Oil Region National Heritage Area | The Valley that Changed the World

Oil Region Tourism Awards

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

Pennsylvania Oil Region
Oil Region Map
National Park Service

 National Park Services Logo

Partners

Connect


Search