Roadside America Closes After 85 Years
-
I posted this to the LaLD Drivetribe, but I figured I'd share it here, too:
Roadside America started out as a small display Laurence Gieringer's home in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, first viewed by the public in 1935. A published story by a local newspaper brought attention to this miniature village, resulting in the expansion of the display. The display would move several times, ultimately finding a home in 1953 in an old dance hall next to I-78. This iteration would cover 7,450 square feet, contain over 300 minature structures, and be home to 18 "O" gauge trains. Gieringer would pass away in 1963, and the display has remained unchanged since.
The display would capture the imagination of travelers for many years, especially during the height of the American Road Trip boom. Unfortunately, time has not been kind to this establishment. The Roadside America display has been for sale for over three years, and while several interested parties came forward, none were committed to move forward with the purchase to keep the business operating. Roadside America announced their decision to permanently close on November 21st, 2020. In the coming weeks, the display will be dismantled, and pieces will be auctioned.
I remember visiting Roadside America with my grandparents a few times when I was a small child. This is perhaps a part of what started my appreciation and curiosity in miniature villages, and certainly a facet in the larger facination of diecast cars. I am sad to see this place close.
Source: WFMZ
-
That's really a shame. I remember my Mom taking us there in around 1989 or 1990. Our Caprice Classic Brougham died in the parking lot as we were leaving, had to be towed and my Dad had to leave work and drive out from Bucks County to pick us up.
-
Oh wow, my wife and I visited this place on our honeymoon in Lancaster. It was absolutely amazing, the animatronics and endless detail. Such a shame to hear about it's closing, the kiddo would have loved to see it.
-
@frinesi2 The Merchant Square Mall in Allentown has a similar display, and much further out there is one in Flemington, NJ called Northlandz, but Roadside America had a certain charm about it that is hard to replicate.
-
@boxer_4 That's sad. I have never heard of the place, but it sure looks like an awesome stop along the road.
-
Wow, that's wild.
-
Reminds me a bit of the places Claire recommended to Drew for his road trip in Elizabethtown. Great sequence.
-
@boxer_4 Damn, that's a bummer. It's been on my to do list since I first saw it on "Pennsylvania Road Show", one of Rick Sebak's specials for WQED.
Shame no one was interested in buying it, but there's no way they could keep it going now. -
@skyfire77 Well, I have something to watch now! I definitely will regret not revisiting this place as an adult.
-
@just-jeepin I had to look up that movie; it wasn’t one I was familiar with. Amusingly, there is an Elizabethtown about 100 miles from there, and close to where I live now. I was slightly disappointed to read the movie takes place in KY, but I imagine there must be many Elizabethtowns across the country.
-
@boxer_4 It got poor reviews but apparently many of the early ones were a different edit than aired. It’s not my favorite but it has some great music and good acting.
-
@ranwhenparked username checks out
-
@just-jeepin Maybe I’ll have to check it out at some point.
-
Wow, that layout is as big as my house, actually much bigger as my home is 2,200 sq ft.
-
I lived just north of Reading during my school years and remember visiting Roadside America many times with my grandparents. It was really a great place for kids who liked trains.
-
Visited that place many times on my way to visit family in NY. Last time I was there was probably 10 years ago.
-
@skyfire77 wait, when I was a kid, in our 4th grade Pennsylvanian History class, I remember the teacher showing us a video from some local news station about a road trip down the Lincoln Highway. It was dated, even then, but showed some cool sights, and I've kind of always wanted to duplicate that trip and try to find some of the same places.
Could that have been part of this series? I've never been able to find it anywhere.
-
@ranwhenparked A Ride Along The Lincoln Highway. It's also by Rick Sebak, who did a TON of shows about Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania for our local PBS affiliate before doing some national ones too.
-
@skyfire77 that might just be it, I remembered it being more focused on just the Pennsylvania portion of the route, but that seems to be the most likely candidate yet.
