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    Roadside America Closes After 85 Years

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    • Boxer_4
      Boxer_4 last edited by

      367_001_roadside_america_minuature_village.JPG

      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.

      5ddd74a6edad5.image.jpg

      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

      ttyymmnn Skyfire77 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 6
      • R
        ranwhenparked last edited by

        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.

        RiceRocketeer 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
        • frinesi2
          frinesi2 last edited by

          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.

          Boxer_4 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
          • Boxer_4
            Boxer_4 @frinesi2 last edited by Boxer_4

            @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.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • ttyymmnn
              ttyymmnn @Boxer_4 last edited by

              @boxer_4 That's sad. I have never heard of the place, but it sure looks like an awesome stop along the road.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
              • Shop-Teacher
                Shop-Teacher last edited by

                Wow, that's wild.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • Just Jeepin'
                  Just Jeepin' last edited by

                  Reminds me a bit of the places Claire recommended to Drew for his road trip in Elizabethtown. Great sequence.

                  Boxer_4 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • Skyfire77
                    Skyfire77 @Boxer_4 last edited by

                    @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.

                    Boxer_4 R 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • Boxer_4
                      Boxer_4 @Skyfire77 last edited by

                      @skyfire77 Well, I have something to watch now! I definitely will regret not revisiting this place as an adult.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • Boxer_4
                        Boxer_4 @Just Jeepin' last edited by

                        @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.

                        Just Jeepin' 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • Just Jeepin'
                          Just Jeepin' @Boxer_4 last edited by

                          @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.

                          Boxer_4 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • RiceRocketeer
                            RiceRocketeer @ranwhenparked last edited by

                            @ranwhenparked username checks out

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • Boxer_4
                              Boxer_4 @Just Jeepin' last edited by

                              @just-jeepin Maybe I’ll have to check it out at some point.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • Brickman
                                Brickman last edited by

                                Wow, that layout is as big as my house, actually much bigger as my home is 2,200 sq ft.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Dakotahound
                                  Dakotahound last edited by

                                  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.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • 2 Jeeps and a Mustang wants a Fiata
                                    2 Jeeps and a Mustang wants a Fiata last edited by

                                    Visited that place many times on my way to visit family in NY. Last time I was there was probably 10 years ago.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • R
                                      ranwhenparked @Skyfire77 last edited by

                                      @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.

                                      Skyfire77 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • Skyfire77
                                        Skyfire77 @ranwhenparked last edited by

                                        @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.

                                        R 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • R
                                          ranwhenparked @Skyfire77 last edited by

                                          @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.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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