Fin, Fur and Feather Open with New Ownership
HANEYVILLE – Fin, Fur and Feather, a familiar stop-off for families and outdoorsmen “out on” the Coudersport Pike for two generations, has new ownership and a renewed commitment to serve visitors.
This Coudersport Pike mainstay for three-quarters of a century has a new name, Fin, Fur and Feather by Parks, to recognize new ownership in Adam Parks. The McElhattan native purchased the convenience store/restaurant shortly after his graduation from Lock Haven University last spring. Parks told The Record he plans a one-year anniversary celebration on June 1.
The seed was planted, Parks said, when he was out on a motorcycle ride, stopped in and said the business was “the opportunity I was looking for.” Parks said he felt at home there, with its restaurant and store designed for the needs of the trapper and hunting and fishing enthusiast. He was unaware, he said, the business doubled as a diner, liked what he saw and went to work on the purchase during his last semester as a business major at LHU.
He talked of the business start by the Asper family in the 1940s and noted that tie-in remains through the sale of crafts from family descendent Betsy Asper.
Fin, Fur and Feather offers a full-service dining menu as prepared by head chef/assistant manager Rhonda Gentzyel, with an emphasis on a breakfast menu featuring Mountain Man and Mountain Mama offerings.
Noting past customers off all ages who have stopped in and talked about visiting in years gone by, Parks said he is keeping the business’s 1940s feel, but updated to the present. This includes, he said, a hands-on toy selection for children, many with an outdoor use design.
Parks said he recognizes the challenge of retail in this day and plans to use modern technology through social media to track customer buying habits (firewood for sale is a new offering). While the highway draws considerable transient traffic, especially during the warm weather months, Parks said, local customers are more than welcomed, pledging to “treat you right; to make your experience as good as it can be.”
The official address for the business is 17770 N. State Route 44 and it is some 17 miles north of Lock Haven and about 10 miles from Hyner Mountain. Hours are Monday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Tuesday and Wednesday; Thursday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information is available on the business website at www.finfurfeatherbyparks.com.
