Imagine corn, rye and sunflowers –– found right here in the Pennsylvania Wilds –– being distilled and turned into whiskey and spirits.
That’s the plan for the Wilds Sonshine Factory distillery to be located at 3480 U.S. Route 6 in Wetmore Township, west of Kane.
“It just adds value to the region. We feel it is a great opportunity,” said Dale Wehler, manager for the business.
People could be able to sample the spirits and whiskey in the fall, he said, and full operations are slated to begin in 2019.
The land is about 2.2 acres, and the yet-to-be constructed building would be about 6,200 to 6,500 square feet, Wehler said.
He said he figures that the building would be built in a few months, and then licensing and permitting would take a bit longer.
“We’re hoping to get everything underway as quickly as possible,” he said.
On site will be a retail store, and the products would also be sold through distributors, he said.
Grains used in the distillery process would be grown locally. Greendale Farms has more than 500 acres of land in McKean and Elk counties, and the grains would be grown there. That company is owned by the Wilds Sonshine Factory’s owner, David Conklin.
“We’ve got some work ahead for us,” Wehler said.
But things are moving along.
Earlier this week, the McKean County Planning Commission voted unanimously to give the final OK for land development with the recommendation to consolidate two lots.
The Hamilton Township supervisors raised no opposition to the land development.
Wehler said that the Wilds Sonshine Factory distillery would bring employment opportunities and retain tourism in McKean County. Natural beauty and outdoor recreation have always existed in the area, said Linda Devlin, executive director of the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau.
“What we have lacked is tourism amenities,” she said. “Having new destinations, such as the Wilds Sonshine Factory distillery, will complement what nature provided. The more attractions an area has, the more desirable our area becomes to tourists.”
She said three tourism-based businesses –– Table 105, Twisted Vine Beverage Company and Logyard Brewing –– are set to open in downtown Kane this month.
“With the growth of new restaurants, wineries, breweries and this new distillery we will be offering the visitor a wider selection of things to see and do, all of which helps us to become a major tourism destination,” Devlin said.
