Places to go

Mohonk Mountain House and Mohonk Preserve – Throughout my travels in the US and Europe I have yet to come across a more breathtaking landscape and building/castle than here at Mohonk. When my children were young, we would often take a day trip to Mohonk and climb the challenging crevice, otherwise known as the lemon squeeze. Back then they didn't have ladders as they do now but this climb is still a must activity if you go to Mohonk. As I travel throughout and share my love for Mohonk, more and more families are enjoying one of my most cherished places on earth. I have heard from those who have made the pilgrimage telling me that they were most delighted and rewarded by the experience. In fact, two families who flew from California to experience Mohonk, even though met with a rain filled week, found Mohonk to be the nicest place on earth!

I have been walking through Mohonk for thirty years and have yet to see all of this six thousand acre paradise. If you do go, make sure you follow the signs for the Rock Scramble to the Lemon Squeeze. Follow the red arrows and don't get off the path (unless you're like me!). If your budget doesn't allow you to stay overnight at Mohonk, I would recommend staying below at the Minnewaska Lodge. This is a new lodge with only 26 rooms, built in a beautiful arts and crafts style. If you stay there, you can even walk up the road and take the nature walk to Mohonk along the Shawangunk ridge and beautiful trails. It is about a two hour walk but it is worth doing. For some reason I always take the wrong path when I getting close to the mountain. Make sure you take the path to Skytop! If you're budget is even too lean to stay for their once-in-a-life-time lunch, then you can park at the Mohonk entrance and walk up the trails and experience this magnificent property. If there was a place that was close to what the Garden of Eden was like, it is Mohonk!
And there is more. If you follow the road up the hill past Minnewaska Lodge, past the hairpin turn, for about two to three miles, you can park at Lake Minnewaska park. There is a beautiful lake , and waterfall (below),

and miles of trails with breathtaking beauty. Don't let anyone know I told you this, but if you walk back down the highway after you've parked, you will see a trail to your right that has a gate. Walk along that trail and stream and it will take you to the bottom of the waterfall—just a spectacular sight! And—if you walk across the highway to the left, you will also find several hidden cliffs and waterfalls that are just breathtaking…don't go in the winter time or you might find some people lacking some apparel doing their polar bear swim!

Oh I forgot to mention: if you don't purchase one of the meals at Mohonk, you would not be considered a house guest and therefore not allowed in the Mountain House. It is worth experience their food and the House and especially tea and cookies at 4 O'clock. If you stay for after dinner (ladies must wear a dress and men a jacket), there is usually some soothing musical entertainment to end the evening. If you go, drop me an email and I will let you know where there is a view that is just breathtaking and few have found. By the way, they say that you can see five states from the tower. When you get to the tower, you will want to either sing, pray, or just silently be in awe.
Mark Hamby

Sight & Sound Theatres has been described in many ways: "the largest faith-based live theatre in America", "the Christian Broadway", "one of the top three theatre destinations on the East Coast"...and the list goes on. Each year, about 800,000 people come from around the country and around the world to experience a production at one of Sight & Sound's two theatres in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Sight & Sound Theatres, which exists to visualize and dramatize the Bible, began as an organization nearly thirty years ago, but its roots go even deeper. Founder Glenn Eshelman, a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, began to develop his gifting as an artist as a young child on his family's farm. His landscape painting led to his initial career in photography, taking Glenn and his wife, Shirley, across the country.

As they received requests to share Glenn's scenic photographs, Glenn and Shirley searched for a unique means of presenting them. They produced their first multimedia slide show utilizing a single slide projector and a screen, along with a turntable and microphone to provide sound. Thus, Sight & Sound Ministries had its earliest roots in Eshelman Studio, many years before the first theatre opened. By 1975, the Eshelmans had produced four multimedia shows and had traveled to churches, schools, and civic organizations across the U.S. showcasing these inspirational productions.

During the summer of 1975, they rented the Lancaster Bible College auditorium for ten weeks, presenting their newest production, The Wonder of It All, to approximately 30,000 people. The overwhelming success of those ten weeks provided enough seed money to purchase three acres of land located along Route 896 in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. In July 1976, the Sight & Sound Auditorium (now the Living Waters Theatre) opened its doors for the debut performance of Land of Our Own. Live actors were eventually added to the productions, and Behold the Lamb debuted as the first full-length live stage production at the original Sight & Sound Auditorium in 1987.

As the productions grew in scale and the public desire to attend outpaced ticket availability, it became apparent that a larger theatre was needed. In March 1991, the Sight & Sound Entertainment Centre opened within a mile of the original theatre, which was renamed Living Waters Theatre. Under its new name, Living Waters Theatre featured a multimedia experience combining artistic lighting, special visual and audio effects, and innovative fountains of water that can perhaps best be described as "liquid fireworks", all in the context of narration.

A new chapter began in 1997 after a devastating fire destroyed the Entertainment Centre. The theatre itself, along with the majority of equipment and sets and half of the shop and storage buildings were destroyed, but there were no injuries. With the encouragement of many, the all-new Millennium Theatre opened in September 1, 1998, with an even greater capacity to bring timeless Bible stories to life. Featuring more than 2,000 seats, a 300-foot stage that wraps around three sides of the audience, and the latest in sound, lighting, and technical capabilities, the new facility opened the door to expanded and improved productions. Concurrently in 1997, the Living Waters Theatre was also renovated to bring live stage productions back to Sight & Sound's original venue.

Sixteen inspiring productions have come to the Sight & Sound stages over the years such as Colors of Praise, The Splendor of Easter, Joys of Christmas, The Eternal Flame, The Miracle of Christmas, Noah the Musical, Abraham & Sarah a Journey of Love, and Daniel and the Lions' Den.

Behold the Lamb returned in the spring of 2004 with new scenes and new staging. Noah the Musical returned for one season only in the summer and fall months of the same year. Ruth debuted at the Millennium Theatre in May 2005, and Psalms of David premiered in the Living Waters Theatre in June 2005. Fulfilling a long-term vision of Glenn's, In the Beginning opened at Sight & Sound Theatres on March 30, 2007. This epic show recounts the creation of the world and the early generations of man featuring an elaborate recreation of the Garden of Eden. Also premiering in 2007 in the Living Waters Theatre, Voices of Christmas, provides an exhilarating journey through the many treasured traditions of Christmas, with all of your favorite Christmas carols, toe-tapping dances, live instruments, and thought-provoking stories.

In May 2008, Branson, Missouri welcomed the inaugural "voyage" of one of Sight & Sound's all-time favorite productions, Noah - the Musical! Our brand new, state-of-the-art, 2000-seat theatre opened its doors to the public and has quickly become a favored destination of Branson audiences. Noah - the Musical returned to the Branson
stage in 2009 for a seven-month season, followed by the exciting premiere of our heartwarming family tradition Miracle of Christmas.

2010 promises to be an outstanding season, as the Millennium Theatre will host the premiere of our all-new original production, Joseph. This colorful and captivating story of integrity and forgiveness will inspire young and old alike to dream big for the glory of God. Then, the holiday season brings Miracle of Christmas to the Millennium stage. At the Living Waters Theatre, the music-packed Psalms of David plays once more, followed by a farewell run of Voices of Christmas.

The 2010 schedule in Branson brings Noah - the Musical and Miracle of Christmas, as our epic productions continue to stir audiences in two locations.

Sight & Sound Theatres is committed to bringing the Word of God to life with exceptional quality, honoring God, and encouraging the faith of their guests.