Central Park Hotel

06/06/2026

Well folks, we lost power during the storms and the eta is 1AM for restoration so unfortunately we will be closed this evening. Join us for BRUNCH tomorrow at 11AM followed by music with Rick & Chopper from Whiskey and Woods at 3PM!

Sincerely hoping this actually posts (poor/no cell service and wifi out)! Sorry for the inconvenience - hope to see ya again soon! ✌️

06/06/2026

🍔 HAPPY LITTLE ACCIDENTS 🍔
(But also… beer never broke my heart 💔)

Our food order got mixed up.

Our food supplier zigged when they should’ve zagged. We ordered burgers and got sliders. Naturally, we covered them in popper dip and bacon jam and called it innovation🤣🍔🍻

Instead of complaining, we got creative.

Today’s lunch special:

Centrals Bitchin’ Sliders! Two sliders topped with:
🔥 Cherry Bacon Jam + Swiss
🔥 Leanda’s Homemade Jalapeño Popper Dip + Cheddar

Think of it as the Three Bi***es Grilled Cheese taking a detour and ending up between a couple buns.

Not everything that goes wrong has to stay wrong. Sometimes it ends up covered in bacon jam. We are pairing it with a frosty mug of raspberry lemon shandy (on tap NOW) and calling it a win.

💪 Mussels are still available this weekend until we’re out.

🥞 Brunch tomorrow. Leanda says the shandy is the perfect breakfast beer. I agree 🙃.

🎶 Rick & Chopper from Whiskey & Woods tomorrow afternoon.

🏔 Mountain views included.

🍺 Beer sold separately.

Come spend a little time in the mountains and see what all the dumpster drama is about.

See ya at Central. ❤️

06/05/2026

💪 MUSSELS WEEKEND 💪

Some people spend hours working on their muscles…
We spent one perfecting our mussels. 😏

This weekend’s special is a bowl full of happiness, topped with a rich white wine lemon sauce, bacon, and Parmesan, and served two ways:

🍋 As an appetizer for sharing (or not sharing… we don’t judge)

🍝 Over pasta as a full dinner that’s worth loosening your belt for. In fact, I saw Dave grab his belly when he walked out the door and let out a big sigh, so you know it’s Dave approved!

The photos speak for themselves. Fresh mussels, crispy bacon, bright lemon, garlic, herbs, and enough sauce to make you grateful for the toasted bread.

The weather’s looking fine, the patio is waiting, and Fish Fry Friday is calling your name.

Come flex those mussels with us this weekend at Central Park. 💪🐚



P.S. If you order the pasta version, we highly recommend resisting the urge to lick the plate. We said resisting… not succeeding. 😘🍋🍝

06/04/2026

🚨 FINAL DUMPSTER UPDATE 🚨

Well friends...

The saga is complete.

After four sides, several questionable artistic decisions, one celebrity dumpster, and entirely too much encouragement from the internet, Side #4 is officially finished.

Introducing:

🛑 DON’T BE TRASHY 🛑

(Advice for both bears and humans.)

This morning WNEP stopped by to film the dumpster and interview me about the artwork. Somewhere along the way this thing has gained more local attention than any dumpster reasonably should.

Yesterday alone, FIVE people stopped while I was painting to check on the progress. Joe stopped by this morning while WNEP was here. At this point, this dumpster is becoming a local legend, like the late Gimpy, may his soul rest in peace.

The best part?

The local bear community has remained suspiciously quiet this whole week.

No break-ins.
No dumpster diving.
No criminal activity from the Central Trash Panda.

I don’t know if the bear-proofing is working or if they’re simply waiting for the news coverage before making their next move.

Speaking of which...

📺 Tune into WNEP tonight at 6PM and watch me discover whether I sounded clever or completely unhinged on television. Probably both…

🍤 And don’t forget — it’s SEAFOOD NIGHT!

I’ll be filling in for MG behind the bar tonight, so come grab some clams, shrimp, seafood specials, cold drinks, and help us refill the most famous dumpster in Columbia County.

Because let’s be honest...

The bears aren’t gone.

They’re just waiting for Thursday leftovers.

🐻🗑️

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

🐻🚨 CENTRAL TRASH PANDA UPDATE #3 🚨🐻

The wanted poster is officially up.

Charges currently include:
• Trespassing
• Stealing leftovers
• No respect for neighbors
• Leaving a mess

The good news?

It’s been two full nights of radio silence at the dumpster.

No break-ins.
No midnight snack raids.
No strongly worded complaints from local wildlife.

At this point we’re cautiously optimistic that our highly scientific bear-proofing techniques may actually be working.

Or…

He’s plotting.

We’ll keep you posted.

📍 Just a reminder:
We are closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays each week.

We’ll be back at it Thursday evening for Seafood Night, serving up all the good stuff (preferably to humans and not bears).

Until then, enjoy the timelapse, enjoy the sunshine, and remember:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best Trash In Town
(According to local bears.)

06/01/2026

🐻🎨 DUMPSTER UPDATE #2 🎨🐻

Well friends, the situation has escalated.

What started as a bear getting into the dumpster has somehow evolved into me spending half the day laying underneath it painting wildlife-themed reviews.

The newest addition to the collection:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

BEST TRASH IN TOWN

(According to Local Bears)

Featuring:
• Bear-approved reviews
• North Mountain scenery
• Questionable life choices
• A level of commitment that probably should have been directed elsewhere

I’m still adding details, but it’s coming together better than I ever imagined.

The bear hasn’t officially responded yet, though we feel the message is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

🍗 Wing Night starts NOW!

Stop out for dinner, grab a drink, and check out what may be the only hand-painted bear-themed dumpster art gallery in Columbia County.

As always:

✨ We chose creativity over conflict. ✨

And…
🏝️ Life’s a Beach 🏝️

PS - big shout out to Shaffers Disposal for putting up with us and our trash ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

🐻🍻🎨 g up

06/01/2026

🐻✨ BEAR & DUMPSTER UPDATE ✨🐻

Well folks, after a recent late-night black bear dining excursion resulted in some unwanted yard décor for our neighbors, we’ve been working on:

✅ Cleaning up the burn pit area
✅ Bear-proofing the dumpster
✅ Adding a little artistic flair to the neighborhood 🤪

As a goodwill gesture, a fresh patch of grass seed (complete with custom trash bag bow, naturally) has been delivered next door. Because if you’re going to buy grass seed, you might as well make it festive.

Yes, we’re aware of the bear situation.
And we’ve chosen ✨creativity✨ over ✨conflict✨.

Rather than continuing this long-running struggle between man and beast, we decided to improve communication and install some official signage.

🏕️ XX BEARS KEEP OUT XX 🏕️

We can’t guarantee the bear can read, but we’re remaining cautiously optimistic.

Some locals may remember Gimpy, who several years ago demonstrated that “bear-proof” was more of a suggestion than a rule when he peeled the lid back on this very dumpster (bearproof and all) and still helped himself to the trash buffet inside.

So while we continue working on improvements, we’ve decided to attack the problem from multiple angles:

Bear-proofing.

Beautification.

And now... public awareness.

We hope to add some custom bear inspired art to the other three sides of the dumpster promptly, just to ensure the bear receives the message loud and clear.

The warnings have been posted.

The artwork has begun.

The grass seed has been delivered.

The next move belongs to the bear.

Stay tuned for future Bear & Dumpster Updates.

🐻💖✨

P.S. The bear chose trash.

We chose ✨art✨

OH, I almost forgot to mention - it’s wing night tonight. Come on out and see us (and who knows, maybe a new piece of dumpster art for your viewing pleasure).

05/31/2026

🚽☀️ THE TOILET HAS RISEN. ☀️🚽

Our toilet has had a rough few months, heck maybe a rough life. 🤪

She’s been rattling. She’s been wobbling. She’s been making us question her commitment to the team.

Then, during last night’s celebration, she finally decided she’d had enough and completely took a dump.

Literally.

Thankfully, MammaG rolled in like a NASCAR pit crew this AM (after I completely forgot I was supposed to pick one up this AM) with a replacement seat, and after a tense few moments, our porcelain princess was back in action just in time for Sunday brunch. To add to the chaos, the dumpster diving bear was also back in action again last night, making a mess ‘round the neighborhood and making neighbors quite unhappy. I’m sure will be thrilled to see me this afternoon to re-bear-proof the dumpster amongst other things.

📸 Swipe to see:
1️⃣ A brunch plate courtesy of Leanda, loaded with all the good stuff.
2️⃣ The patient before surgery.
3️⃣ The patient during her dramatic episode.

We’d like to report that everyone survived thus far, although I’m not sure how the bear/neighbor scenario will pan out for me. The toilet though? She’s fixed and ready for the day!

We’ll be serving our Sunday Brunch Buffet all summer long, and we’re working on lining up some live music Sundays throughout summer. Stay tuned for more!

Until then, don’t let your day go to 💩 even if things get 💩 on. Keep on keepin on I think is what they say…

Final PSA: Come enjoy the sunshine, mountain views, good food, cold drinks, and the kind of historic charm that only a 150+ year old hotel can provide.

Life’s a Beach, friends. 🏖️

📍 Central Park Hotel
Gateway to the Gamelands
Benton, PA

P.S. If anyone asks, I am currently accepting thoughts, prayers, and that this toilet seat endures very light usage. You know what the sign says in the ladies room… ‘Be careful with our 1800s plumbing… it’s kinda sh*tty.’

05/29/2026

☀️ Sunshine? Check.
🏖️ Patio? Check.
🍹 Good vibes? Always.

Come hang with us tonight and enjoy this gorgeous weather before we take a brief pause tomorrow.

Please note that we will be CLOSED Saturday, May 30, for a private celebration of life honoring one of our dear friends and neighbors, Linda Stephens. She carried a light that shined on us all and it seems so fitting that the sun is going to be shining down on us this weekend as we remember and honor her time with us.

Life can be heavy sometimes. Today, we’re choosing sunshine, good company, and a reminder that even on the hard days…

✨ Life’s a Beach. ✨

Come see us tonight and soak up a little happiness.

See ya later, lovelies. ❤️
Xx