LOCK HAVEN EXPRESS FILE PHOTO Marking the new ownership of McConnell’s Country Store in Waterville in March of 2018 were, from left, Brenda Holdren of the Lock Haven University Small Business Development Center, and store co-owners Vanessa Brown and Jason McConnell.

Waterville is a sleepy rural village not exactly teeming with activity, a stopping point for anglers, hunters, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts, many of them heading deeper northward into the Pine Creek Valley.

But that doesn’t keep Jason McConnell and Vanessa Brown from being plenty busy.

The couple own and operate the Waterville Hotel and McConnell’s Country Store, which sit next to each other in the heart of the community along Route 44.

“We bought the store five years ago,” Brown said. “Jason’s dad owned it. I had been working there since I was fourteen.”

McConnell’s might be described as the very nerve center of Waterville, a busy enterprise where locals and others can pick up anything ranging from hunting and outdoors supplies to food, even gasoline at the pumps outside the store.

The delicatessen at the front of the store keeps the staff busy making sandwiches and filling orders.

Anglers have longed stopped off at McConnell’s to stock up on supplies, particularly the fly-fishing materials located in the store’s outdoors shop.

Pine Creek and Little Pine Creek, both noted fine trout streams, are literally a stone’s throw away.

The Pine Creek Rail Trail running just behind the store draws cyclists as well as walkers.

Brown felt their initial business decision to purchase the store has worked out just fine.

“I’m really glad we did it,” said Brown, a Lock Haven University graduate and like McConnell a longtime Waterville resident. “Jason’s dad (Glenn) was ready to sell.”

With outdoors activities as the draw, the seasons of spring, summer, and fall are the busiest times for the store.

The COVID pandemic, Brown noted, seemed to lure more people to the outdoors and to their business.

“We got a lot of tourists that first year,” McConnell added.

Both feel the location of the store about 12 miles from Jersey Shore makes it a prime site.

“The location is perfect,” McConnell said.

They don’t do a lot advertising to get the word out about either the store or the hotel.

“We don’t have to,” Brown said.

Neither McConnell nor Brown were experienced entrepreneurs, but it helped that the two were familiar with the store and the hotel.

Having in place experienced staff at both businesses has been a big plus, they said.

The hotel, which can trace its origins to 1825, includes a full inside bar and dining as well as lodging upstairs.

“The outdoor bar is a big thing when the weather is good,” Brown said.

Diners can select from a menu that includes sandwiches, burgers, steaks, seafood, appetizers, soup and salad, as well as weekly specials.

“We bought it (hotel) in July,” Brown said. “We are just now finding our balance.”

The two have worked out a plan to operate both enterprises.

“I am over at the store more,” Brown said. “He’s here (at the hotel) more.”

The biggest challenge in running two businesses, she said, is simply finding the time to do everything that needs to be done.

“It keeps us moving,” she said.

On any given day, their duties include everything from serving customers, dealing with vendors, checking the inventory, and directing employees.

Brad Wyland is a business partner with the hotel.

Brown noted their many friends in the area, including owners of restaurants up and down Route 44 who are helpful.

She gives much credit to her employees at both businesses with working hard and together to make it all a success.

The couple have learned a lot in the few years they’ve been entrepreneurs and hope to enjoy many more in business.

“It’s something we are glad we did,” Brown said.