A project that would bring a resort to Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County has been put on hold by the Army Corp of Engineers. 

The property owner is seeking a lease of 375 acres of adjoining lands at Hawns Bridge Peninsula to expand camping, connections to existing hike and bike trails, with outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities, all while protecting and preserving the environment.

For the Huntingdon County Commissioners, the ruling by the Army Corp wasn’t unexpected. Commissioner Scott Walls said, “We were disappointed but not surprised by the Corps’ action.”

The commissioners also don’t believe the ruling was an outright denial of the project. Commissioner Mark Sather explained, “It’s a continuation of review of the project as it had been presented.”

The Army Corp will now look into a new master plan for the property to see if Hawns Bridge Marina can be added to a proposed recreational facility. The marina was in the previous master plan that spanned from 1974 to 1994 but was removed after development never came. 

Project developer Rod Roberts looks forward working with the Army Corp through this process. He said, “We want to work closely with them along with the citizens of Huntingdon County in that process to educate them that Hawn’s Bridge should be rezoned for high density recreation.”

The commissioners and the developer say this project will bring an economic boost to the county. Roberts explained, “It will bring hundreds of jobs. It would be fantastic. It’s a beautiful part of the country, one of the most beautiful spots I’ve been to and I have had the privilege staying at some of the nicest resorts in the country.” 

The commissioners agree with the projected economic growth and compare it to a similar resort in our region. Commissioner Sather explained, “In essence, this is something that would be very similar to like the Bedford Springs and what Bedford Springs has done to the Bedford Springs downtown area. It has just revitalized that area.”

In the release from the Army Corp, they say that they will being the process to update the existing master plan to addressed any proposed development but say it could take 18 to 24 months before the updates are completed.