The History of the Keystone Elk Country Alliance

To Conserve and Enhance Pennsylvania's Elk Country for Future Generations

The Keystone Elk Country Alliance (KECA) was founded with a simple but ambitious mission: to conserve and enhance Pennsylvania’s Elk Country for future generations. As Pennsylvania’s elk herd continued to grow and attract visitors from across the nation, conservation leaders recognized the need for an organization dedicated to protecting the region’s natural resources while educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation.

At the center of this vision was Rawland Cogan, a lifelong conservation advocate and one of the driving forces behind the creation of KECA. Cogan believed Pennsylvania’s elk herd was one of the Commonwealth’s greatest natural treasures and saw an opportunity to create a destination that would not only showcase the elk but also inspire visitors to become stewards of the land and wildlife that make Elk Country so special.

In the early 2000s, discussions began about creating a world-class visitor center in the heart of Pennsylvania’s elk range. What started as an ambitious idea quickly grew into a grassroots conservation movement. Community leaders, conservation organizations, volunteers, businesses, private donors, and state agencies joined together to make the vision a reality. Through countless meetings, fundraising efforts, partnerships, and volunteer hours, support for the project continued to build.

The Keystone Elk Country Alliance (KECA) was founded with a simple but ambitious mission: to conserve and enhance Pennsylvania’s Elk Country for future generations. As Pennsylvania’s elk herd continued to grow and attract visitors from across the nation, conservation leaders recognized the need for an organization dedicated to protecting the region’s natural resources while educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation.
At the center of this vision was Rawland Cogan, a lifelong conservation advocate and one of the driving forces behind the creation of KECA. Cogan believed Pennsylvania’s elk herd was one of the Commonwealth’s greatest natural treasures and saw an opportunity to create a destination that would not only showcase the elk but also inspire visitors to become stewards of the land and wildlife that make Elk Country so special.

In the early 2000s, discussions began about creating a world-class visitor center in the heart of Pennsylvania’s elk range. What started as an ambitious idea quickly grew into a grassroots conservation movement. Community leaders, conservation organizations, volunteers, businesses, private donors, and state agencies joined together to make the vision a reality. Through countless meetings, fundraising efforts, partnerships, and volunteer hours, support for the project continued to build.

KECA Evolved

The project ultimately became one of the most successful public-private conservation partnerships in Pennsylvania history. KECA worked alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), local communities, corporate partners, and thousands of supporters who shared a common goal: creating a permanent home for conservation education in Elk Country.

The result was the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette. When the facility officially opened in September 2010, it immediately became a destination unlike any other in Pennsylvania. Visitors from across the United States and around the world came to learn about elk, conservation, wildlife management, and the unique landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The center quickly established itself as one of the Commonwealth’s premier wildlife tourism destinations.

As the organization grew, so did its conservation mission. KECA evolved beyond operating the Visitor Center to become a leading conservation organization focused on three primary pillars:

Conservation Education
Habitat Enhancement
Permanent Land Protection

Conservation Education

Conservation Education remains KECA’s highest priority. Through school programs, field trips, educational outreach, internships, teacher workshops, and public programming, KECA reaches thousands of students and adults each year with messages about wildlife conservation, habitat stewardship, and Pennsylvania’s natural heritage.

Habitat enhancement projects have also become a cornerstone of KECA’s work. Partnering with agencies, landowners, and conservation organizations, KECA helps improve habitat conditions for elk and countless other wildlife species throughout the Pennsylvania Wilds. These efforts support healthy ecosystems while ensuring future generations can continue to enjoy Pennsylvania’s wildlife resources.

Land protection initiatives further strengthen KECA’s mission by preserving critical wildlife habitat and maintaining the scenic landscapes that define Elk Country. Through conservation easements, land acquisitions, and stewardship projects, KECA works to safeguard these special places for the future.

Today, the Keystone Elk Country Alliance is recognized as a national model for wildlife conservation, education, and sustainable nature tourism. What began as one man’s vision and a community’s determination has grown into an organization supported by thousands of members, volunteers, donors, and partners.

The story of KECA is ultimately a story about people—people who believed Pennsylvania’s elk herd was worth protecting, who invested their time and resources into a shared vision, and who continue to support conservation efforts every day. Thanks to their commitment, Pennsylvania’s Elk Country remains a place where wildlife thrives, visitors connect with nature, and future generations can experience the wonder of wild elk roaming the forests of the Pennsylvania Wilds.

As KECA looks to the future, its mission remains unchanged:

To Conserve and Enhance Pennsylvania’s Elk Country for Future Generations.

Elk Hunting

Conservation Education

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