2024 Awards
Celebrate the best of the best in the Oil Region by voting for your favorites in the annual Oil Region Tourism Awards. Nominations were made by the public in June 2024. Voting is open Friday, August 23 through Labor Day. Winners will be announced in early September. Winners from 2023 were not eligible to be nominated in the same categories. No cash or prizes are given to nominees nor winners, but bragging rights mean a lot. We also proudly promote our winners and nominees.
Cast your vote from the following nominations at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KNGHQX3
Best Dish
Loaded Carne Asada at Taco Shack, Oil City
Lox Bagel Sandwich at Iron Furnace Coffee, Franklin
BearTown Breakfast Sandwich at Woods & River, Oil City
Buffalo Chicken Pierogi at Pierogi Party, Titusville
Spinach & Feta Pierogi at Pierogi Party, Titusville
Kickin’ Honey Chicken Mac at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Lasagna at Maria’s Italian Restaurant, Titusville
Bull & Bear Burger at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Smoked Brisket Mac and Cheese at The Magic Bus Kitchen, Titusville
Linguini Alfredo with Chicken at Maria’s Italian Restaurant, Titusville
Porchetta Cubano at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Calico Beans at Stiller’s Meats, Seneca
Berry Caribbean Pork Chop at Bella Cucina, Franklin
Turkey Sub at Bob’ s Subs, Seneca
Best Drink
Strawberry Matcha Tea Latte at Iron Furnace Coffee, Franklin
Caramel Mocha Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Sugar-Free S’mores Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
BearTown Iced Mocha at Woods & River, Oil City
Dark Energy at PerkUp, Seneca
Happy Camper Smoothie at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City
Iced Salted Caramel Coconut Latte with Chocolate Cold Foam at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City
Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Chocolate Peanut Butter Latte at Coffee Days Co., Titusville
Samoa Latte at PerkUp, Seneca
Jitterbug Perfume Espresso Martini at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Fever Dream Margarita at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Blue Blaze Smoothie at Woods and River Coffee, Oil City
Coconut Caramel Latte at Woods and River, Oil City
Mojito at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Best Stay
The Barnard House, Emlenton
The AirBnb at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Caboose Motel, Titusville
Heron’s Landing above Woods and River Coffee, Oil City
Holiday Inn, Cranberry
Wildcat Mansion, Franklin
Best Shop
Printer’s Cabinet & Curiosities, Franklin
Wye Bridge Hobbies, Oil City
Core Goods, Oil City
Park Avenue Greenhouse, Oil City
Bringing it Back, Titusville
Warner’s Bakery, Titusville
4 Season Cycle, Franklin
The Olive Vault, Franklin
Parkside Pockets, Titusville
Stonehouse Jack, Titusville
Gem’s, Franklin
The Woods At Wyattville, Franklin
Amy’s Closet and Sassy’s Gifts, Franklin
Something Clever, Franklin
Best Advocate
Susan Williams
Tiffany and David Nolf
4 Season Cycle
Erin Wanninger
Harry Dilley, Jr.
Dave Ballard
Wendy Thompson
Best Event
Roughneck Gravel Roubaix, Titusville
Applefest, Franklin
May Mart, Franklin
Sunday Brunch Paint and Sip at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Comedy Night at The Stuffed Fox Club at the Parkside, Titusville
Weekly Trivia at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Adult Prom at The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Allegheny Gnar Downhill Mountain Bike race series, Oil City
Oil City Bridgefest, OC Arts Council, Oil City
Franklin Retail’s Witch Walk, Franklin
Taste of Talent, Franklin
Blues & BBQ, Franklin
Best Destination
Oil Creek State Park
The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad
Egbert-Mullins-Koos House (307 S. Park St., Franklin) by the Venango County Historical Society
Drake Well Museum & Park
Bike Trails — Oil City-Franklin-Kennerdale
Seneca Lanes
Two Mile Run County Park
Best Landmark
Best Scenic Selfie Spot
Justus Bike Trail
Pollen Nation with all the plants in the greenhouse (Anderson’s Greenhouse), Franklin
The Veranda, The Titusville Mill, Titusville
Oil Creek State Park
Cannons at the Garrison, Franklin
Miller Falls
Murray’s Scenic View, Grandview Road, Oil City
Kennerdell Overlook, Kennerdell
Christmas Tree, Venango County Courthouse, Franklin
Egbert Memorial Fountain, Franklin
Wildcat Mansion, Franklin
2023 Awards
Winners
- Best Dish:
Breakfast Sandwich at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City - Best Drink:
Cold Brew Coffee at Woods & River, Oil City - Best Room:
Wildcat Mansion, Franklin - Best Shop:
Cross & Co. Boutique, Seneca - Best Advocate:
Jodi Baker Lewis - Best Partner:
Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce - Best Must See/Do Attraction:
Barrow Civic Theatre, Franklin - Best Landmark:
Drake Well Museum & Park, Titusville
The 2023 complete list of nominees follows:
Classic Breakfast Sandwich at Grandview Lookout, Oil City
Dill Pickle Pizza at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Sausage Gravy Wrap at Baked Goods from Heaven, Oil City
Billy’s Philly Cheesesteak at Billy’s, Oil City
Freaky Greek Gyro at Grandview Lookout, Oil City
Crab Cake BLT Sandwich at Bella Cucina, Franklin
Ba’s Homemade Polish Platter at Double Play, Oil City
Low Country Dip appetizer at Fat Chad’s Tap & Steakhouse, Titusville
Dirt Flurry at McGranaghan’s City Limits, Titusville
Duck Egg Rolls at Bella Cucina, Franklin
Breakfast Sandwich at Woods and River, Oil City
Polish Dinner at Scierka’s Tavern, Oil City
Calzone at Leonardo’s, Franklin
Coconut Mango Tilapia at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Reuben Sandwich at Country Grub, Franklin
Lasagna at Leonardo’s, Franklin
Lemonade with Strawberry Boba at Grandview Lookout, Oil City
Blackberry Bourbon Sidecar at Bella Cucina, Franklin
Ralph’s Ice Cream Slushies at Titusville Iron Works, Titusville
Iced Coffee at Woods and River COffee, Oil City
Espresso at Iron Furnace, Franklin
Beartown Mocha at Woods & River Coffee, Oil City
Frozen Peach Royal, at Otto’s Tavern, Emlenton
Matcha Sunrise at Iron Furnace Coffee, Franklin
Liquid Gold Milk Tea at FrosTEA n’Fusions, The Mercantile, Titusville
Fruit Sangria at Benjamins, Franklin
Wildcat Mansion, Franklin
Caboose Motel, Titusville
Heron’s Landing (above Woods & River Coffee), Oil City
Holiday Inn Express, Seneca
Amy’s Closet & Sassy’s Gifts, Franklin
The Printer’s Cabinet and Curiosities, Franklin
Porch Music Store, Franklin
Stonehouse Jack, Titusville
Cross & Co. Boutique, Seneca
Crismans Little Britches, Franklin
4 Season Cycle, Franklin
Hal Carbaugh’s Barber Shop, Franklin
Olive Vault, Franklin
Daffin’s Candies, Franklin
Olde Liberty, Franklin
Liberty Street Antiques, Franklin
Wendy Thompson
Bob Joyce
Matt Beith
Cathy Kentzel
Leah Carter
Peter Greene
Jodi Baker Lewis
National Park Service
Oil City Main Street Program
Titusville Ironworks
Webco Industries
4 Season Cycle
Oil Region Library Association
Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce
Woods and River Coffee
Allegheny River
BridgeFest — Oil City Festival in August
Axe Throwing at Allegheny River Retreat Center, Franklin
Oil Heritage Festival—Oil City Festival in July
James A. Nelles Memorial Swimming Pool, Oil City
Oil Creek State Park
Rocky Grove Fireman’s Fair
Rock in River Fest, Franklin
Mountain Bike Trails at Two Mile Run County Park
Sandycreek Recreation Trail
Belmar Bridge
Emlenton Summer Festival
Barrow Civic Theatre, Franklin
May Garden Mart – Franklin Festival in May
Picnic/Activities at Blood Farm, Oil Creek State Park
The Barrow Civic Theatre
Drake Well
Historic Pithole City
Murray Scenic Overlook, Oil City
Belmar Bridge on the Allegheny River
McKinney Hall at UPT, Titusville
Confluence of the Allegheny and French Creek
Allegheny River Trail
River Ridge Farm
100 Seneca at Cornplanter Square
St. John’s Episcopal Church Tiffany windows, Franklin
Pithole Stone Arch Bridge, Eagle Rock Road
2022 Awards
Nominations were open late August to early September. Winners from 2021 were not eligible to be nominated for 2022. Voting opened Tuesday, September 6 and closed Friday, September 16. Winners were announced the following week.
Winners
- Best Dish
Liberty Street Burger at Trails to Ales in Franklin - Best Drink
Brokenspoke Blueberry Beer at Trails to Ales in Franklin
(This beat the Vanilla Iced Latte at Iron Furnace in Franklin by one vote!) - Best Room
Peddlers and Paddlers Inn, Franklin - Best Shop
Core Goods in Oil City - Best Industry Advocate
Ronnie Beith - Best Industry Partner/Organization
The Venango Chamber of Commerce - Best Must Do Activity or Attraction
Applefest - Best Landmark
Two Mile Run County Park
(This beat the Barrow Civic Theater in Franklin by one vote!)
Check out videos of all the 2022 winners using this link.
The 2022 complete list of nominees follows:
Pecan Crusted Chicken at Bella Cucina in Franklin
BBQ Bacon Burger at Dawndi’s in Franklin
Liberty Street Burger at Trails to Ales in Franklin
Kale Salad at Iron Furnace in Franklin
Brisket & Gouda sandwich at The Well in Titusville
Smashburger at Curbside StrEAT Co. in the Mercantile in Titusville
Shaved Ice from Sprinklez in the Mercantile in Titusville and Seneca
Boba Drink from Sprinklez in the Mercantile in Titusville and Seneca
Brokenspoke Blueberry Beer at Trails to Ales in Franklin
Thai Iced Tea from Homegrown Kitchen in Franklin
Vanilla Iced Latte at Iron Furnace in Franklin
The Witherup House in Franklin
Peddler and Paddlers Inn, Franklin
Haggerty Hollow, an airBnB outside of Franklin
Cottage and Farm House at Two Mile Run County Park
The Printer’s Cabinet in Franklin
Franklin Clothing Exchange
Amy’s Closet and Sassy’s Gifts
Core Goods in Oil City
Cali Rae’s Haute Spot in Franklin
Stonehouse Jack in Titusville
Ashley (Cowels) Sheffer
Ronnie Beith
Maureen James
Wendy Thompson
Luke Kauffman
Chris Fiely
Kim Harris
JC Caton
The Venango Chamber of Commerce in Oil City
Franklin Retail Association
Oil Region Library Association
Titusville Iron Works
Historic Pithole City
The Venango Museum
Kayaking
Seneca Lanes
Titusville Iron Works
Applefest
Franklin’s Light Up Night
Two Mile Run County Park
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
Tattoo from Austin Ink
The Escape Room in Titusville
Ax Throwing at Allegheny River Retreat Center, Franklin
Farm to Fork Event Sponsored by Titusville Renaissance at Drake Well Train Depot
The War Memorials at the Venango County Courthouse Parks in Franklin
Barrow Civic Theater, Franklin
Morrison Park, Seneca
Pipeline Alley, Oil City
Two Mile Run County Park
The Driller Monument in Woodlawn Cemetery in Titusville
Wildcat Mansion
Allegheny River Retreat Center in Franklin
2021 Awards
Nominations were open late August to early September. Winners from 2021 were not eligible to be nominated for 2022. Voting opened Tuesday, September 6 and closed Friday, September 16. Winners were announced the following week.
Winners
- Best Dish
Italian Sub from Villa Italia Restaurant, Oil City - Best Drink
Peanut Butter Milkshake from Villa Restaurant, Oil City - Best Room
Caboose Motel, Titusville - Best Shop
Cross & Co. Boutique, Seneca - Best Industry Advocate
Ashley Zaccari Smith - Best Industry Partner/Organization
Be Here - Best Must Do Activity or Attraction
Bike Trails - Best Landmark
Drake Well Museum and Park, Titusville
The 2021 complete list of nominees follows:
Dill Pickle Pizza from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Trail Boss Burger from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Fried Shrimp Taco from Taco Shack, Oil City
Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich from Curbside StrEAT Co., Titusville
Smashburger from Curbside StrEAT Co., Titusville
Pecan Crusted Chicken from Bella Cucina, Franklin
Wild Mushroom Pizza from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Shrueben Sandwich from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Italian Sub from Villa Italia Restaurant, Oil City
Fettucine Alfredo from Leonard’s, Franklin
Flat Iron Steak from Fat Chad’s, Titusville
Eggplant Parmesan from Maria’s, Titusville
Rise & Shine Breakfast from Sam’s Restaurant, Titusville
Chicken Parmesan Sub from Bud’s Pizza, Oil City
Iced Latte from Karma Coffee Company, Oil City
Holiday Cookie IPA from Scierka’s Tavern, Oil City
Razzmanian Devil from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Smoked Old Fashioned at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Peanut Butter Milkshake from Villa Restaurant, Oil City
Coffee from Sam’s Restaurant, Titusville
Caboose Motel, Titusville
The Crawford Suite at the Barnard House B&B, Emlenton
Peddlers & Paddlers Inn, Franklin
Stonehouse Jack, Titusville
Core Goods, Oil City
Olive Vault, Franklin
Cali Rae’s Haute Spot, Franklin
The Printer’s Cabinet and Curiosities, Franklin
Something Clever, Franklin
Liberty Street Antiques, Franklin
Amy’s Closet, Emlenton
Crisman’s Little Britches, Franklin
Titusville Market Square, Titusville
Cross & Co. Boutique, Seneca
Ashley Zaccari Smith
Diane Harrison
Leah Carter
Kim Harris
Be Here (Program of the Venango Chamber)
Friends of the Railroad
Oil City Main Street Program
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
A Bite of History Food Tours, Franklin
Barnard House B&B, Emlenton
BridgeFest — Oil City Festival in August
Tiffany Window Tours at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Franklin
DeBence Antique Music World, Franklin
Venango Museum of Art, Science and Industry, Oil City
Kayaking with O.A.R.S., Franklin
Unlock the Adventure Escape Experience, Titusville
Oil Creek State Park
Drake Well Museum & Park
Bike Trails, throughout the Region
Oil Valley Film Festival, Oil City
Drake Well Museum and Park, Titusville
Driller Monument at Woodlawn Cemetery, Titusville
Belmar Bridge on the Allegheny River
Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Monuments near the Venango County Courthouse in Franklin
Venango County Courthouse courtrooms 1, 2, and 3 with Deac Mong murals (Riding into Fort Machault, Looking over Franklin, and Drake Well)
Freedom Falls, Kennerdell
Kennerdell Overlook, Kennerdell
Murray Scenic Overlook, Oil City
National Transit Building, Oil City
Heisman Monument, Titusville