These 10 Bizarre Roadside Attractions In Pennsylvania Will Make You Do A Double Take
By Beth Price-Williams|Published June 18, 2016
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Expect the unexpected. That’s a pretty good way to describe the Pennsylvania landscape. Not so sure about that? Just check out these 10 bizarre roadside attractions in Pennsylvania that will make you do a double take:
Adding a splash of unique beauty and personality to the Pennsylvania landscape, the Haines Shoe House beckons visitors with its outdoor beauty and wins them over with the delicious ice cream treats served inside. Tours of the Haines Shoe House, which is open seasonally, are available.
Pay tribute to McDonald's famous burger at the Big Mac Museum in North Huntington. Get your photo taken next to one of the world's largest Big Macs and other memorabilia before sitting down to savor your own Big Mac. The museum also features a kids play area.
Just as you come to the entrance of the Bedford Fairgrounds, a strange sight will begin to come into full view. A giant coffee pot, simply known as The Coffee Pot, has been a Bedford landmark since 1927. The pot, which underwent extensive renovations to restore it in the early part of the 21st century, provides the perfect backdrop for unforgettable photographs.
Not exactly the easiest roadside attraction to find in Pennsylvania, the 13 miles of the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike off Lincoln Highway in Breezewood is certainly worth checking out. Not used since the late 1960s, the old turnpike and tunnel offer stunning scenery and photographic opportunities.
A burst of color and vibrant personality jumps out as visitors pass through the Mexican War Streets area of the North Side. Randyland, an artistic renovation of what were once run down homes created by local artist Randy Smith, has become a Pittsburgh landmark. Visitors are welcome to visit the free museum. Click here for museum hours and more information.
It's a bird...it's a plane...it's a space acorn? That's right. The Space Acorn in Kecksburg, a replica of a UFO spotted there in the mid-1960s, definitely fits the bill of a bizarre roadside attraction. Some witnesses even claim they saw an alien with three fingers and resembling a lizard that night long ago. Be sure to visit the Kecksburg's annual UFO Festival when checking out the Space Acorn. Click here to learn more about the Space Acorn from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Explore the spectacular arts and community center in Philadelphia that is within artist Isaiah Zagar's famous public artwork. The Magic Gardens, which occupies a half a block of South Street, has been a lifelong project of Zagar's and welcomes visitors Wednesday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Click here to plan your visit.
Standing proudly in the middle of the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg is the Statue of Liberty, which is well, a miniature version of the real thing. The now famous and endeared 25 foot tall Pennsylvania landmark started out as a prank. The original replica mysteriously appeared in 1986 and had to be replaced in 1992 after it was destroyed. The creator of the mini Statue of Liberty finally revealed himself in 2011: Gene Stlip, a Pennsylvania lawyer, had the replica made and installed it himself, way back in 1986.
Look toward the top of Mount Penn at night and you'll be able to see the right lights coming from Reading's most famous, and oddly out of place, landmark: The Pagoda. The seven story tall Pagoda, with 87 stairs, was built in the early 20th century and, since then, has become a beacon of light and hope. On Christmas Eve, for example, its red lights flicker, telling the town's children that Santa is heading to Reading. Unlike every other pagoda in the world, the Reading Pagoda features both a fireplace and a chimney.
10. Trolley Graveyard, Windber
Discover just where old trolleys go to die. The Trolley Graveyard in Windber is home to trolleys that once carried passengers in Philly, Pittsburgh, Boston, New York, and New Jersey. Check out the video above for a quick tour of the Trolley Graveyard.
Have you been to any of these 10 bizarre roadside attractions in Pennsylvania that will make you do a double take? Which do you think is the most bizarre?
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