"Does it matter where the stuff you buy comes from? We think so. "
It matters where the stuff you buy comes from. That is why we’ve put a lot of thought into how we source products at our PA Wilds Conservation Shops, which are physical gift shops tied to public lands and communities in the PA Wilds that source products made in our region.
Our shop is located at Kinzua Bridge State Park in the Allegheny National Forest and Surrounds. One of our main product lines is The Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania, a network of more than 175 local producers, artists, and craftspeople from across the Pennsylvania Wilds region. These are people who live and work in rural PA, love what they do, and have proven through a jurying process that they are good at doing it.
Our products are sourced using industry and conservation resources such as One Green Planet’s “A Guide to Buying Sustainable, Fair-Trade and Cruelty-Free Clothing.” Once we find a responsible company with competitive prices where we can source the soft goods, we work with local companies in the Pennsylvania Wilds to place the order for ‘blanks,’ and then these local companies are hired to give the products their value-added component, be that creating a design for a new line of t-shirts, stitching embroidered patches on fleece jackets, screen printing, or some other service.
This investment ripples out. According to the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), independent locally-owned businesses – like those involved in The Wilds Cooperative of PA and our gift shops – recirculate a far greater percentage of revenue locally compared to absentee-owned businesses or locally-owned franchises. AMIBA reviewed 10 studies in this area, concluding that “on average 48 percent of each purchase at local independent businesses was recirculated locally, compared to less than 14 percent of purchases at chain stores.”
In other words, when you spend locally at our gift shops, it allows us to spend locally on inventory, and then those businesses spend a large part of that investment locally. It’s one great big reinforcing circle of goodness, and we appreciate you being part of it!
Visit our location at Kinzua Bridge State Park, where you can learn the history of what was once considered the Eighth Wonder of the World. Our exhibits are interactive and feature local wildlife, conservation lessons learned from oil and lumber efforts, regional innovation, and the story surrounding the Kinzua Viaduct.
Read more... Read lessThe PA Wilds Conservation Shop products are packaged and shipped from Kane, PA, and we make every effort to ensure your order is packaged securely and shipped promptly. Products typically ship within 2 business days via the U.S. Postal Service.
The PA Wilds Conservation Shop ships to the USA as well as internationally.
Shipping costs are non-refundable for undelivered, unclaimed or returned packages unless there is a merchant error. We are not responsible for damages incurred during shipping or for packages delivered to an incorrect address.
Canadian orders may be charged additional duties, taxes and clearance fees, by the carrier, upon receipt of the product.
Customers may return new, unworn, unopened items with original tags within 30 days of delivery for a full product refund. Shipping costs on the order are not refunded. Items should be returned in their original product packaging. Shipping return costs will be refunded only if the return is a result of a merchant error.
Refunds will not be given after 30 days, unless there is a product defect. If a product is believed to be defective, a picture showing the defective item with the order number must be provided in order to complete the refund transaction. The PA Wilds Conservation Shop reserves the right to update or modify the terms of the Exchange and Return Policy at any time.
Kinzua Bridge Gift Shop
The Conservation Shop at Kinzua is located at Kinzua Bridge State Park in the visitor center. The address is:
1721 Lindolm Drive
Mount Jewett, PA 16740
The PA Wilds Conservation Shop at Kinzua Bridge offers many products that are specific to the area, such as t-shirts, postcards, magnets, pins and artwork that reflect the history and beauty of the bridge, along with many other products from around the PA Wilds region. This gift-giving destination is perfect for all kinds of travelers, whether you live in the PA Wilds or are just visiting.
General
PA Wilds Conservation Shops are brick-and-mortar gift shops whose primary product line comes from the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania. Products are purchased wholesale. These gift shops are tied to popular public lands and allow visitors to “take home a piece of the PA Wilds.” Only Professional Level Juried Artisans and Creative Industries Partners are eligible to sell products at these shops. Learn more
The PA Wilds Buyer’s Guide is a free, downloadable guide designed to help make connections between regional producers and retailers. Produced by the Wilds Cooperative of PA, the guide features Professional Level Juried Artisans, Creative Industry Partners, Trading Posts and PA Wilds Logo Licensees. Check out the 2020 PA Wilds Buyer’s Guide here!