Rhoneymeade: Where People, Art, Nature, and Agriculture Connect

Nestled between Nittany and Tussey Mountain lies a hidden gem of Central Pennsylvania, where nature, art, history, agriculture, and conservation coincide. Rhoneymeade Farm, a valuable historic and open space resource, was ClearWater Conservancy’s first conservation easement. This historic farm, first settled in the late 1700s by Michael Rhone and now home to Rhoneymeade Arboretum & Sculpture Garden, continues to be a space where creativity blooms.

In 1986, retired professor Dr. Richard Morgan took a bold step by donating the very first conservation easement to ClearWater Conservancy. His goal was clear: to protect Rhoneymeade’s fields, woodlands, and pastures from subdivision and commercial development, ensuring its agricultural use for generations to come. With nearly 133 acres permanently protected, Rhoneymeade remains a working farm

rooted in tradition.

At its heart stands a brick farmhouse completed in 1853 by Leonard Rhone, founder of the Grange Fair. The farmhouse itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the land around it has been transformed into a sanctuary of trees, trails, and thought-provoking sculptures. 

Managed by Rhoneymeade Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to the site’s mission, this space is seasonally open to the public during daylight hours. Visitors can wander through each element of the farm, designed to foster connection with the land and oneself.

Each June, Rhoneymeade comes alive with Rhoneymeade Fest, a four-day celebration of music, art, nature, and community including two days at Downtown State College and two days at Rhoneymeade. With over 40 performances, Rhoneymeade Fest brings together a diverse range of artists, from local roots to international acts.

Rhoneymeade Fest is organized by Gorinto Productions with support from State College Borough, the Downtown State College Improvement District, the Knight Fund at Centre Foundation and local businesses and individuals.

ClearWater partnered with Rhoneymeade Fest to bring land art, nature-based artmaking, and its programs together with the festival goers. ClearWater’s own executive director, Elizabeth Crisfield, communications director, Katie Molinengo, and streamside projects coordinator, Jill Barskey painted together in the style of plein air at the event. Bringing together art and nature just as Rhoneymeade has done was a special treat for the second year in a row. 

Although Dr. Morgan passed away in 2015, his vision remains ongoing. Rhoneymeade is a rare intersection of protected open space, historic preservation, community art, and agriculture. Thanks to the lasting protection of its conservation easement, and the dedication of the Rhoneymeade Inc. nonprofit, Rhoneymeade will continue to inspire future generations.