Long before screen time dictated summer schedules, the nighttime soundtrack along Route 30 in Unity Township was unmistakable. It was a rhythmic collision of acoustics: the sharp crack of an aluminum baseball bat, the soft, determined tap of a putter against carpet, and the ambient hum of chirping crickets layered over a trickling creek. For teenagers and families navigating central Westmoreland County in the 1980s and 1990s, Charlie’s Ballgame was more than a roadside amusement; it was a wooded, peaceful sanctuary where weekends unfolded.
Opened originally in 1956 as the Tee-Putt-In by prominent entrepreneur James Wiley Hartman III—known by his middle name—the enterprise later evolved. In the 1980s, Hartman and his brother Tom relocated the layout to its present-day footprint, anchoring it alongside the Oakley Park plaza and the Sorry Charlie restaurant, with the access road fittingly named Hartman Road. By then, the destination had expanded to feature two full 18-hole miniature golf courses, seven batting cage slots, and a bustling operational cadence. Jocelyn Petrosky, Hartman’s daughter, spent her youth working the grounds from noon to 5:30 p.m., running birthday parties while the venue stayed packed.
That era hit a sudden halt following Hartman’s death from congestive heart failure in March 2004 at age 71. Lacking the specialized mechanical knowledge required to maintain the intricate layout, the family made the difficult decision to shutter the business. For nearly 25 years, Charlie’s Ballgame sat vacant. Nature quietly reclaimed the property, wrapping the fairways in thick brambles, weeds, and fallen tree limbs until the site vanished behind brush and trees, fading from public view.
Except to those who refused to let the memories lapse.
In 2021, Tom and Lisa Bihon—both locals who grew up playing and practicing swings at the complex—visited their daughter’s nail salon in the Oakley Park plaza. A casual stroll behind the office complex brought them face-to-face with their childhood hangout. Armed with construction experience, Tom inspected the grounds and realized that beneath 17 years of weathering and overgrowth, the concrete base structures of all 36 mini golf holes remained remarkably sound. What began as a nostalgic conversation eventually materialized into action. This past winter, the New Alexandria couple signed a lease with property owner Patrick DiCesare, bringing in Country Farms Garden Center and Landscape Service to initiate a heavy-duty cleanup.
Revitalizing a multi-decade casualty of the elements, however, requires more than fond memories. The transformation into the newly christened Charlie’s Hideout Putt and Hit demands exhaustive manual labor. As Tom Bihon outlined, the recovery process involves comprehensive property landscaping, scrubbing rock beds, power-washing concrete infrastructures, and laying fresh putting green carpet. While the concrete framework survived intact, amenities like batting cage nets, ball-return systems, and turf require a total overhaul. The original ticket booth remains standing, complete with its faded poster of a boy in a red jersey marked with a white 'C' leaning on a bat, though its roof now wears a crown of moss.
To maintain the authentic character of the 1980s and 90s, the Bihons are carefully balancing modern updates with retro charm. Discussions for the revamped layout include welcoming local food trucks, coordinating pizza delivery services, and introducing custom ice cream sandwiches named after their grandchildren—Maverick, Nash, Lenox, and a fourth on the way. The couple has also invited local artists to collaborate on creative obstacle themes, joking about potential nods to Bigfoot alongside a broader Westmoreland County aesthetic.
For Petrosky, watching the property transition from an overgrown, abandoned lot back into a functioning venue from her real estate office in the former restaurant building carries profound personal resonance. She notes the deep wave of nostalgia rippling through the community, evidenced by thousands of views and comments on social media announcements managed by the family.
While an official opening date remains fluid as construction and turf installation press forward, the trajectory points toward a springtime debut next April. The concrete fairways that once echoed with competitive cheers are inching closer to reclaiming their place in Westmoreland County recreation.
Sources
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- cbsnews.com original
- Quincey Catullo original
- archive.triblive.com original
- Quincey Catullo TribLive original
