Stepping Stone Farm Bed & Breakfast

One mile from the ATA bike trail near Confluence, PA. Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, Ohiopyle/Yough River Rafting, Nemacolin Woodlands, Seven Springs, Mt. Davis, Ft. Necessity, and more - a short drive away in the Laurel Highlands of SW PA.

"Your Country Home Away From Home"

 

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Our Goal

Our Purpose

Our Setting

Stepping Stone Tour

Accommodations & Rates

Amenities & Services

Policies

How to Find Us

Nearby Attractions

Calendar of Events

Local Dining/Services

 

 

Your Hosts:

Larry, Vicki and Jeni Rempel
140 Stepping Stone Lane
Confluence, PA 15424

Phone: (814) 395-9988

Email: steppingstonefarm@verizon.net

 

OUR GOAL

As our guest, we want you to feel at home.
We provide clean, hospitable family lodging in a relaxed,
friendly atmosphere where you can rest and recharge
for your next day's adventures and travel.

OUR PURPOSE

A Bag of Tools
by R. Lee Sharpe

Isn't it strange how princes and kings,
and clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
and common people, like you and me,
are builders for eternity?

Each is given a list of rules;
a shapeless mass; a bag of tools.
And each must fashion, ere life is flown,
A stumbling block, or a Stepping-Stone.

OUR SETTING

The Laurel Highlands: An Area of History, Local Culture, and Outdoor Adventure

Our roomy farmhouse is located on 31 private acres in the "Lower Turkeyfoot" river valley, so named by the young surveyor George Washington as he surveyed the area during the French and Indian Wars. We are three miles from the small borough of Confluence, PA, located at the"confluence" of three beautiful rivers (Laurel Hill, Casselman and the Youghiogheny) and the Youghiogheny Dam and Lake.

The Great Allegheny Passage (bike trail from Pittsburgh to DC) passes through Confluence and has road access one mile from our farm at the Harnedsville trailhead (see instructions below: "Arriving by Bicycle"). Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, Ohiopyle, Seven Springs, Nemacolin Woodlands and Ft. Necessity, among others are a short, scenic drive away (See "Nearby Attractions" below for descriptions and other links).

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STEPPING STONE TOUR

Good morning! Good morning! It's time to rise and shine.

Come down to the heart of our home, the spacious country dining room and kitchen to enjoy a home made breakfast with baked goods, our own hens' eggs, fruit from our garden in season, and juice, coffee and tea to get you going.

Perhaps you'd like to step out onto the open-air porch to enjoy your breakfast as you breathe in the fresh morning air.

Sometime during your visit, take a walk up the lane to see the morning fog resting in the Casselman River Valley or meander around the property toward evening on one of the trails. We enjoy numerous sightings of squirrel, white-tailed deer, wild turkey and other wild birds in season from the house and around the property. Or just stretch out on the hammock under the pines, or sit quietly in the gezebo near the stream.

When you are ready, launch out on your day's adventures in the Laurel Highlands and seize the day.

After your day of experiencing the Laurel Highlands, head back to the farm for an evening to relax.

Pour a glass of iced tea, or a cup of coffee and enjoy the countryside setting from the front stone porch or the Sunrise Deck, or the deck off the upper wing guest rooms.

Request a campfire and it'll be blazing on your return.

Later, come inside the house and find a comfortable spot in the upper wing's cozy library

or the farm's main living room to read abook, chat with family or folk, or play a board game.

And now?     Ahh....lights out!!.

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ACCOMMODATIONS & RATES

Here at Stepping Stone Farm B & B, we welcome the solo-bicyclist, couples, family and friend groups with bedspace for 16 people (additonal mattresses available).

Great for reunions, bicycling/rafting/kayaking groups, church groups, etc.

Reserve one room, several rooms, or the whole house.

10% Discounts for 2 nights or more. Prices include a full, country-cooked breakfast.

The whole house includes 5 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, and offers 1 queen bed, 4 double beds and 6 single beds set up in the manner described below.

The Farm's "Get-a-way" Apartment

A private apartment with bed space for 1-5 people including the following:

A family room with 2 day beds, couch, table and chairs, VCR.

Equipped kitchenette includes:

Fridge, sink, microwave, electric stove/oven, electric frying pan, dishes, etc.

A full, private bathroom.

One large bedroom with 2 double beds and 1 single.

$90.00 + tax, 2 persons
($25.00 + tax for each additional person 13 or older)

Save 10% on 2 or more nights! 2 Children 12 and under free.

The Farm's Upper Guest Wing

Four rooms with two full bathrooms available. Two common areas are the Sunrise Upper Deck and the Birdnest Library.

Enjoy the upper deck overlooking the fields and garden.

The Birdnest Library is convenient for reading, relaxing, and visiting with guests staying in the Upper Wing.

Blue Hemlock Room (1 queen bed w/private bath @ $80.00 + tax)

Green Garden Room (1 double bed @ $60.00 + tax)
Red Posy Room (1 double bed @ $60.00 + tax)

Yellow Flutter Room (2 sgl. beds: 1 person, $50.00 + tax; extra adult, additional $25.00 + tax)

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AMENITIES & SERVICES

Complimentary full breakfast served @ 8:30 am, unless otherwise arranged. This includes our homemade baked goods, fresh fruit, our own hens' eggs, sausage/ham, OJ, coffee/tea, homemade jams, etc. Vegetarian breakfast prepared on request.

Need supper at the farm? We can pre-order from local menus and have meals ready at the house at time requested.

Courtesy shuttle to/from Confluence for Bicyclers or pedal directly to farm (one mile from the ATA bike trail @ Harnedsville - see below).

Linens, towels, courtesy soap provided.

Campfire provided on request.

Ask about petting and feeding the farm's goats, and chickens, too.

Pick raspberries and strawberries from the garden in season.

Three porches off of the house and thirty-one 31 acres of property to enjoy walks or cross-country skiing out the back door.

Summer evenings in the Laurel Highlands are usually mild, but we have fans in each room to keep comfortable. October-April, we have plenty of warm blankets and a well-heated home. Enjoy the woodburning stove in the dining room.

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POLICIES

To confirm and hold a reservation, please send a deposit to cover the cost of the first night's stay.

Cancellation: Refund remitted (20% service charge) as follows: 1. When notified 7 days prior to arrival date, and 2. when no other guests have been turned away and/or room can still be filled.

Sorry, we don't take credit cards. We accept cash, money orders and personal checks made out to "Victoria Rempel".

Check-in time is after 4 pm or by arrangement. Check-out time is by 10 am unless otherwise arranged.

This is a smoke-free home. No alcohol or drugs. No provision for pets.

The room rates have an additional 9% tax (3% local bed tax and 6% state tax).

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HOW TO FIND US

ARRIVING BY CAR

Our location in SW PA is within easy driving distance of major eastern cities.

DRIVING DISTANCES

Pittsburgh, PA - 1 hr 45 min
Baltimore, MD - 3 hr 30 min
Washington, DC - 3 hr 30 min
Cleveland, OH - 3 hr 30 min 		Philadelphia, PA - 4 hr 30 min
Columbus, OH - 5 hr 00 min
Richmond, VA - 5 hr 30 min
Buffalo, NY - 5 hr 30 min
New York, NY - 6 hr 30 min

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

We are well-situated within 30 minutes of two major freeways:

US 68 (great access from DC/ Baltimore and points south)

and the PA Turnpike (US Route 70/76).

FROM US 70/76 (PA TURNPIKE) FROM US 68
  • Take Somerset Exit 10.
  • Follow signs for Rt. 281 South through town.
  • Leaving Somerset, go 22 miles to Ursina.
  • Look for Reflective Blue "Stepping Stone Farm B & B" signs the next 2 turns.
  • Follow "Harnedsville 1 Mile" sign with left hand arrow.
  • Turn left onto Second St./Hogback Rd.
  • Go 1/2 mile to top of hill; carefully make a wide left turn (blind corner) onto unmarked road.
  • Go 1/2 mile and turn down second lane on right at "Stepping Stone" Sign.
  • Follow private, wooded country lane 1/5 mile to redwood farm-house (Stepping Stone B & B).
  • Take Uniontown Exit 14B to flashing light. Turn left onto Rte 40 W.
  • Continue 6 miles and turn right onto Rte.523 North. Go 5 miles to Harnedsville.
  • Look for Reflective Blue "Stepping Stone Farm B & B" signs the next 2 turns.
  • Follow "Ursina 1 Mile" sign with right hand arrow.
  • Go 1/2 mile to top of hill; turn right onto Peck Rd.
  • Go 1/2 mile and turn down second lane on right at "Stepping Stone" Sign.
  • Follow private, wooded country lane 1/5 mile to redwood farm-house (Stepping Stone B & B).

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ARRIVING BY BICYCLE

Take advantage of the courtesy shuttle to/from Confluence, or pedal directly to the farm.

COURTESY SHUTTLE

If you are arriving by bicycle from the Great Allegheny Passage or the ATA,
we can arrange to shuttle your party and gear from
Confluence to Stepping Stone 3 miles away.

Enjoy refreshments at one of our local restaurants while you wait for pick up.

PEDAL DIRECTLY TO THE FARM:
(Not for those arriving by automobile)

From Pittsburgh Toward DC (NW to SE): From DC Toward Pittsburgh (SE to NW):
  • Pedal past Ohiopyle to Confluence.
  • Continue past Confluence 2 miles to the Harnedsville trailhead.
  • Exit the GAP/ATA rail-trail and turn left onto SR 3047 or Hogback Rd.
  • Pedal past Rockwood 15 miles toward Confluence.
  • At the Harnedsville trailhead parking, 2 miles before Confluence, SR 3047 (Hogback Rd.) and the trail intersect.
  • Exit the GAP/ATA rail-trail and turn right onto Hogback Rd/SR 3047 to the north.

Look for white signs with blue Stepping Stone Farm or SSF lettering and a blue bicycle icon. Continue as follows:

  • Pedal on SR 3047 (Hogback Rd) 1/4 mile. This is a small 2 lane state road with good visibility. Some drivers drive fast, but generally give wide berth to bicyclers. (If you are not comfortable with pedaling with automobiles, you are welcome to make arrangements for a shuttle ahead of time).
  • Just before RR tracks, turn RIGHT onto Colflesh Rd., a graveled township road.
  • Go Downhill 200 yards. Road parallels the Casselman River for next 1/3 mile past 2 cabin/homes on the left.
  • Turn left onto first private lane. It has a green metal gate and a bicycle/pedestrian opening.
  • The lane is heavily graveled, so you may want to walk your bike the last 2/10 mi to the farm.
  • We have "right-of-way" on this lane for ourselves and our guests.
  • Go past log home on right. Wave a friendly "hello" to the O'Connor Family.
  • Continue 75 yards up steep graveled hill. The road levels out for the last 100 yards.
  • Go through narrow gate just before the paved RR crossing. Listen for any trains and proceed carefully.
  • Stepping Stone Farm is just ahead.
  • Continue up lane to the far side of redwood farmhouse where you'll find the front entry porch.
  • Ring the door bell or just open the door and holler "HELLO"!
  • WELCOME!

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NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

You'll be pleased to discover the delightful range of experiences that are within a short, scenic drive from Stepping Stone.

Here are some of the focal points in our area:

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CALENDAR OF FESTIVALS

Local festivals and events are held in every season throughout the region.

Fire and Ice Festival Somerset, PA January
Pennsylvania Maple Festival Meyersdale, PA April
Chainsaw Carving Festival  Addison, PA May
Old National Pike Days Addison, PA May
River and Rails Festival Rockwood, PA June
Old Home Days & Turkeyfoot Biathalon Confluence, PA June
Somerfest Somerset, PA July
Somerset County Fair Meyersdale, PA August
Farmers and Threshermen's Jubilee New Centerville, PA September
Mountain Craft Days Somerset, PA September
Whiskey Rebellion Berlin, PA September
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa
PGA Classic Golf Tournament		 Farmington, PA September
Pumpkin Fest Confluence, PA October
Springs Folk Festival Springs, PA October

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LOCAL DINING AND SERVICES

DINING SERVICES

River's Edge Cafe - Confluence, PA
(814) 395-5059

Dannie's Place - Confluence, PA
(814) 395-5457

River's Edge Cafe - Confluence, PA
(814) 395-5059

Shepherd's Farm - Confluence, PA
(814) 395-3448

Sisters' Cafe - Confluence, PA
(814) 395-5252

Suder's Soft Freeze - Confluence, PA
(814) 395-3313

Penn Alps - Grantsville, MD
(301) 895-5985

Confluence Foodmart - Confluence, PA
Phone (814) 395-9707

Confluence True Value Hardware - Confluence, PA
Phone (814) 395-3511

Diamond Produce - Confluence, PA
(814) 395-5722

First National Bank of PA - Confluence, PA
(814) 395-3624

Hall's Market - Confluence, PA
(814) 395-5437

River's Edge Antique Mall - Confluence, PA
(814) 395-9098 / (814) 395-9557

Somerset Trust Co. - Confluence, PA
(814) 395-9770

Swirling Eddy Laundromat - Confluence, PA
(814) 395-9988

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