The Pennsylvania Wilds Region is not a place you would expect to find a lake called Treasure Lake. Neither would you expect Bimini Lake or Trinidad Beach. They're all here, however, just north of DuBois in Clearfield County. Treasure Lakes is actually a private residential community, including Treasure and Bimini Lakes and over 1500 homes scattered throughout 8,000 acres. For more than 60 years, Treasure Lakes has invited newcomers to enjoy the two large lakes, two golf courses, a private campground, a 'ski lodge', horse stables, two beaches, tennis courts, restaurants, activity buildings, playgrounds and picnic areas. The largest lake is Treasure Lake: all statistics listed refer to this lake.

Treasure Lake was developed as a planned lakeside community. When lots were first sold, the 'lake' was a small farm pond. By diverting water from existing Wolf Creek into the excavated lake bed, the result was a lake surface of 379 acres up to 70 feet deep. The lake was stocked with bass and trout, and Treasure Lake was soon open for business. The former Lake Rene was renamed Treasure Lake, and another man-made lake was created called Bimini Lake.

Treasure Lake is designated the all-sports lake. Power boats and jet skis are allowed as long as they maintain the 35 mile-per-hour speed limit. Water skiing and tubing are enjoyed at Treasure Lake as are sailing, windsurfing, paddle boating, pontooning, canoeing, and kayaking.. A 200-slip marina is maintained where residents can rent slip space. The marina also rents small boats, canoes and kayaks to those who prefer to let others handle boat maintenance. Two sandy beach areas are maintained for residents on Treasure Lake, along with a bath house, volleyball court, picnic pavilions and playground areas. Nearby Bimini Lake at 277 acres is designated a no-motors over 9 horsepower lake and is a prime spot for fishing and paddle sports.

 

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Both Treasure Lake and Bimini Lake provide excellent fishing. The original bass are still there, but the trout have been replaced with fish species better suited to the water: white crappie, pike, perch, catfish and blue gills. The fishing is good enough that local area residents attempt to make the acquaintance of Treasure Lakes residents in order to come to the lake fishing as a guest. The public is invited only to special fishing tournaments and activities open to non-residents. Ice fishing is also very popular on the lakes. The only trout to be found are relegated to the small 12-acre children's fishing lake near the campground.

Living at Treasure Lake is designed to provide most amenities in a natural, 'country club' setting. Restrictive covenants assure all homes meet specified standards. Thirty-six holes of PGA-rated golf, a driving range, swimming pools, miniature golf, tennis courts, nature and hiking trails, and a sledding and tubing hill assure there is never a lack of outdoor activities. Wildlife is plentiful - to the extent that residents are warned to secure garbage from bears. Two restaurant-lodges provide activity rooms for special interest groups and offer special entertainment venues with well-known national acts appearing. The community offers a fitness area, salon and arcade. Children's activities are planned regularly, including summer camps. No place in the Treasure Lake community is more than ten miles from the town of DuBois for needed services, medical care or schools.

Only 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, Treasure Lake is the ideal spot for a weekend getaway. Because so many wish to come for a vacation but cannot live here year-round due to employment requirements, two resort complexes have been built to offer condos and time-shares to part-time residents. This allows the occasional visitor to become familiar with Treasure Lake's unique recreational opportunities.

The Treasure Lakes community abuts Pennsylvania State Game Lands #77 on the west. This 3038-acre tract is available for hunting, primarily deer, turkeys, grouse and squirrels. A rifle range is also available here. Fifteen miles to the east, S.B. Elliott State Park in the heart of the Moshannon State Forest is a great starting point to discover the Pennsylvania Wilds by snowmobile. More than 70 miles of trails will take you through winter paradise. In warmer weather the park offers many miles of hiking trails. To the north is the Allegheny National Forest, a 500,000-acre recreation paradise. To the west, Cook Forest State Park is known for its old growth white pines and hemlocks. There are four Rails to Trails in Clearfield County, perfect for cross-country skiing. And if you visit in early February, you can make the 30-mile trip to Gobbler's Knob to see if Punxsutawney Phil actually sees his shadow!

Civilization isn't far from Treasure Lake either: The Reitz Theater in downtown DuBois hosts a variety of performances featuring local talent and conducts a children's workshop and production each summer. DuBois offers shopping, night spots and car shows, flea markets and arts and crafts festivals each summer, and winter festivals during the coldest months. Always there is excellent scenery, with the forested Allegheny Mountains an ever-present sight. In autumn, the fall foliage is spectacular.

Finding a vacation rental at Treasure Lake isn't difficult. Besides the townhouses and condos, there are private rentals available by the weekend or the week. Hotels, motels and inns are available near DuBois, with quaint bed-and-breakfasts located in particularly scenic spots in the countryside. And real estate is available for those either wishing to purchase an existing house or to build their own dream home; building lots still exist. So, pack up the fishing rods and leave the city behind. Come spend a weekend or a week at Treasure Lake. You'll quickly decide you want to return again and again. Why go to the Caribbean when you can enjoy Treasure Lake and Bimini Lake?