More About Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Accommodations A local hotel that the majority of visitors go to includes the Holiday Inn in Johnstown’s Downtown area.
Restaurants
A popular, small, local eatery is the Back Door Café. The unassuming exterior appears to be a local tavern-grill, yet has temping culinary choices that leave customers satisfied. Other local restaurants include the Red Lobster and Applebee’s.
Shopping The Galleria is a local shopping area that offers a sampling of choices for the shopper.
Major Attractions
Operated by the National Park Service, the Johnstown Flood National Memorial, tells the story of the 1889 flood. They have preserved the remains of the ill-fated South Fork Dam and part of the former Lake Conemaugh bed.
The Johnstown Inclined Plane is known as the steepest vehicular inclined plane in the world. Built as a “lifesaver” after the Great Flood of 1889, the Inclined Plane has a 71.9% grade and offers spectacular views of both the Johnstown and Conemaugh valleys.
The Cambria Iron Company began construction of the inclined railway in 1890, to carry people, horses and wagons, to the new hilltop community of Westmont. On June 1, 1891 the Johnstown Inclined Plane began providing convenient transportation up Yoder Hill.
The Observation Deck in Johnstown provides an extensive view of the greater Johnstown region. Directly in front is a gap in the valley where the 1889 floodwaters emerged, following the path of the Little Conemaugh River. Viewers can envision the 25 foot wall of water that crossed directly in front - smashing into Yoder Hill - then backwashed to the south up the path of the Stoney
Creek, and then came back - down river - jamming at the Old Stone Bridge that still stands, just south of the Point Stadium.
From the 1860s to the 1990s, the Wagner-Ritter House and Garden was occupied by three generations of a steel working families. The Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA) makes available the house and garden to the public.
Written by: Karen J. Lee