HGTV names Latrobe among 50 'Most Charming Small Towns in America'

Latrobe was deemed one of the “20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2018,” according to Smithsonian Magazine, and it hasn’t lost its appeal, according to HGTV.

The cable network recently named Latrobe among “50 of the Most Charming Small Towns in America.”

HGTV cited Latrobe’s features associated with one of its native sons, beloved children’s television host Fred Rogers, and the town’s claim to fame as the birthplace of the banana split.

Rogers and the ice cream treat are celebrated with summer festivals and statues in Latrobe, while Rogers-related merchandise is available at the Latrobe Art Center at Ligonier and Main streets in the city. Exhibits focusing on Rogers’ life and work can be found at the Latrobe Area Historical Society headquarters on Weldon Street and at the Fred Rogers Center on the campus of Saint Vincent College nearby in Unity.

“I believe that all of us do carry a little piece of Fred (Rogers) in our hearts, and that’s what makes Latrobe unique,” city council member Dawn Vavick said.

The fact that the college welcomes the Pittsburgh Steelers football team for summer training camp also was a factor in the community’s ranking with HGTV. During the camp, Steelers fever spills over into the city, with a Steelers Fest and a Friday Night Lights practice at Memorial Stadium.

HGTV references the earlier Smithsonian listing, which also mentioned local golfing great Arnold Palmer and another Saint Vincent feature: the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, inspired by and named for his wife.

“Congratulations to us for the designation,” Latrobe Mayor Eric Bartels said. He said it’s a result of those “working hard to maintain that kind of family-friendly environment.”

The magazine additionally recognized the Lincoln Highway Experience museum. Featuring a restored diner, it gives visitors an historical perspective on the nation’s first coast-to-coast automobile route — which in Pennsylvania followed much of today’s modern Route 30, where the museum is located.

In the HGTV listing, Latrobe shares honors with a highlighted small town in each state.

Communities that earned mention in neighboring states:

• Cumberland, Md. — Features include the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad and access to the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath bike trails.

• Lambertville, N.J. — Along the Delaware River, it’s known as the state’s “antiques capital.” It is home to federal townhouses, Victorian dwellings and a restored 19th-century train depot.

• Skaneateles, N.Y. —Its attractions include lake boat tours, lakeside concerts, waterfalls and farm-to-table restaurants.

• Marietta, Ohio — One of the first settlements in the Northwest Territory, it has an historic downtown featuring art galleries and museums. The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival is held in September.

• Thomas, W.Va. — Overlooking the North Fork of the Blackwater River, it offers antiquing and more than 50 homes and sites listed on the National Historic Register.