Toad Road and the 7 Gates of Hell in York, Pennsylvania

On the outskirts of York, lies a road with a mysterious past. While traveling on an unpaved section of the road, you'll notice a trail blocked by a rusty old gate.

Welcome to the first gate to hell.

There are six more behind this one. It is said that if you pass through the seven gates you'll end up in hell; or you'll end up in what was once the "Toad Road" Asylum. Legend states that back in the 1800's there was an asylum located in the woods for the criminally insane. One night a fire broke out and mayhem ensued. It's said that the spirits of those patients still haunt the area.

For more information on visiting Toad Road and other Outta the Way places in the area, be sure to check out Volume 2 of the Outta the Way Zine.

Volume 2 is available now by emailing us, and will soon be available at BUiLDiNG CHARACTER (at the B.B. Bellezza stand) and on Etsy (in the B.B. Bellezza store.)

Go Fly a Kite!

Looking for a way to enjoy the warm weather?

The Samuel Lewis Park in Wrightsville, PA (York County) is a great place to visit!
The Samuel Lewis Park sits on 85 acres atop 885 foot high Mount Pisgah and surrounded by trees. It seems fitting that this park is named for a former Secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Forest and Water.

The once former Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania donated 35 acres to the state in 1954.


The Samuel Lewis Park offers a spectacular panoramic view of the Susquehanna River and the nearby river towns of Columbia and Wrightsville. Go hiking or pack a picnic - the park accomidates both.

Due to its mountain location, it makes a prime location to take the kids kite flying OR for a romantic evening for two stargazing.

Next time you are looking for something to do on a sunny day, you can head to Samuel Lewis Park and go fly a kite!

Bottle Trees

While making our excursions into the world, Outta the Way has come across some odd things. We have have noticed bottles on tree branches quite a few times. First we just took it as some odd folk art, but the more we saw the more we knew there was a deeper meaning.

Turns out the tradition of bottle trees is over 3,000 years old. It started with Arabian folklore. They believed bottles could catch spirits (hence, the genie in a bottle). They believed the shiny colors of the bottles would entice the spirits and trap them inside. In the morning, the evil spirits would die when the sun shined in on the bottle, exterminating the evil within.

Blue bottles are often the preferred color. The blue represents water and sky. The bottle is meant to protect from everything in heaven and earth.

This tradition of bottle tress was carried on through parts of central Africa, where it was eventually brought to North America and Europe by African slaves.

Today they seem to be more prevalent in the Appalachian Mountain areas of the United States, which may be the reason so many mistake it as simple folk art, when in reality there is a much deeper and otherworldly meaning to this centuries old tradition.

For more bottle tree photos, check out this group on Flickr.

BUiLDiNG CHARACTER - Lancaster, PA

{All photos from BUiLDiNG CHARACTER's website.}

Looking for a doorknob for your 1860's Victorian home, a Boy's Bathroom sign for your door, the door itself, an original piece of art, or maybe just a spot to check out local independent films and musicians? Welcome to BUiLDiNG CHARACTER, an architectural salvage store and art market.

Home to a slew of local artists, ranging from jewelry, photography, high school art, to egg decorating, as well as a little bit of everything else in between. anks to BUiLDiNG CHARACTER, these artists are able to display their works without the high overhead, which helps consumers afford a one-of-a-kind piece of art they may not normally been able to.

Also within BUiLDiNG CHARACTER is an architectural salvage store. For anyone who owns an older home and wants to keep an original look, or just wants a unique look, this is the place for you. There are things you won't find anywhere else.

From the BUiLDiNG CHARACTER website: "BUiLDiNG CHARACTER is a 6,000-square-foot collection of architectural artifacts, antiques, historical building materials, functional memorabilia, local art, artisan studios and one of the city's most unique and alternative assembly spaces for music and workshops."

BUiLDiNG CHARACTER is located within the former Lancaster Storage Company, and some of the booths at the art market take advantage of the old storage garages.

If you hear a strange creak, or experience something moving for no reason, don't be alarmed. That's just Chester. Yes, BUiLDiNG CHARACTER is also haunted!

With Marty and Tony's (owners) positive involvement in the community and their willfulness to help independent artists, BUiLDiNG CHARACTER gets the Outta of the Way approval!

BUiLDiNG CHARACTER is located at 342 N. Queen Street, Rear, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It's open daily at 11 am.

There are all kinds of events that take place at BUiLDiNG CHARACTER. If you can't make it in person, be sure to checkout their website, or pick up a few items in the BUiLDiNG CHARACTER eBay store.

Foil Horse and Buggy

Foil horse and buggie
Originally uploaded by B.B. Bellezza

If you were on Prince Street in Lancaster, PA Friday night or Saturday, you probably saw this. Well, how could you miss it?

Outta the Way stopped for a photo and tried to get the story from bystanders, but the only response we could get was, "No one is supposed to know" who did it.

According to the newspaper, it is in front of our Mayor's home and Mayor Gray thinks it is the work of guerrilla artists and the mayor's office of special events. They expected it to be removed Saturday night.

We don't know who did it for sure, but it certainly was a sight to see, and very weird. There were even foil horse droppings!

Weird Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Outta the Way!

Volume 1: Central Lancaster County

Is now available!

Get it in person at the B.B. Bellezza booth (it's pink!) at BUiLDiNG CHARACTER

342 N. Queen Street, Rear

Lancaster, PA

Or online!

Or contact us to get a copy.