breezewood pa tourist attractions

Breezewood, PA Region: The Alleghenies

The Town of Motels is where the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Lincoln Highway, and Route 70 meet - and where weary travelers have rested since General Forbes widened the original Native American trail into a wagon road. The Forbes Road became the Lincoln Highway, and when the Turnpike was completed in 1940, the stage was set. After the construction of Interstate 70, Breezewood grew into the sprawling, charmingly kitschy town it is today. Families, truckers, souvenir collectors, and photographers all appreciate the visual variety and commercial convenience of this traveler's oasis. For those suffering from neon fatigue or car-weariness, the simple beauty of Felten's Mill Covered Bridge provides respite. Built-in 1892, the 100-foot bridge is not open to vehicular traffic.

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10/25/23 - 09/29/24

New & Improved: The Age of Convenience in the Home

602 East Second Street Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015

Our latest exhibit examines what it means to strive for the American Dream following World War II through the end of the 1970s. Coordinated with the electrification of the country, advancements in mas...

01/10/24 - 09/24/24

Centennial Hiking Challenge

80 East Corydon Street Bradford, Pennsylvania 16701

Come celebrate 100 years of growth and adventure in the Allegheny National Forest by hiking 100 miles. The Centennial Hiking Challenge will take you to over 100 miles of the best and most beautiful tr...

01/11/24 - 09/24/24

ANF Centennial GeoTrail

Bradford, Pennsylvania 16701

Explore the beauty of the Allegheny National Forest while learning about its history and ecology. Search for 28 geocaches hidden across the four counties of ANF (Elk, Forest, McKean and Warren countie...

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Best Things To Do in Breezewood, Pennsylvania

Have you ever visited a new place and felt ‘wow’ about it? For many visitors, it happens at Breezewood.

Breezewood may not be as popular as other cities in United States, but don’t let that fool you. Breezewood is a smaller but beautiful upcoming tourist destination that is worth a visit. You will be surprised by some of the unique things to do and places you can explore at this hidden destination.

You can definitely plan a few hours of a side trip here while traveling to Harrisburg or Gettysburg. You might wish to revisit it someday again, to take a break and relax at Breezewood.

If you have plans to visit United States and are not sure if Breezewood should be included in your itinerary, keep reading. In this list, we have put together some of the things to do in Breezewood and around. We have a hunch that if you include this city in your travel plans, you will be thrilled you did so.

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Here is the list of things to do in Breezewood and tourist attractions in city.

Crawford's Museum

Jackson's mill covered bridge, breezewood lighthouse, abandoned pennsylvania turnpike, mountain chapel church, breezewood lighthouse assembly of god, stevens chapel, mt zion lutheran church, perkins breezwood, pennsylvania.

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Breezewood: The Neon Jumble

Breezewood , Pennsylvania, just might be the prettiest-named ugly place in the America. This unincorporated town in the south of the state is actually home to almost 1,500 people, but is most famous for its neon strip of fast food restaurants, trucks stops, gas stations, and motels tucked snugly into an asphalt armpit between Interstate 70 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike .

It has always been a place for travelers . Local Native Americans blazed the first trails   in the area; Conestoga wagons rumbled the routes on their way west. In 1940, an interchange was built connecting the then-new Pennsylvania Turnpike—a toll road—with the town’s stretch of U.S. Route 30.

Then in the mid-1960s, a stretch of Interstate 70 from the Maryland state line to Breezewood was completed. And things got weird.

Pennsylvania had the option to use federal money to build an interchange for the new highway at Breezewood, but—because of a technicality in the road funding law—declined to do so. Local merchants also lobbied against a putting in an exit for fear travelers taking any new bypass would also bypass them.

Instead the state extended I-70 to meet up with the Route   30 terminus, looping motorists on a detour down into a valley through two stoplights and past a bevy of businesses.

Today more than six million cars per year travel through Breezewood. If they had a choice (they don’t), it’s likely most would breeze right by.

This piece,   written   by Traveler ‘s editor in chief   Maggie Zackowitz,   appeared in the October   2015 issue of   National Geographic Traveler   magazine.   Follow Maggie on Twitter @Mzack0 .

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Philadelphia St

Dunker Church Rd

Edgehill Dr

Lincoln Hwy

LINCOLN HIGHWAY

Breezewood Rd

Things to Do in Breezewood, PA

1. Subplicity

"Wow - totally unexpected sub shop right off the PA turnpike! Locally owned and delic..." more

2. Frederick Airport Connection

"While visiting Frederick, Dan picked me up and took me to BWI for a Monday morning fl..." more

3. Wiltshire Motel

"Very clean, neat and cozy little joint. The proprietor is friendly and accommodating..." more

4. Breezy Willow Farm

"A great C.S.A. program for all who like good local produce and supporting a small fam..." more

5. Travelers Oasis

"This is my go to place when traveling through the annoying Breezewood. The entire con..." more

6. The 1788 Inn

"My wife and I stayed here on our way east and were very impressed with the inn and it..." more

7. Wildwood Inn Restaurant

"We we're driving by looking for a place to have dinner. The reviews were good so we d..." more

8. Holiday Inn Express Breezewood

"This hotel has the best staff I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with. The rooms a..." more

Best Restaurants in Breezewood, PA

"Wanted something better than gas station food and was genuinely impressed by the quality of my Philly Cheese Steak ." See all Subplicity reviews

Wildwood Inn Restaurant

"I had a pound of crab legs and a pound of steamed shrimp with a salad." See all Wildwood Inn Restaurant reviews

Arby's

"Everything was fresh and correctly prepared even with swapping the cheddar for Swiss on my wife's sandwich." See all Arby's reviews

Nightlife in Breezewood, PA

Brookside Inn

"Beautiful location if you sit outside, really friendly helpful staff and the Reuben and burger were simply great." See all Brookside Inn reviews

Modern Asia Bar & Restaurant

"I'm fairly new to the Frederick area and had never ordered Chinese take out." See all Modern Asia Bar & Restaurant reviews

Balance Restaurant

"The Mushroom Risotto was very good too, but could have been just a tad saltier for my liking." See all Balance Restaurant reviews

"I stopped in for lunch and was amazed how good the food was for a restaurant in downtown Martinsburg ." See all Brix 27 reviews

Avery's Maryland Grill

"The FOOD: Very fresh tasting crabs loaded with meat & shrimp as well as the hush puppies that were fresh & hot." See all Avery's Maryland Grill reviews

Ristorante Ottaviani

"Can't go wrong with any of the specials but for your first experience I would highly recommend the abruzzo chicken ." See all Ristorante Ottaviani reviews

"Exploding with taste from the finely chopped jalapeño and pineapple, the shrimp covered in old bay , and the perfect amount of cheese." See all Broad Axe reviews

Sumittra Thai Cuisine

"I had the Trio Noodles and Edamame and both were cooked perfectly." See all Sumittra Thai Cuisine reviews

Hootch and Banter

"An entree that is soooo good, that it is a reason for coming back to the restaurant when I'm in downtown Frederick ." See all Hootch and Banter reviews

Patrick's

"Patrick's is super tasty and it is a sure stop if you are visiting the Cumberland area !" See all Patrick's reviews

The Union Hotel

" Bedford County has all kinds of summer activities: golf, hiking, bike riding, shopping canoeing." See all The Union Hotel reviews

The Wine Kitchen On The Creek

"Overall, it was great customer service, the location is on the Carroll Creek so it's pretty inside and out." See all The Wine Kitchen On The Creek reviews

Oscar's Ale House

"My family and I did a day trip to Fredrick and of course we knew we had to try a good local eatery." See all Oscar's Ale House reviews

Monocacy Crossing

"Just get the coconut pound cake (as mentioned in a few other reviews.) Just get it and you can thank me later." See all Monocacy Crossing reviews

The Knickerbocker Tavern

"A great place to start your weekend or end your night, especially during the summer whenever the " Kourtyard " is open." See all The Knickerbocker Tavern reviews

"The food was delicious, we were able to sit outside felt like we had good distance and were COVID safe." See all Showroom reviews

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Breezewood, Pennsylvania: The Most American Place on Earth

The meme-able turnpike is a nexus of american culture.

By Ed Simon

J ust a bit over thirty miles above the Mason-Dixon Line, where South kisses North and the East parts with the West, there is a rare breach in the Interstate Highway System, where motorists traveling I-70—either from or onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike—are forced into an intentionally generated cosmic vortex, an interdimensional portal in the unincorporated non-place of Breezewood, Pennsylvania. This segment of U.S. Route 30 is an awkward, unnecessary, doubled-back stretch of no-man’s land regulated by traffic-lights and lined with the commercial detritus of late capitalist dystopian American neoliberalism. In recent years, a 2008 photo of the strip has been immortalized in meme form , though even more official channels recognize how dystopian the place is, with the official website of the U.S. Department of Transportation noting that  “Many a motorist… after giving thanks to a higher authority for their blessings, has asked a lower authority to ensure a very warm spot in the afterlife for the highway engineers who conceived this design.”

Despite such seeming approbation, this damned half-mile stretch of gas-stations, motels, fast food restaurants, and tchotchke shops exists on purpose. When the interchange was built, Section 113 of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 stipulated that, in order to receive federal funding, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania must stop collecting tolls. Legally, such funding could only be used if the project “will have some use irrespective of…toll road, bridge, or tunnel.” But the state wanted the revenue, so, with plucky Keystone ingenuity and gentle corruption, it decided to create this curlycue nightmare ribbon which gave drivers the illusory choice of either the Turnpike or U.S. Route 30 (the once celebrated two-lane “Lincoln Highway”). That way, the Turnpike Commission could continue to both collect tolls and enjoy the largesse of the FHA.

More: Pittsburgh’s Broken Bridge is a Warning Sign

In that American tradition of combining governmental chicanery and corporate cunning, the 0.3 mile terrae incognita between I-70 and the Turnpike entrance became a dense strip of depressing chain businesses and roadside attractions. Now that the federal law has long changed, I-70 could be seamlessly connected to the Turnpike with no alteration to tolling, but the loss of revenue where close to four million travelers pass through every year would be immense. Besides, Bedford County (where the strip is located) would have to agree to such an alteration, and, as the jurisdiction’s planning director told the New York Times in 2017, “it’s just not an issue that really appears on the radar for us.” Symbolically, this convoluted non-crossroads is the most American place on earth.

If you’re the sort of person who is terminally online—Twitter being the spiritual equivalent of being stuck on Route 30—but you’ve never visited Breezewood in real life, you’re still likely familiar with its grim skyline. A photograph of Breezewood taken by Edward Burtynsky in 2008 has become a staple meme in certain online communities. The image is a perfectly framed composition of the Breezewood vista: dominated by an Exxon station, with a line of neon receding behind it in the form of a Shell Station, a Quiznos, a Perkins, a Pizza Hut, a Subway, a Starbucks, a Sunoco, a Taco Bell, an IHOP, several motels, a warehouse advertising “Gifts and Souvenirs,” and something called the Gateway Conference Center, all of it presided over by the giant, Mammonish Golden Arches of McDonald’s and framed in the background by the gentle green slope of the ascending Alleghenies. It’s Andy Warhol filtered through Hieronymus Bosch, weirdly beautiful art that’s as commensurate with the governing faith of our moment as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel’s ceiling was with the Renaissance. As the good folks at Know Your Meme explain , the “photo and the town itself has been associated with… commentary about the supposed lack of American culture or the effects of unfettered capitalism.”

As with all things memetic, there are varying degrees of cleverness. The most obnoxious iterations are among so-called “tankies,” unironic Soviet apologists. One such example captions the picture by claiming that “you look at the capitalist architecture and it’s just this.” (I’m no market apologist, but I would have to observe that, for example, neither Art Deco nor Art Nouveau appear in the photograph.) Another writes , in a strange biblical inflection, “this is the outside you have made.” A more discerning 2018 tweet claimed that “if youve never been to the US then this is how it looks alot of the time.” (Of course,  contrary to @BombermanHero’s contention, most of America doesn’t look like this, even if the photo could have been taken anywhere, because Breezewood is obviously not Central Park nor the Redwood forest.)

But let’s not nitpick the details. Whether or not every square inch of the United States looks like Breezewood is irrelevant, for there is a fundamental truth about the interchange, which is that it’s more of a mood than a place. Breezewood exists for no other reason than to make money. Spiritually, it is a monad reflecting the absolute worst of capitalist excess, the toxic food and the soul-deadening landscape, a perdition where everything you want can be supplied, provided that what you want is available at Sheetz. It traps eighteen wheelers and tractor trailers, automobiles and SUVs in its purgatory, sometimes for hours, as they emit carbon dioxide into the rapidly heating dusk of the Anthropocene. What most online commentaries get wrong about the Breezewood picture is that they’re far too literal—what the image actually signifies is not representation of any place but a glimpse at the unfiltered American Id.

More: Why Pittsburgh Needs the Paris Agreement

I’ve served time on this lost highway: family trips to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, school field trips to the National Mall, coming back from Annapolis after visiting a high school friend. Stuck along Route 30 and looking out at the blasted flotsam that lines the road—bits of busted out black rubber tire and broken glass, churned concrete and chunks of gravel—the stunning neon monotony of the place gives me an existential vertigo. Breezewood is, of course, an incredibly ugly and horrible place, but it’s the placelessness that makes the picture so eerie, the sense that this is a simulated hyperreality. The French post-structuralist philosopher Jean Baudrillard wrote of “the desert of the real,” in which reality has been replaced by something which is somehow bigger than reality, an artifice, a simulation. He described Disney World as an example of this simulacra , but, had he ever traveled down Route 30, he’d have realized the theme park is just grandiose and obnoxious; by comparison, Breezewood makes Disney World seem like a journey to the very heart of authenticity.

For almost two years, the last restaurant I had eaten in was the Breezewood McDonald’s, pulling into the radiating little pre-fab cottage late at night in early March of 2020. A parking lot with cars that had Punisher Skull decals and “Make America Great Again” bumper stickers; inside, exhausted clientele, even more exhausted workers and the stench of French fry grease and Purell. The floor was sticky, the bathroom was dirty, the lights were glaring. Doom-scrolling through Twitter, I read about the barricaded city of Wuhan, about the president mocking “Kung Flu,” about the thousands of body-bags being purchased by the New York City Health Department. I came across articles about the emergence of the conspiratorial QAnon cult, the increase in far-right extremism throughout the United States, and the climate, always the climate.

Walking back to my car, past the scrubby hill next to the parking lot—a rare pool of blackness in this otherwise glowing town—I was momentarily blinded by headlamps. A group of state police were precariously climbing up the hill, and I could hear them yelling out the name of somebody, I assumed a child who’d wandered off and gotten lost in the ramble. Several other bored-looking officers stood by their cars, engrossed in their phones. Looking back at the windows of the restaurant, nobody inside seemed aware of this ongoing potential human tragedy occurring just yards away. Anesthetized, oblivious, unconscious. The most accurate of the Breezewood memes was the first one, which appeared on IMGUR in 2012. It simply said: “Welcome to America.” I got in my car and drove away. ■

Ed Simon  is a contributing writer at Belt Magazine, a staff writer for The Millions and author of An Alternative History of Pittsburgh .

Cover image via Know Your Meme.

Belt Magazine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To support more independent writing and journalism made by and for the Rust Belt and greater Midwest,  make a donation to Belt Magazine , or  become a member starting at just $5 a month . 

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30 Pennsylvania Roadside Oddities You Have to See to Believe

You might think that you have to travel Route 66 through the western states to see interesting roadside oddities. However, I’ve logged tens of thousands of miles on more than 300 days of traveling all over the state, and I can assure you that there are some crazy things sitting along the state’s roadways.

And, while there are dozens of other strange roadside attractions in PA that I have yet to visit, I thought I’d take a minute and share a few of the strangest that I’ve come across so far.

As I continue my travels, I’m sure I’ll pull over for many, many more great roadside oddities in Pennsylvania. So, look for a future update to this list!

For now, here are some of the strangest roadside oddities in Pennsylvania I’ve come across so far:

The Haines Shoe House in York

Without a doubt, one of the strangest and most popular roadside attractions in PA has to be the Haines Shoe House . Located along Route 30 east of York, the Shoe House has been drawing curious stares since it was completed in 1949.

The Shoe House was built as an advertisement for a local shoe company and never served as more than a temporary residence.

While the shoe house is no longer open for tours, it’s still an interesting spot to gawk out in southeastern PA.

Whistler’s Mother Statue in Ashland

Located in Ashland, PA, which is better known as the gateway to Centralia and the home of the Pioneer Coal Mine Tour , the Whistler’s Mother Statue is well worth a quick stop.

Known officially as the Mother’s Memorial, it was designed to appear like the 1871 painting “Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter’s Mother” by artist James McNeil Whistler. The statue was completed in 1938 by the Ashland Boys Association to honor the mothers of the world.

The statue is very stark and appears rather humorless and severe, which is quite different from how we typically picture mothers today. The phrase “A mother is the holiest living thing” appears on the statue. It claims to be the only statue dedicated to all mothers in the country.

It can be found on the eastern end of Ashland at the end of North Hoffman Avenue at the following coordinates: 40.783825, -76.337238.

Flying Saucer in Mars

A miniature flying saucer might seem out of place in western Pennsylvania, but when the town’s name is Mars, it almost seems logical. That’s right, in a small park in the center of Mars, Pennsylvania, is a small UFO statue.

The flying saucer stands three feet tall and is six feet around. But what it lacks in imposing height or intergalactic history, it certainly makes up for in humorous curiosity.

While visiting the town, take a few minutes to walk around and notice some of the humorous Mars stores, such as “Mars Travel” or “Mars National Bank.”

The Flying Saucer in Mars, Pennsylvania, is located at 100 Pittsburgh St., Mars, PA 16046.

The Reading Pagoda in Reading

Located high atop a hillside above Reading, Pennsylvania is a curious sight. The Reading Pagoda is a Japanese-style pagoda that was built at the beginning of the 20th century and was planned to be one part of a resort that would site on the top of Mount Penn. However, the rest of the resort never came to be.

While the Reading Pagoda can be seen from throughout the valley below, you can also drive right up to it and enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding area.

Visiting in the evening offers the chance to see this amazing spot lit up at night.

Sherman Memorial Lighthouse in Tionesta

Located in the middle of Forest County, is one of Pennsylvania’s most unusual roadside buildings: the Sherman Memorial Lighthouse .

Its location along the Allegheny River might give you the impression that it serves a purpose, but it doesn’t. In fact, the lighthouse is located roughly 60 miles from the closest navigable body of water, Lake Erie (which is home to three working lighthouses ).

The 75-foot tall lighthouse was completed in 2004 and was built by local Jack Sherman as a memorial to his family and to hold his large collection of miniature lighthouses.

The lighthouse is open to visitors several times a year, and, I’ve been told that the view from the top is fantastic.

Koontz Coffee Pot in Bedford

The Koontz Coffee Pot is the type of roadside oddity you’d expect to find along Route 66. Instead, it’s located along the historic Lincoln Highway just west of Bedford, PA.

This 18-foot tall and 22-foot wide coffee pot was built in 1927 by David Koontz. Originally, it served as a lunch spot adjacent to Koontz’s gas station. Over the years, it became a bar that was attached to a hotel, and even a bus station. Interestingly, it never served as an actual coffee shop.

After being abandoned for over a decade, the Koontz Coffee Pot was moved across the street to the Bedford County Fairgrounds and preserved.

Today, visitors can walk around this unique site and marvel at its size. Inside, visitors will find a small gift shop that is open periodically.

The Coffee Pot can be found at 108 Telegraph Rd, Bedford, PA 15522. Note that it is no longer along the main Route 30 as the road was rerouted around town years ago.

PennDOT Road Sign Sculpture Garden in Meadville

Pennsylvania is home to thousands of pieces of public art, but few are as unique as the PennDOT Road Sign Sculpture Garden in Meadville.

Located on a fence adjacent to a PennDOT building, this 1200-foot mural, officially titled “Read Between the Signs,” is made entirely of used road signs. Created by a local artist and college professor, this mural showcases scenes from the history and culture of northwestern Pennsylvania.

The PennDOT Road Sign Sculpture Garden can be found at the following address: 18492 Smock Hwy, Meadville, PA 16335.

Giant Cowboy in Kittanning

If you are driving along Route 422 just east of Kittanning, you can’t miss one of the most unusual roadside oddities in Pennsylvania: the Giant Cowboy.

Located outside of the Cadet Restaurant since 1962, this 30-foot cowboy known as Sam welcomes guests with a giant hamburger in his right hand.

Interestingly, Sam was one of many characters made from the same mold in the 1960s. The first was a Paul Bunyan statue that was placed in Flagstaff, Arizona. The statues would be commonly seen outside of car shops holding a muffler and became known as a “Muffler Man.”

The Giant Cowboy can be found outside the Cadet Restaurant at the following address: 13514 US-422, Kittanning, PA 16201.

Gravity Hills Around PA

While it might not be a traditional roadside oddity, there are few things more strange than the ability to roll uphill in your car.

While it’s an optical illusion, there are several places in Pennsylvania that will allow you to appear to do just that. And trust me, even if you know it’s an optical illusion, it’s still really, really strange.

While there may be more of them around the state, the three most popular can be found in Pittsburgh’s North Park , Bedford County , and south of Harrisburg .

Schaefer’s Auto Art in Erie

Schaefer’s Auto Art is located a few minutes south of downtown Erie and is the work of local artist Richard Schaefer. Schaefer uses old cars to create interesting sculptures that are well worth taking the time to see.

In the front yard of his house, visitors can see everything from a giant bumblebee to a rocket and a two-headed dinosaur. Visitors are welcome to park and walk amongst these strange, but quite awesome creations.

Schaefer’s Auto Art is located at 3705 Hershey Rd, Erie, PA 16506.

Statue of Hooded Man on Gallows in Mahanoy City

The Statue of a Hooded Man on the Gallows is located in the heart of Mahanoy City and pays tribute to the Molly Maguires.

The Molly Maguires were comprised of Irish immigrants that worked in the anthracite coal mines in northeastern PA. In the 1870s, there are labor issues in the mines that threatened to upend the systems that had been created.

Whether the Molly Maguires were a real secret society or more of a boogeyman, at least 20 miners were hung in Schuylkill County between 1877 and 1879 for crimes associated with the group.

This statue, which is somewhat hidden behind a stone wall (presumably because of the subject matter), is a sad reminder of this history.

The statue can be seen at 212 W Centre St, Mahanoy City, PA 17948.

Fiberglass Punxsutawney Phils in Punxsutawney

Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is known worldwide for its fantastic Groundhog Day celebration . To celebrate this heritage, the borough commissioned  32 larger-than-life Punxsutawney Phils to be painted by local artists and placed around town.

The statues range from comical to serious, but each shows off an aspect of Punxsutawney’s heritage. While in town, don’t miss Phil’s home, which is located next to the library.

The Punxsutawney Phil statues are located all around the borough. Visit their website for information on the location of all 32.

The Statue of Liberty near Harrisburg

This replica of the Statue of Liberty sits in the middle of the Susquehanna River, just north of Harrisburg, along route 322/22 (It is also visible from Route 11/15 on the western shore of the river). The fact that it doesn’t cause daily accidents along this busy highway is quite remarkable, as it seems more drivers look at it than the road while passing by.

The statue is actually the second one at that location. The first was made of plywood and Venetian blinds and was put in place in 1986 by a secretive group of local citizens. After it was washed away by a flood six years later, the second, larger, statue was put in place in 1997.

In recent years, the statue’s sash has been painted pink which makes it even easier to spot amongst the river’s rocks.

The Fountain of Youth

The Fountain of Youth might be one of the oldest roadside oddities in Pennsylvania, having been constructed in the 1930s. However, this roadside oddity in Allegheny County’s North Park is still definitely worth seeing.

It seems unclear why this spot was chosen to be called the Fountain of Youth and encased in stonework designed to look like a Roman grotto, but it’s nevertheless quite a beautiful little springhouse.

Water no longer flows here, but since it’s in a park, you can walk the short distance from the road to have a look inside if you so choose.

Giant Zippo Lighter in Bradford

Until I visited the area, I had no idea that Zippo Lighters are made in Bradford, Pennsylvania. And, even though I’ve never owned one, I took the time to visit their museum on the outskirts of town.

However, what’s atop their building is nearly as interesting as what’s inside . You see, atop the entrance to the Zippo museum and gift shop is a giant Zippo lighter.

While I couldn’t find any information about the history of the giant Zippo lighter, it’s worth seeing, as is the free museum inside. The lighter is located at 1932 Zippo Drive, Bradford, PA 16701.

Pioneer Woman and Child Statue in Frackville

Sadly, the Pioneer Woman and Child Statue seems to no longer be standing. However, I’ll leave it here for historic purposes.

Without a doubt, the Pioneer Woman and Child Statue in Frackville is one of the strangest roadside oddities in Pennsylvania.

Located just off of I-81 in Frackville, the statue consists of a 15-foot tall mom in pioneer clothing being clutched by her daughter. While the subject is certainly nice, the actual statue is somewhat disturbing.

The large mom is clutching a pie and has a rather odd look on her face. No matter how strange she is, however, it’s nothing compared to her daughter.

Standing about half as tall as the mother statue, the daughter is clutching her mother’s leg and holding a giant decapitated doll. The strangest part, however, is the daughter’s head, which would be more appropriate looking on the statue of a middle-aged man.

This is simply an odd statue that seems totally out of place in the middle of Pennsylvania’s coal country.

Big Mac Museum in North Huntingdon

One of the tastiest Pennsylvania facts that I’ve come across in my travels around PA is that the Big Mac was created in southwestern PA.

To honor this legacy, you can visit the Big Mac Museum inside a McDonald’s restaurant in North Huntingdon, PA, just east of Pittsburgh.

While this is a normal restaurant, there are several display cases set up inside that tell the story of the Big Mac and feature collectibles related to the sandwich. Of interest to this list, however, is the giant fiberglass Big Mac that is located inside the restaurant.

If you’ve always wanted to stand next to a Big Mac that’s bigger than you are, this is where you’ll want to head.

The Big Mac Museum can be found at the following address: 9061 US-30, Irwin, PA 15642.

Brooklyn Bridge Replica in Saxonburg

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the world’s most famous bridges, and it’s designer, John Roebling, came up with the concept for suspension bridges in his workshop in Saxonburg, PA.

Today, the Saxonburg Museum tells the story of the community, which includes a large section about Roebling and his life in the area. In addition to the interior displays, the museum is also home to Roebling’s workshop, as well as a large replica of the Brooklyn Bridge.

This replica was originally built for a float in a local parade and got a second life in the park adjacent to the museum.

The Brooklyn Bridge replica can be found adjacent to the Saxonburg Museum at the following address: 199 N Rebecca St, Saxonburg, PA 16056.

Fireman’s Drinking Fountain in Slatington

Located in the town of Slatington, a few miles north of Allentown, PA, is one of the coolest statues I’ve ever come across.

Had the Fireman’s Drinking Fountain been a normal statue, it wouldn’t draw much attention; however, the bright paint color makes this statue very unique. Of course, as the name implies, it also isn’t just a statue.

When it was built in 1909 it was designed to recognize the volunteer firefighters of the town. The 12-foot tall statue was placed atop a drinking fountain that provided water for the community in later years. 

The Fireman’s Drinking Fountain can be found at 560 Main Street, Slatington, PA 18080.

Giant Car Mechanic Statue

Located outside of a towing company along Route 6 near Tunkhannock you’ll find one of my favorite roadside oddities in PA.

This is actually an old A&W Restaurant Papa Burger statue that has been repurposed into a car mechanic. He stands along the road holding an oil can and a car where he once held a glass of root beer and a hamburger.

The Giant Car Mechanic Statue can be seen outside of Mile Hill Collision Service at 5231 US-6, Tunkhannock, PA 18657.

Westinghouse Atom Smasher

The Westinghouse Atom Smasher was the world’s first industrial particle accelerator and was in service from 1937 until 1958. While this is an incredibly historic piece of America’s nuclear energy history, I’d say that it also qualifies as a roadside oddity today.

That’s because, in 2015, the building that supported the atom smasher was torn down. Today, the 60-foot tall and 30-foot diameter Westinghouse Atom Smasher lies abandoned amid piles of rubble in an industrial site.

In its current state, it looks like a giant silver lightbulb sitting only a few feet from a chainlink fence.

Decker Chapel in St. Marys

Located on the outskirts of Saint Marys, Pennsylvania, Decker Chapel bills itself as the smallest church in America. Whether this is true or not, I have no idea. However, at 12 feet by 18 feet, the chapel is quite small. 

Inside, there is a small altar, but little else, which isn’t exactly surprising given the size.

Decker Chapel was built in 1856 by Michael Decker and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It is located on Million Dollar Highway at the following coordinates: 41.400856, -78.560403.

Space Acorn in Kecksburg

According to western PA folklore, on December 9, 1965, the community of Kecksburg in Westmoreland County was visited by a UFO. On that evening, a giant fireball was seen across the sky in six different states, and, according to locals, something crash-landed in the community.

The area was quickly closed off and the military searched the area. While the military’s official report stated that it was a meteor that landed in Kecksburg, many locals still have their doubts.

In a 1990 episode of the TV show Unsolved Mysteries ( which you can see here ), locals talked about finding a strange object that had landed in the woods.

They claim that it was shaped like an acorn and about the size of a VW Beetle. They also said that it had markings on the outside that resembled Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Today, the mock-up of the UFO that was used in the show is on display next to the Kecksburg fire station. It can be found at the following address: 5128 Water St, Mt Pleasant, PA 15666.

Fork in the Road in Centerport

In the 1979 film “The Muppet Movie” there is a humorous scene where Fozzy Bear and Kermit the Frog are driving in a car and come to a literal fork in the road.

If you too want to see a literal fork in the road, head to Centerport in Berks County, PA. Here, at the fork of Centerport Road and Main Street on the southern end of town, you’ll find a giant silver fork.

This 8-foot fork just randomly appeared one day in 2004 and has been a local oddity ever sense. It was built by the landowner to help bring attention to the short concrete pillar on which it sits.

While it might have had a practical purpose, it’s definitely a humorous spot to see while driving through eastern PA.

The Fork in the Road can be found at 304 Centerport Rd, Mohrsville, PA 19541.

Stinson the Dinosaur in Lehighton

Located outside an old warehouse on a backroad in Carbon County is Stinson the Dinosaur.

At 9 feet tall and 15 feet long, Stinson isn’t the biggest roadside oddity on the list. However, what he lacks in size, he makes up for in purpose. You see, Stinson was created to raise awareness and money for strokes (as well as small business awareness for some reason).

Stinson’s bright red color stands out from the grey building behind it, making it a must-see roadside oddity when in Carbon County.

Stinson the Dinosaur is located at 2525 Interchange Road, Lehighton, PA 18235.

Randyland in Pittsburgh

Located in Pittsburgh’s Mexican War Street neighborhood is Randyland , one of the most colorful and happy places in all of PA.

Created by local artist Randy Gilson, this home and the surrounding yard have been transformed by beautiful colors and locally-found trash into an incredibly whimsical world. Stop by to view this incredible spot and have a chat with Randy, who can often be found in his domain.

Randyland can be found at 1501 Arch St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

Pied Piper of Storyland in Schellsburg

From the 1950s to the 1980s, Storyland was a popular family amusement park near Schellsburg, PA. However, like many of these parks, it eventually faded into obscurity. Fortunately, though, not all of it has been lost.

In fact, as you are driving along Route 30 through Bedford County, you can’t help but notice the 18-foot Pied Piper statue that still sits at what was the park’s entrance. While it no longer signals an entrance to the park, it’s still a great oddity to check out while driving through southern Pennsylvania.

The Pied Piper of Storyland can be found at the following coordinates: 40.048972, -78.650175.

Giant Paint Can in Shippensburg

If you are driving along I-81 in southern PA, you can’t help but notice the giant paint can near Shippensburg.

The can, which is easily visible from the highway but also can be easily seen from the side road, is 35 feet tall and is said to be the largest can of paint in the world. It is located adjacent to a Benjamin Moore Paint store and is painted to look like a can of their paint.

This PA roadside oddity didn’t actually start its life as an oddity. It was originally just a water storage tank before being turned into a giant paint can.

Fun fact: If the giant paint can is 35 feet tall and has the same dimensions as a normal can of paint, it could hold over 178,000 gallons of paint!

The Giant Paint Can is located at 1000 Mt Rock Rd, Shippensburg, PA 17257, or look for it near Exit 24 on I-81.

McClintock Well #1 in Oil City

Believe it or not, northwestern Pennsylvania was the birthplace of the oil industry. It was here, near Titusville, PA, that the first purposely-dug oil well was drilled in 1859.

Just south of this original well sits McClintock Well #1. Dug in August 1861 on the Hamilton McClintock Farm, the well struck oil more than 600 feet below the surface. 

Initially, the well produced 175 barrels of oil a day. However, like all oil wells, it eventually began to dry up. By 1920, it was producing only half a barrel of oil per day.

What makes this spot unique is that it continued to produce oil since then which makes it the world’s oldest, continually-producing oil well.

Today, the well doesn’t run every day but is run regularly throughout the year. The oil produced is sold to help with the costs of preserving the site.

The McClintock Well #1 can be found at the following coordinates: 41.460031, -79.691479.

Purple Dragon near Duncannon

Located along Route 11/15 north of Harrisburg is a giant purple and green dragon. The dragon sits outside of Lumberjack’s Kitchen right along the road and is 15-20 feet tall.

From doing a little research, it seems that no one is quite sure why the dragon was placed there, though it does appear to have been constructed sometime in the early 21st century.

Regardless, it’s a neat spot to check out while traveling north of the city.

The Purple Dragon can be found at the following address: 3200 Susquehanna Trail, Duncannon, PA 17020.

Do you have a favorite roadside oddity in Pennsylvania? Let me know in the comments below!

You can also check out our favorite roadside waterfalls in Pennsylvania !

Willing to get out of the car? Experience other PA oddities such as  Fonthill Castle , Columcille Megalith Park , Daffin’s Chocolate Kingdom , and Ringing Rocks County Park .

Click the map to see more nearby things to do

More great places to visit in Pennsylvania

Visiting the Pennsylvania Fire Museum: From Franklin to Fire Trucks

Family Fun at Discovery Space in State College

Riding the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway from Jim Thorpe, PA

11 Fantastic Rail Trails in Pennsylvania that Anyone Can Enjoy

Explore the many regions of pennsylvania.

Jim Cheney is the creator of UncoveringPA.com. Based in Carlisle near Harrisburg, Jim frequently travels around Pennsylvania and has visited, written about, and photographed all 67 counties in the state. He has also traveled to more than 30 different countries around the world.

118 thoughts on “30 Pennsylvania Roadside Oddities You Have to See to Believe”

Along the same lines as the Punx Phils, Boyertown has bears all over their town as well.

How about the coffeepot in Bedford and Mr. Pickle in Dillsburg….Noah’s Ark at Kennywood Park.

I forgot about Kennywood. Thank You.

I was going to mention this also. I got a few pictures of the painted bears traveling through there.

This is a nice article. Just slightly inaccurate on the fireman statue, however—It’s where I grew up. The fountain part wasn’t added until 1979, when it was knocked down by a car. They added the water fountains during the rebuilding. Before that, it was, in fact, just a statue. There’s an identical one in the cemetery just up the hill from it.

It is of an actual person who saved a child from a burning building. As stated above, there is a replica on his gravesite.

Meadville,PA check out the cool art made out of signs!

The Kersey Cow used to be located at the Ayrshire Farms Dairy the old Kersey Road traveling from St. Mary’s, but I heard that it is now on PA655 near Reedsville: https://www.smdailypress.com/content/til-cow-comes-home

The cow is located close to Reedsville along the road on the left if you are coming from Rt. 322. I pass it on Wednesdays going to Bellville to set up for market.

There is a giant cow statue in Clarion County near Sligo just off Rte. 68 at Over Road.

There’s also a large cow sculpture and water tower outside of the “Turkey Hill Experience” in Columbia, PA. Plus if you’re willing to go inside, there’s a sculpture of a big container of ice cream you can get your picture taken in, old milk trucks, and many cool things to do like make your own flavor of ice cream, and sample their products. Tours are given daily

That’s a great spot. I have photos of both.

I find very unique in the town of Elysburg Pa along PA-54 in front of Vic’s Transmission stands Turbo Man and his Dog Roverdrive. both made of transmissions and parts

That does sound interesting. I’ll have to check it out the next time I’m in the area.

You should check out the Wynken, Blynken and Nod fountain in Wellsboro: https://www.joycetice.com/articles/wynken.htm

Interesting. Thanks for sharing, Marty. I’m hoping to be up that way sometime soon, so I’ll definitely keep this in mind.

I love that fountain. It’s incredibly beautiful.

The York Barbell weightlifter at the Weight Lifting Hall of Fame along I-83 near York is cool, too. Also the Reading Pagoda. I know, there is so many, the list could be top 100.

I’ve driven past it many times, Karen, and it is very cool. I just haven’t ever had a chance to grab a photo. There are also some cool things along I-81 between Harrisburg and the Maryland border.

I also wanted to say the “Big Cow” from Kersey, PA that has now been moved! I am from Saint Marys, PS and love Decker’s Chapel!

There’s a place at the corner of State St. and Rising Sun Rd. in MIllersburg, PA that has a tree carved for (what I’m assuming is) their favorite baseball team -the Cardinals. It’s a large baseball bat with a cardinal on top. YOu can see it on Google Maps satellite image.

Interesting. I’ll have to check that out the next time I’m in the area.

And another tree is carved to look like Stan Musial, same yard. Better hurry up. The wood on the bat is starting to rot at the base. The guy that did the carvings lives in Dalmatia and has assorted carvings at his shop.

Go to the lookout above Ohiopyle.

Is there something strange to see there? I’ve been, and it’s a great view, but I don’t remember any oddities.

I too am from St. Marys, Pa and have had the pleasure of growing up around Deckers Chapel and the Kersey Cow, along with the Ground Hog in Punxsutawney Pa. I now live in Harrisburg Pa and have seen the Coke tree and the Statue of Liberty. Have you checked out the painted cows in different places around Harrisburg and City Island? They sure are different and I think you may like them Jim.

I have see the cows in Harrisburg. Pretty cool! I live mere feet outside of Harrisburg, so I visit pretty often.

The shoe house is worth a trip.. fantastic ice cream too!!

Just drove by there yesterday… it’s pretty neat!!

I remember when the coke tree was being carved. I was the mailman there. I know why they did it. But never thought they’d do that.

Out of curiosity, why did they do it, J.D.?

Jim the man that wrote about the firemans statue in Slatington was not correct . I happen to be part of Hose co #1 that erected the statue in 1909 and the fountains were in working order for man and beast. but some were around ww2 the fountain parts were taken off and melted down for the war .When the statue was hit by a hit and run driver in 1980 myself and 6 others on the statue restoration committee began the task of putting our statue back to its original look in 1909. We used old photos and had a firm remold the fountain parts from aluminum , Many people and organizations were involved in the restoration. Thanks and have a good day.

Thanks for the great information, Jon. Good to know more of the story.

There also is a bridge In Marysville pa behind a building that is neither walk or driven on . I cannot recall where it is but it’s on 850 route . My aunt took me to see it lots of times when i used visit her unfortunately she gone to heaven a year ago today and i cannot ask

There is a brand new carving in front of a private residence in Cochranton on PA 173 heading into town from US 322. It is out of a large tree that was taken down and is carved into a long-bearded wizard (Gandalf? Dumbledore?) and at the top of his staff is a cardinal, the HS mascot. Also, Pittsburgh has many dinosaur statues around the city, including Ketchupsaurus in Heinz Plaza.

Check out the Murrysville tree sign , it’s atop a hill over the town in Murrysville,Pa. it was planted in 1933 by the boy scouts , its 850 feet long and spells out Murrysville in pine trees.

Decker’s Chapel in St. Mary’s is currently closed to the public. You can drive past and see it. But the foundation has taken a beating from the last couple rough winters and the building is tipping. It looks like they are in the process of repairs.

I’m not sure of the exact location, but somewhere towards Pittsburgh I believe its in Kittanning or close by it there is a phone booth in old phone booth with a model in it or a mannequin and the man who put it there dresses it up in different costume. story goes that his wife was always on the phone so he ended up divorcing her and put the phone booth and a mannequin out there to represent her as soon as I find out what exactly what the road is I will post it

It is on route 28 between New Bethlehem and Brookville.

it is on rt 28 north in the town of Summerville

It’s in Summerville pa near New Bethlehem on route 28.

I remember the first time I saw that manquin. was driving the ambulance, transporting a patient to Pittsburgh, at 3:00 a.m., when I saw what appeared to be a young woman in a negligee, phoning for help. I nearly radioed county control to report it!

♡ In Cook Forest PA there is a Traders Post there is a huge Yogi Bear Statue! ♡ https://www.parkersindiantradingpost.com/

More great dinosaurs are the T Rex and think Triceratops located in Berwick at the entrance to Bills Old Bike Barn

I spent a long time pondering a small lighthouse in the middle of a field outside Hershey Park. I found out that Hershey Park used to be a small community park, not an amusement park. It was so the chocolate plant workers could relax on days off. There was a large swimming pool, with an island in the !iddle, the lighthouse stood on the island. When they filled in the pool, they left the lighthouse.

Jane, in the early 1950’s the pool was open to the public, and it was large, also had a place down by the creek close to the wood roller coaster called the Sunken Garden where you could spread out your beach towel and sunbathe. The lighthouse wasn’t on the island, it was at the side of the pool. I have a couple pictures, wish I could post them for all to see.

The only one of these I’ve seen is the Statue of Liberty in the Susquehanna — thanks to having a kid who went to “We are….Penn State”. We Philly types don’t get to the rest of the state enough. We’re more oriented to the I 95 northeast corridor than the PA Turnpike.

Very true, but there are a lot of things to do in PA, but close to and rather far away from Philadelphia.

The maniquin in the phone booth is in Summerville, PA on 28 south headed toward Pittsburgh… I always look for it every time I travel through there.

Interesting. I’ll have to look for that the next time I’m in the area.

If your ever in delmont route 66 there is a Volkswagen on a pool..it’s pretty cool

I have seen that Volkswagen and think it is pretty neat. wish I would of took a picture of it.

I know the bodyman that put it up there , it was 1972. I know the story behind it !

How about the statue of George Washington wearing a British military uniform in Waterford, PA.

I don’t know that I would personally call that an oddity, but it is very cool. Glad I had a chance to check it out and photograph it a few months ago.

Not so much an oddity when you consider G.W.’s early military service with the British Army…I have not been to Waterford and know not of this statue to which you refer. But, G.W. did serve as a militia officer with the British on its excursion with Braddock in W. Pa. in the early stages of the French and Indian War.

Washington’s first visit to western PA was leading his own expedition to present-day Waterford. In fact, he didn’t hook up with Braddock until his third trip out west. While the statue might make sense, it is the only one that features Washington in a British uniform, so it certainly makes it, at the very least, unique.

There’s a giant statue of a banana split in downtown Latrobe which is the birthplace of the banana split. Also a bronze statue of Fred Rodgers sitting park bench in in the middle of town. He was born in Latrobe

That Fireman statue is not unique. Its famous and replicas appear all over the place. There’s one in front of the fire museum in York, Pa.

There may be replicas, but if anything, that makes this one all the cooler.

There is a version of the fireman’s statue dating from about 1914 in the Courthouse Square of Owego New York in fact. It was recently restored.

The coke bottle by the Dauphin library fell down fall of 2015 . Always thought that was so cool to see each time I went to the Library

Really, that’s a shame. I live a couple miles away, so I’ll have to drive by and check it out.

I really miss The Ship in South Western PA

I miss the ship motel. We always stopped and took pictures you can see I think its 3 counties from up there. Last time I went back home in western, Pa. I took rte 30 and the scenery is awesome. But having a large ship built into the side of that mountain was well worth a stop along the way. My dad said through the years it was a favorite Saturday night attraction.

I lived close to the ship hotel. Also, at the bottom of the hill going towards Bedford was a huge stone home known as the “Shot Factory” where they made bullets. Don’t know if it’s still there!

3 states and 7 counties. The ark of the Alleghenies. Arson did it in.

Funny you should mention that. I literally just stopped by it today. I’m sure it’ll make the next list like this that I make.

The quirkiest attraction I have seen in Pennsylvania is the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. But, I will to keep my eyes open for these roadside attractions as they are pretty cool, especially Punxsutawney Phil! I am surprised there isn’t a random Bill Murray statue in the town to celebrate the cult hit, “Groundhog’s Day.”

The giant white Chicken on the main street in Nescopeck, PA

How about Mr Pickle who welcomes you to Dillsburg PA on Harrisburg Street?

I have traveled far and wide in Pennsylvania

absolutely!

The statue of a Green Dragon for its namesake farmers market along Rt 322 in Ephrata, Pa.

The lion water fountain at the intersection of Routes 19 & 68 in Zelienople.

Somewhere on the Kylertown Drifting Highway, there is a big Yogi Bear statue In front of somebody’s home. Dont know why it’s there but it is.

This place is awesome! https://www.thesnowmanportersville.com

Thanks for the interesting information.

It’s not there anymore​. But there used to be a ship on a side of a mountain. If I remember right. Someone can correct me. Near Before pa. Was really cool to see. And I think there is also a tea/coffee pot. To check out in PA too. Can’t remember where

Thje Ship Hotel was west on rt. 30 outside of Bedford, Pa.. TheCoffee Pot is now on the Bedford fairgrounds property. It originally was a bar. Bedford was my home \town!

Mr. Pickle in Dillsburg, where they also drop a pickle at midnight on New Years https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/27961

Maybe someone can help me out here, I remember traveling between Oil City and Warren (probably on 62 N), and there was a building that had a gorilla on the roof. It has been many years since I’ve driven that, and I was a child then. I think the building was one story and yellow. I am fairly certain that the gorilla had nothing to do with the product or the name. I could be wrong about that. Don’t know if it’s still there or long gone. Thanks in advance for the help!

Check out the GAP Clock tower in GAP PA. It’s about a mile on PA route 41 from US 30 East. It used to stand atop the building that now houses the GAP cheese shop, which is right next door.

The giant Amishman outside Hershyfarm smorgasbord and motel in Ronks PA. It used to stand outside Zins Diner, which is now the Park Ave Diner in Denver PA.

You all just made me so homesick !!! I was born in York, in the house next to the Pfaltzgraff pottery showroom (both long gone). The house, showroom, and a gas station (on rt. 30 west of York) were all owned by the Pfaltzgraff family. My Dad ran the gas station, and Mom worked in the showroom. (The house was rented) She took a break on March 16,1942 and gave birth to me! The pottery is the longest continuous operating pottery in the US. I still enjoy and make Shoofly and Montgomery pie ! I remember well “the shoe house” but never knew the name or history of it. Thanks for the info.

How about Roadside America?

Roadside America closed and was sold. The new owners were set to open it up again then the shutdown happened and now it’s future is up in the air.

We love Roadside America. My husband is a model train buff, and thought about purchasing the property. We decifed it would require too much time for upkeep.

Check out the huge cow on top of a water tower, you can visit the Turkey Hill plant. You can see the cow east of York. Between Wrightsville an Columbia. Rte 30 east. I’ve haven’t been inside the plant in years. We visited the Turkey Hill plant watching them make ice cream then all of us got a small ice cream cone. A scope of our favorite ice cream. Soft serve wasn’t popular then.

If you like old fashion homemade ice cream you have to stop at Jimmy Mack’s ice cream. You can get your regular hot foods like cheeseburgers hotdogs fries also. In the summer he would put out statues of the Blues Brothers life size. First time I visited jM’ s I was talking to the two gentlemen sitting at the picnic table. I put on my glasses and seen they were statues. I felt so stupid good thing nobody heard me. Jimmy Mack also is a favorite for family outings. Miniature golf. Basket ball courts etc. The funniest thing my granddaughter seen was a zoo. It’s a small penned in area it has chickens bunnies one year there was a possum. My grand daughter laughed she was expecting tigers lions and bears…oh my.

Did anyone mention the grand canyon or roadside America?

Been to both…PA Grand Canyon is gorgeous and a great place for camping. We saw a huge black bear when we were there. Roadside America was ok…very dusty though. My grandson was 4 when we took him and he liked it

Stopped at Punxsutawney in August. Cute little town. Got to see Phil take a nap at the library where he lives. Love all the statues of Phil all over town!

About the light house in Tionesta pa. They just added the statue of liberty right before or after the lighthouse depending which way your going, up on a mound of dirt & rocks.

The dragon was assembled sometime around 98, I believe. It was originally built to greet visitors to the nightclub in the basement.

Thanks for the information. I couldn’t find anything about it online.

The purple dragon used to be part of a minigolf place on Eisenhower Blvd in Harrisburg. Right near the Harrisburg East exit of the Pa Turnoike. My kids played minigolf there quite often and we were all sad when it closed and the dragon was gone.

You didn’t mention my favorite place – Roadside America. Just off I-78 (old Rte. 22) in Shartlesville. One of the coolest Miniature Railroad set ups anywhere.

For this list, I didn’t really focus at all at paid destinations that you have to go inside to see. More just places that can be seen from the road for free.

Sherman Memorial Lighthouse now has a Statue of Liberty, although I haven’t seen it yet, was a post on “Forest County” web site

Thanks to the Dutch Country Riders All PA Ride iv been to most of the places on the list over the Years and then some

I remember a big statue, I believe it was Paul Bunyan, on Pittsburgh Street in Uniontown, PA.

There’s a large praying mantis statue off route 30 in Jennerstown, PA too

Have you seen the Golden Man, a large statue, located at 3606 Darlington Road, PA, near the local fire department/municipal building? The local chiropractor, Dr. Tsai, traveled to CA to purchase it and bring it back to be placed in front of his office, Blackhawk Chiropractic.

A miniature St Louis Arch stands outside the Warren County Visitor Center. Something like 75%-80% of the actual arch was built in Warren county.

I don’t know if this counts but I haven’t seen anyone mention the Joe Magarac statue that currently sits out in front of the US Steel Plant in North Braddock. If you drive by at night sometimes you can still see them making steel too. It was donated in the plant in 2009 after being part of a ride at Kennywood park across the river. Braddock also features a Free Store that’s in shipping container buildings and a abode structure on 714 Jones Ave, there’s another building near the restaurant Superior Motors that is black with small white drawings all over it. Pretty interesting town.

There is a bar with a plane in the side of the 2nd story, a race car on the roof and a motorcycle on a pole. We saw it going to Dornsife. Not sure if it’s on 901 or at the intersection of Lower and High roads. Going there again on the 19th. I’ll be able to give you better information then.

It is called the 901 and is located at 1639 Sunbury Rd Pottsville, PA 17901.

Physically drove on Gravity Hills many times. Also visited Shippenburg, Saw Fremond Drink and the paint can.

Bull in Boalsburg

Three-O-Nina (aka The Big Cow) in Wilkes-Barre.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RASQ7tG-F8

There is a huge coffee mug near there as well

Big Cow near Sligo, PA in Clarion County, PA https://www.facebook.com/The-Big-Cow-SligoPA-270487702997626/

There are two giant chickens in Upper Merion Township. One at Nor-View Farm in King of Prussia, and the original Nor-View Farm chicken is now in front of the Gateway Diner in Swedeland.

The Blue Kow in Lumberville !! It was landmark to turn at to make a delivery !! On Rt.30 near Jon Benete restaurant in SW.Pa there are lawn mowers on poles !! If you follow them it will take you to a lawnmower repair shop !!!

Historic though it may be, the Westinghouse Atom Smasher lies on its side above US route 30 in Forest Hills because no one wants to spend the money to place it somewhere. The borough has tried to get financial support but has been unable to generate more than passing interest. The borough does not control it or own it and the property owner has considered cutting it up for scrap.

Who remember the big Amish man in front of Zinns Diner in Ephrata?? It’s not there anymore, or so I’ve been told. They also had a rolly slide there❤️❤️❤️

While taking my son to a dentist in Somerset PA. There was an ark shaped building that we stopped at on rt 30 on the way back it was on the right traveling east from Somerset. It was not open but had telescope you could use for a quarter and signs saying you could see 3 or 4 states from there. I found your site hoping to find information about it. Maybe you have seen it. I did find many interesting things though. Thanks

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