hill Road, Benezette.
• PA Made ShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe PA Made Shop brings maker stories to life, featuring handcrafted items from makers across the region including local artisans and craftspeople featured in the 'Meet the Makers' blog series.
• Member Lodging BusinessescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of member businesses including Antler Shed Cabins, Bull Elk Lodge, Buck Haven Lodge, Cook Riverside Cabins, and numerous other lodging providers that participate in promoting the region to visitors.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Visit Florida: Statewide tourism marketing organization. Comparable as a public-private destination marketing body funded by member dues and state investment, though Florida's tourism product mix (beach, theme parks) differs materially from PAGO's forest/wildlife focus.
• Brand USA: National destination marketing organization for the United States. Operates several levels above regional CVBs but comparable as a member-supported tourism promotion entity that regional bureaus like PAGO can plug into for international visitor pipeline development.
• Pure Michigan: Statewide tourism brand and DMO for Michigan. Comparable mission of driving outdoor and nature-based tourism visitation through marketing partnerships, but at a much larger scale with significant state-government funding.
• VisitPA: Statewide tourism marketing organization for Pennsylvania. Functions as an umbrella DMO that the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau operates underneath; comparable in mission but at much larger scale and budget.

Direct peers

• PA Wilds: Statewide designation and planning organization covering the same broader Pennsylvania Wilds region. Directly comparable as a regional destination branding/conservation-tourism initiative that the PAGO bureau works alongside (PA Wilds Designation is referenced as a revenue stream).
• Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau: Regional Pennsylvania CVB covering Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties. Closely comparable as a multi-county rural destination marketing organization focused on outdoor recreation, lodging promotion, and member-based funding.
• Visit Potter-Tioga: Regional CVB for neighboring Potter and Tioga counties in northern Pennsylvania. Directly comparable rural outdoor destination with similar member-driven DMO structure and overlap in dark-sky, wildlife, and outdoor recreation promotion.
• VisitErie: Regional DMO for the Erie, PA area. Comparable as a Pennsylvania-based CVB promoting outdoor recreation, events, and lodging through a member-supported model, though focused on a lake/coastal destination rather than forest/wildlife.
• Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau: Another regional Pennsylvania CVB promoting outdoor recreation, lodging, and family tourism. Highly comparable in operating model (member-funded DMO, regional scope) though the Poconos is a larger, more commercialized outdoor destination than the more rural Pennsylvania Great Outdoors region.

Regional players

• Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge: Regional CVB for Virginia's Blue Ridge promoting outdoor recreation, craft beverage tourism, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Comparable as a mid-sized regional outdoor DMO, though it serves a different geography with a larger population catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/VisitPAGO
• Facebookfacebook.com/double.diamond.deer.ranch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pennsylvania-great-outdoors-visitors-bureau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau