COOKSBURG, Pa. (EYT) – EYT Media Group, Inc., has purchased Cook Forest Online (CFO) — operator of CookForest.com — a tourism website that has offered business directory listings, park updates, event calendars, nature photography, and other related content since 2002.
The father and son team of Vince DiStefano of Leeper and Vince DiStefano Jr. of Lancaster (pictured below) originated the Cook Forest website and developed it over the years as a one-stop source for information about the forest. In addition to the website, CFO also has a Facebook page with nearly 8,000 followers.
The decision to sell was prompted by Vince Senior’s desire to retire and Vince Junior’s expanding workload as IT Director at Godfrey Advertising in Lancaster. The sale to EYT was a natural fit with Explore’s growth as a free local news source for four counties and a long-time personal relationship between two families.
“It is funny because Jake’s (EYT President Jake Bauer) grandparents and my son’s grandparents were best of friends,” said Vince Sr. “They all hung out together back in the day. They’re from Leeper and we were from Vowinckel and now we’re all involved in Cook Forest.”
The DiStefano family has been business-minded for several generations–Vince Junior’s grandparents Angie and Tony DiStefano established the Vowinckel Hotel decades ago, and built it into something of a local legend.
Vince Sr. is owner of Stone Crest Properties in Cook Forest as well as several rental properties near the Holiday Valley resort in Ellicotville, NY, manages CFO’s sponsorship programs and works with business owners in Cook Forest to help promote their lodges, campgrounds, restaurants, amusements, and other travel destinations.
The younger DiStefano developed and maintained the website, including social media presence, server operations, web programming, content, graphics, and photography.
“It was my son’s idea, and he dragged me into it kicking and screaming because I didn’t know what it was and he did,” said Vince Sr. about the start of CFO. “We did it for my business, which was Stone Crest Cabins. When I saw how well it worked for me, we started hooking all of the other businesses up to it. One of the things we’re kind of proud of is we sponsor some events in Cook Forest, Cook Forest Half Marathon, including cash contributions and free advertising to the MS bike ride, the French and Indian War, Cook Forest River Ride and a kiddies fishing program.”
The partners never imagined CFO would be as successful as it was.
“We never imagined it would be as successful as it’s been,” said Vince Sr. “It started out being a few pages about Cook Forest, mainly as a way for my son to learn website design and for me to advertise my cabin rentals and restaurant. We put a link up to a friend’s site, and then another, and before we knew it this business model just kind of came together for us.”
“We connect up with the Cook Forest State Park and advertise all of their events. We advertise all of the Sawmill Arts Center events. We have a calendar that all of the businesses can put on all of their events and dates.”
Jody Fesco, Gateway Lodge Guest Services, told exploreClarion.com, “Vince DiStefano Jr.’s dedication to creating a successful online presence of Cook Forest’s attractions and recreation was invaluable. The website’s business referral system, online calendar functionality, and overall organization gives vacation seekers a clear way to plan out their stay. These are big shoes to fill and we are happy to hear that exploreClarion is up for the task. We look forward to seeing the ways that they’ll enhance this online asset.”
At any given time, according to Vince Sr., 50 to 60 area businesses advertise with Cook Forest Online.
“Some are seasonal such as canoe rentals, but advertising programs on CFO consists of rotating ad banners, business directory listings, calendar entries, and lead generation sharing,” said Vince Sr. “When people send us questions about lodging or activities, we forward them on to all our sponsors. CFO has a very low sponsor turnover. Each year our traffic increases, which means more exposure for advertisers. We work hard to rank high in Google and that’s why our advertisers stay with us.”
One promise has guided the father and son through their CFO business.
“One of the first promises we ever made was that we were going to be very specific to Cook Forest,” said Vince St. “We only took on advertisers from Cook Forest and didn’t go outside of our area. We stuck to that over the years.”
Jake Bauer, who owns and operates EYT Media Group, Inc. with his mother Joanne Bauer, said plans call for continuing the same level of support that has been so successful for the DiStefanos since 2002.
“This move really was a no-brainer,” said EYT Media Group, Inc. President Jake Bauer. “Cook Forest Online has been the go-to source for information in the Cook Forest area.”
“We’re extremely excited to have the opportunity to build on the success of the product Vince Sr. and Vince Jr. have built and maintained for the past fifteen years.”
Karen Hazlett, Executive Director of the Cook Forest Sawmill Center for the Arts, says she’s excited to see where Cook Forest Online will go from here.
“exploreClarion.com and exploreJefferson.com have become invaluable resources for promoting our business. I have no doubt Jake, Joanne, and their staff will do wonders with the CookForest.com website, too,” said Hazlett. “The DiStefanos have established the site and done a tremendous job keeping it up-to-date with all the happenings in the Forest. Partnering their work with Jake’s work is a winning formula.”
Future plans for Cook Forest Online include a website redesign and cross-marketing between CookForest.com and the Explore sites, according to Bauer.
“This is a great opportunity to increase exposure of the Cook Forest area,” said Bauer. “The Explore sites reach thousands of people throughout Pennsylvania and surrounding states on a daily basis. We want to leverage our online traffic to attract more people to Cook Forest.”
“With the reach of the Explore network backed by the foundation already put in place by the Distefanos, we anticipate an increase in visitors the Cook Forest area.”
“Our number one goal is to help promote Cook Forest and its businesses.”
For more information on Cook Forest Online, visit CookForest.com and Facebook.com/CookForestOnline.
ABOUT EYT MEDIA Group, Inc.
EYT Media Group, Inc., established in 2010, is a fast-growing media company based in Shippenville, Pa. The company operates a network of hyperlocal news and information websites in western Pennsylvania, including www.exploreClarion.com; www.exploreJeffersonPA.com; www.exploreVenango.com; CookForest.com; D9Sports.com; and 814Classifieds.com.
The network of sites attracts approximately 2.5 million users per month. The company also runs the Explore Radio Network, an online radio station that broadcasts various local shows and sports programming.
