The latest Oil Region Guide, the premier tourism publication produced by the Oil Region Alliance (ORA), hits literature racks, visitor centers, and the Internet this week.
The 56-page magazine highlights the Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA)’s events, history, outdoor recreation offerings, arts and culture, hospitality amenities, competitions, parks, and more through articles and advertisements.
“The Guide is an incredible resource for introducing people to the area, whether they’re potential visitors, tourists already here, people considering relocating, or longtime residents,” said Emily Altomare, ORA Communications and Tourism Manager.
“It’s a low-tech way to get our story out to any- and everyone, but it’s also a great complement to our ExperienceTheOilRegion.com and OilRegion.org websites, the online interactive map, social media, and enewsletter,” Altomare said.
The Guide is also available to download or flip through virtually online at OilRegion.org/tourism/visitor-guide/.
Thanks to the technical support of Bull Moose Marketing, the digital version allows readers to link directly with events and advertiser websites or social media pages with just a click.
The ORA is Venango County’s designated tourism destination marketing organization. Since the ORNHA includes all of Venango County and Titusville, Oil Creek Township, and Hydetown Borough in Crawford County, the Guide covers the same geographic footprint. The community of Foxburg, which is adjacent to the southern border of the ORNHA, is also included.
Development of the guide incorporates a lot of input from community members and volunteers, especially those who serve on the ORA’s Tourism Advisory Promotion Council.
“I am so appreciative of the collaboration between our staff and committee members as well as the participation of our advertisers,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “That’s what makes this publication so valuable.”
This year’s guide features a cover photo by Joshua Ellis of competitors in the Roughneck Gravel Roubaix crossing Miller Farm Bridge. The back cover has a photo by Chris Sobina of his brother Tony Sobina fly fishing in Oil Creek, on one of his more than 1,600 consecutive days of fishing, most of which took place in the Oil Region.
Another new addition to this year’s issue is an updated map by Sophia Klaves, which is cleaner and easier for readers to use to orient themselves to different aspects of the region compared to the previous version, according to Altomare.
The 85,000 hard copies of the Guide were printed by Seneca Printing Express in Franklin.
The Guide is distributed locally at visitor centers and points of interest as well as in response to direct requests and leads generated through advertising. It is also available at stops on the Pennsylvania turnpike, several rest stops, Welcome Centers, and select AAA offices across the state in addition to three spots on I-95 in Delaware and Maryland thanks to an ORA contract with Getaways on Display.
Anyone interested in displaying or participating in future editions of the Oil Region Guide can contact Altomare at ealtomare@oilregion.org.
“We’re very proud to have this new marketing piece that so thoroughly highlights all our area has to offer,” Phillips said.
Click here to view the guide online!
This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s April 2025 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.