Union Hotel Port Deposit, Maryland

The Union hotel in Port Deposit, Maryland has been accommodating weary road travelers since 1790. The hemlock logs that interlock the building were a welcoming sight for those who had been traveling and needed a hiatus. The seclusion of the place would surely offer a peaceful night of rest. With towering trees and a view of the river, morning sunrises were sure to delight those who were ready to tackle the open road again.

Surprisingly through all these years not much has changed. The brothel which operated here closed shop shortly after the construction crews building the Conowingo dam left town. The current owner tore down all the siding that covered the beautiful wood for nearly a century. They also cleaned up the mess the vandals left during its abandonment time in the 1970's. One thing they haven't been able to get rid of though is the history surrounding this place.

Accompanying historic hotels are often tales of supernatural spirits haunting the lodge. I often attribute so many haunting's in hotels due to the nature of things that occur in these places. Promiscuous sex, rampant drug use, murders, and suicides often occur behind the closed doors. Usually behind a veil of anonymity and confidentiality. These unlawful transgressions undoubtedly left a few leaving this world earlier than expected. These lost souls are prime contenders to haunt us in their afterlife. The Union hotel has no shortage of these spirits still searching for the truth.

Employees at the restaurant have encountered numerous strange happenings throughout the years. A dormant clock on a shelf has been known to chime, even though it contains no clockworks to even operate. Wait staff have witnessed a cedar box slide on its own accord along the mantle it's been placed. Doors often unlock and open with no one nearby. Footsteps are heard throughout the building even when only one or two employees is present. Employees have passed on disturbing tales of viewing creepy child-like spirits lurking around the property, as well as a presence of dead infants.

The Union hotel is known for many things. Their food is quite often raved about. And their menu contains a plethora of unique choices you may not find anywhere else nearby. It's location along the Susquehanna river, while being tucked into the woods makes it a prime choice for a relaxing dinner. This may be the place you wanna visit if you're in the mood for great food and spirits. And there's plenty of those to go around.

"The Little Church" Chester County, Pennsylvania

At the turn of the 20th century millions of European immigrants were making there way to America for a better life for themselves and their families. Francisco Cannella, a native of Palermo, Italy had similar aspirations for himself and his family. Though didn't have quite enough resources to accomplish this. Not letting finances get in the way of his dream, Francisco headed off to America alone. He made a vow to God that if he would provide him enough to reunite with his wife he would attend church every day. Upon arriving in America, Francisco began working at a stone quarry and quickly raised enough funds to have his family moved to the United States.

He also vowed to keep his oath to God. Unfortunately this turned out to be more difficult than he had anticipated. The closest church to the Cannella family was located 9 miles away in Downingtown. The trek to the local sanctuary during the harsh Pennsylvania winters made this task quite difficult at times. Being knowledgeable in masonry and working in a quarry, Mr. Cannella did the next best thing. He built a tiny church on the corner of his property. Large enough for one to two people as well as a modest altar. For the next 24 years, until his death Francisco would attend his own church when unable to travel to Downingtown.

The church today is still owned by the Cannella family and is located near the Marsh Creek state park in Chester county. It's quite easy to drive by without even realizing you passed a church. It's windowless and looks like it could just be a storage facility or barn. There is a sign out front of the "Little Church" commemorating it's builder, a man who stood for what he believed in and wasn't afraid to follow his dreams no matter what they were.

Jersey Devil

The Jersey Devil is perhaps one of the most famous cryptid creatures in the United States. Tales of his existence have been passed along for centuries by numerous New Jersey residents. Early Native American tribes in the area often referred to the Pine Barren woods as "the place of the dragon." Within this isolated stretch of woods is where most of the sightings of the devil have occurred.

According to legends, the Jersey Devil is thought to be the 13th child of Mother Leeds. Upon finding out of her 13th pregnancy she stated "may it be a devil." While bearing forth the child, she invoked the devil during painful labor pains. The child was born normal but within minutes of birth sprouted a horse-like head, a forked tail, wings and hooves. Immediately the creature struck, killing the mid-wife who had helped bring him to the light, than escaping into the barren woods.

The Jersey Devil has certainly left a lasting impression on the garden state. Famed Naval heroes have spotted the creature, and even fired cannon blasts at him. Brothers of World leaders have witnessed the strange creature while hunting. The mysterious monster has spurred many stories and is often blamed for many tragedies and accidents. It's been documented that when the Jersey Devil seems to appear to a large amount of witnesses within a few days, that world tragedies often occur shortly after. Lately the Jersey Devil seems to be traveling a little farther out of his area. While he has been spotted throughout the entire state of New Jersey, his presence has been appearing throughout the entire Mid-Atlantic region.

Broad Top Snake

If you find yourself walking the woods of the Broad Top mountain be careful where you step or more precisely where you sit. A legend passed from the 1800's tells the tale of a lumberjack who sat on a log one day to enjoy his lunch. His face turned a pale white when he realized his crude bench began to move. Since then tales have surfaced and sightings have occurred of an exorbitant serpent roaming the lands.

Numerous locals in the Huntingdon county area pass along tales of an 18-20 foot long snake with yellow markings around its neck and eyes. Travelers through the rural area have reported running over small logs only to spot them slither across the road. During the 1950's several strip miners in the area also recognized an abnormally sized serpent roaming the mountaintop.

Broad Top mountain isn't the only place in Pennsylvania where large snakes have been spotted. Several years ago in York county a gentleman found a massive snakeskin in the woods. Others in the county have reported spotting a snake as large as 14' long and over 18" inches in diameter. This is certainly not an indigenous creature leading many to believe these sightings should be attributed to careless pet owners. But many years before owning exotic snakes was a common practice, many Gettysburg citizens claimed to have spotted an immeasurable snake slithering throughout the nearby thickets. This vermin evoked so much fear in the residents that he was named "the devil." The vast monster was thought to make his home in a nearby boulder field which was affectionately known as "Devil's Den."
Those who study snakes often attribute these sightings to large black snakes. Though new evidence has surfaced showing that a species known as the pine snake has been spotted throughout several isolated pockets of the Appalachian states. The snake has been known to grow quite lengthy, but doesn't measure much more than a few inches in width. If you find yourself hiking or camping near the Appalachian mountain range and see a colossal creature slithering by, don't say you weren't warned!

Thunderbirds of Pennsylvania

Native Americans often paid tribute to large predatory raptors. Most totem poles feature a likeness to a thunderbird perched high on top. The natives often held these mammoth birds in high regard. They believed these feathered creatures held supernatural powers, including the power to cause hazardous storms. It was believed that their flapping wings created thunder, while their dark ominous eyes were capable of causing lightning strikes. The natives passed these tales onto the early settlers, as well as stories of the monstrous birds swooping down to attack deer and even small children. They described the birds as having talons as large as human hands, glassy black beaded eyes, and heads larger than a yard long. But are they real?

It's quite easy to dismiss these tales as simple early American folklore passed down from generation. What's not so easy to dismiss is the inordinate amount of eyewitness accounts in the past two decades. Alarmingly a majority of these reports come from the black forest region of northern Pennsylvania. Several witnesses have reported immense birds roaming the area, ranging in size from 14 to 22 feet in length. Often they resemble small aircraft, yet have the appearance of a large bat. More shockingly is there are a host of witnesses in every county of Pennsylvania who can attest to spotting one of the gargantuan creatures. I do know one thing for certain, on future Outta the Way trips were gonna be keeping our eyes on the sky as well as the road.

The Tommyknockers

October 1824, deep in the coal mines of Western Pennsylvania, two miners are working alone in a small shaft.
"Where's my hammer?" exclaims Henry.
"I don't know!" replies John.
Henry fires immediately back "c'mon I got lots of work to do yet!"
"Seriously, I haven't seen it" John snaps back at his co-worker.
"Well it didn't just get off and walk away!" Henry shouted back.

Suddenly a obvious knocking sound was heard coming from the other end of the shaft.
Knock, knock, knock!
As the knocking became louder and closer, dirt began to crumble onto the top of the miner's heads. The supporting timber beams began to splinter and bend as the weight of the above ground was forcefully coming down. The two men eagerly grabbed their tools and hoped to make a quick retreat. Unexpectedly and out of nowhere the two men spotted a green gnome creature go barreling right past them. The startled pair stood in amazement and disbelief at each other as the weight of the earth came collapsing upon them.

The Tommyknockers are a greenish gnome-like creature originating out of Cornish folklore. They are closely similar to Leprechauns, except they primarily occupy mines, often seen working side by side with the miners. Tales of their existence in Western Pennsylvania began in the 1820's. As more and more immigrants descended on the area, the popular myths and legends from the Mother countries became more prevalent. The Tommyknockers name is derived from the knocking sounds miners would often hear before a cave-in. Many believed these impish trolls were actually the spirits of previous miners who succumbed to the industry.

The Tommyknockers were known to be a very mischievous bunch. They would often play practical jokes on the miners, often times taking the food from the lunches, as well as hiding their tools. Many in the mining field believed theses strange gnomes possessed the powers to change your life, for the better or worse. In fact, in some parts of the country miners were so fearful of the Tommyknockers that mines were actually closing due to overwhelming anxieties.

The Tommyknockers were known to do tremendous deeds. They would do favors and bring fortunes to those who believed. They were also known to cause mayhem, injury and even death to those who refused to believe!
(Art by Sam Thiewes)

Werewolf of Northumberland, Pennsylvania

Near the turn of the 20th century in the sparsely populated county of Northumberland Pennsylvania, a young girl was about to form a bond with an isolated older man that would alter their lives forever.

Young May Paul lived on a modest farm with her reserved family. May's major responsibilities on the farm included herding and tending to the family's sheep. The young lady was very well liked throughout the tiny community and had no trouble making friends. However she quietly caught the attention of an elder gentleman whom everyone was fearful of. He would often be seen following the young lady around town, as well as watching her from afar as she tended to the flocks. Their kinship seemed strange and disturbing to many individuals, though never seemed to cross any boundaries.

As strange occurrences began to happen on surrounding farms, the Paul family farm seemed to stay safe. Wolf attacks on the surrounding sheep herds were becoming common place. Onslaughts were being reported in broad daylight, yet the Paul family stayed safe from any encounters and didn't suffer one casualty.

Due to all the recent attacks on the docile creatures, bounties were being paid out for hunters who could produce a dead corpse. Late one evening a nearby neighbor spotted the glowing eyes of a wolf being lit by the full moon. The man quickly retrieved his rifle and let off a fiery blast. The yelp and cries from the wolf echoed for acres. Feeling content that the predator was taken care of, the man retired for the evening. The following day, early dawn the man trudged through his land until he found a trail of blood. Through the thicket of trees he followed the crimson trail until he came upon the body of the elder gentleman. The man laid dead from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. Many arousing suspicions claimed the frightening old man was in reality a werewolf.

Strangely enough May Paul never had a single sheep perish due to a wolf attack, even though quite often a large gray wolf would be seen menacing about the perimeters of her property, staring so ominously at the woman from afar.

Hadany Twisted Arch

As you approach the Lycoming mall, you're greeted by a large twisted steel arch. As you maneuver your automobile through the large sculpture, it seems to bend and contort around you. Certainly not your normal mall entrance.

The steel arch stands over 100 feet and is the imagination of famed sculptor Israel Hadany. The artist was commissioned to do several large outdoor sculptures for various businesses and municipalities. The twisted arch is the largest sculpture he's ever built, and is one of the largest in the country.

The sculpture hasn't been pleasantly received by all the locals. Some consider it to be an unsightly eyesore. Personally we believe when you add something unordinary to the ordinary it's always gonna raise a few eyebrows, and also make your visit much more memorable!

Curse of Antes Fort, Pennsylvania

There are a number of homes in the Antes Fort area that the locals swear are haunted. Maybe it's not the homes that are haunted, but that the area's cursed.

Originally the land was used by the local Andaste Indian tribe until their chief, King Wi-daagh advantageously sold the region to emissaries of William Penn. A column from the former state capital building has been placed along a nearby river bank to commemorate the event. In a protest to the erroneous deal, the chief has vowed to haunt the land. Autumn time visitors often witness a ghostly mist appearing off the waters of the nearby Wi-daagh springs.

Another rather disturbing tale involves the towns founder. The tale states that shortly after the Revolutionary War, Colonel Henry Antes engaged in an early form of biological warfare. The Colonel purchased blankets from the Harrisburg area, which he then donated to the local Native American tribes in the area. His generous deeds were actually an act of malevolence. The donated blankets were actually full of the infectious small pox bacteria. This led to the untimely death of many of the local natives. The Chief of the nearby tribe vowed revenge, the lost vengeful spirits who were innocently murdered may not have rested since.

Bridge to Nowhere in Lairdsville, Pennsylvania

"There it is! I can see it!"
"Where?" I say, "There behind the trees!" She's right, I can see it. We slowly pull off to the side of the rural route. We both gently slide down the embankment to an overgrown trail. I grab a stick to push thorn bushes out of our way. We slowly proceed down the dirt path. As we approach our destination, I notice the intricately designed layout. Moss and grass grow between each crevice of the bricks. We are on a bridge to nowhere.

This hidden gem fascinates me for many reasons. I can find no source as to when it was built, by whom or for what purpose. The bridge seems to be older, but constructionally sound, and appears to be modernly built.

I am always fascinated with abandoned places. Walking that bridge I felt as though I was retracing someone else's footsteps. Hmmm!! If only I knew! Maybe it's more intriguing letting my imagination run wild. What do you think?

Siren of Loyalsock Creek

Coasting through the calm waters of the Loyalsock creek in Pennsylvania may be more hazardous than it seems. The small tributary of the Susquehanna river is mainly located in Lycoming and Sullivan counties. The creek was a principle means of life for the Native American tribes who once inhabited the area. Though the spirit of one may still be seeking revenge on unsuspecting rafters.

Legend states in the mid 1800's a beautiful young Indian maiden was brutally assaulted and murdered by a gang of settlers navigating the creek. Since then Sweet Cicely has been seeking vengeance. Using her sweet, engaging voice she's been luring unsuspecting victims through treacherous parts of the creek, hoping to lure them to an untimely death.

Adventures in Alvira, Pennsylvania

Both arms shoot up as I attempt to level myself out! I steadily balance myself as I inch across the log strewn about the wet marshy area I'm attempting to cross. My foot slips, my shoe is covered in mud. I wipe off the excess and continue over my crude bridge. Upon crossing the water soaked log, I encounter the thorns of a thistle bush. As I gently release the prickly briers from my arm and shirt, another sense of excitement rushes over me! From here I can see a crack between the doors and realize I should be able to enter. As I encounter the concrete bunker I'm happy to see it's not littered with graffiti. I poke my head inside, blackness is all I can see. I work to pry open the heavy unlocked steel door. I take a loud stomp into the concrete igloo, hoping the ground vibrations will scare off any unwanted critters. I give out a shout! The enclosed cavern echoes quite loudly for a brief time. Inside the bunker is surprisingly clean, only a few leaves are found lying on the ground. Sadly these hidden concrete bunkers and a couple historic cemeteries are all that remain in this lost town.


Shortly after the strike on Pearl Harbor, the United States government came in and seized all the townspeople's land. They were informed that a repurchase of their properties would be made available at a later date. Directly after acquiring the land through purchases and eminent domain, all the homes were burned and then bulldozed. Almost instantaneously construction began on a T-N-T factory. This explosives factory was very short lived. In less than a year after opening the United States government stopped production and closed the plant for good. Apparently the supply for explosives wasn't nearly as high as originally thought.

The only remnants of a former town are crumbled foundations, lost roads, and forgotten gravestones. This small village was ravaged by the effects of war, yet never witnessed a single battle. The poor citizens of Alvira had their town destroyed by the works of their own government who was supposed to protect them.

The Cup

While traveling to the Ringing Rocks park and roller rink you're likely to pass a wondrous roadside oddity. A cup shaped building with a straw protruding out of the top.

These unique stores were originally built in the early 1940's for Levengood Dairies. The local dairy had the buildings constructed to help sell their dairy products. Originally there were four "cups" throughout the area. Boyertown, Pennsburg, and Reading were home to the other three.
Though they don't seem to hold the same vintage charm as the one in Pottstown. Though that's all quite likely to change, as this location is now currently for sale. Maybe we could make it our home office!

Ringing Rocks Park & Rink

There's a mystical park near the small town of Pottstown where you're gonna wanna visit with a hammer in hand. The Ringing Rocks Park has been baffling curious visitors for centuries. When you smack one of the rocks in the boulder field you're likely to get two results, a deadening sound you'd expect, or a ringing bell sound you wouldn't expect. The various rocks each emit a different vibrant tone. Similar parks have been used to hold music festivities. Musicians will actually play the rocks while accompanied with other instruments.

On Outta the Way's visit we brought along several different size hammers. We noticed each hammer rang out a different chime on the same rock. The locals in the area have been generous enough to tag the rocks which make the best sounds. I must admit they're very good at pointing you to the prime rocks, though their art skills could use some work!

After ringing some rocks be sure to visit the retro style roller skating rink nearby. The old time rink has been entertaining the locals for decades. Ringing rocks and retro roller rinks sounds like a perfect day going Outta the Way!

For more on Ringing Rocks and other nearby Outta the Way places.

Lynnewood Hall

Hidden away in the suburbs far from the Liberty Bell and the tourists, sits a luxurious palace left as a shell of it's former self. The articulate limestone walls of the Lynnewood Hall lie at rest behind the overgrown yard, protected by a rusty fence.

This former elegant home was once deemed the "house that art built." Industrialist Peter Widener was an avid art collector and needed a larger home to house his valuable collection as well as entertain his esteemed colleagues. In 1900 he and his family moved into their 70,000 square foot dream home. The home was full of luxurious design. Marble lined the walls, while gold plated the doorknobs.

The Wiedener family was extremely wealthy, but also dealt with their share of hardships.
One of the family's sons and grandson perished in the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. Peter Widener himself only got to enjoy his dream home for a modest 15 years. He was found deceased in the home after a lengthy illness at the age of 80. Shortly after Peter's passing the home became open for public viewings. Visits eventually ceased in 1940, shortly after most of the artwork was donated.

The legacy of the Lynnewood Hall and Widener family slowly began to fade away. The home was used briefly by the U.S. government during World War 2. The grounds were used for canine training, while the home was used to store valuable documents and works of art.

Since then the home has switched hands a few times and is slowly falling into decay. No major work has been done on the home since the 1950's. Most of the valuable materials used for building have been stripped away and sold by previous owners. Many preservation groups are trying to help preserve the legacy of this lost palace, before it's history and beauty are lost forever.
Lynnewood Hall Video

Pottstown Pig Tree

(Photo from Creepy Places)
The Skull tree along Devil's road isn't the only tree in Pennsylvania with folklore surrounding it. With roots shaped like a pigs snout, and a set of holes where eyes would set, it's easy to see how the pig tree got its name. What's not so simple to figure out is why its become so mysterious.

The legend of the pig tree states to take a personal item from someone you wish to cause harm to, you then place the item into the eye hole of the tree. It's thought that if the sun pierces through the object, the curse has worked. It should also be known that if the sun doesn't shine through, the curse is than reversed onto you. I'm not too sure there's anyone I despise that much to take that risk!

Skull Tree: R.I.P.

(Photo from Weird U.S.)

Pennsylvania is a state known mostly for it's abundance of natural resources. Oil, coal, natural gas, and most notably timber. They all played an important role in the commonwealth's history.
With all the timber and trees spread throughout the state, it's only natural a few would sprout urban legends of their own.

One of the most famous trees in the keystone state is the skull tree. Located in a remote area, near a reputed cult house, the tree became an entity of it's own. It came to be known as the skull tree due to the erosion of ground around the roots, giving the tree a grimly look of a human skull.

The tree eventually became a nuisance to local homeowners. Young thrill seekers would often scour the back road late at night, hoping for a glimpse of the notorious tree. They would all too often leave their mark behind as well, often littering and tagging trees or street signs. The vandals had become such a disturbance that the township has since had the infamous tree removed. Another outta the way gem destroyed by a few irresponsible hoodlums!

Video ride down devil's road, home of skull tree

What's a Zine?

What's a zine? This is a question that regularly gets asked when I'm explaining Outta the Way. I usually just answer " it's a mini magazine." But that's such a generic answer, truthfully zines are much more than that. Usually the term is referred to any self published work with a small but devout group of followers. Profit is not the primary intent of zines, it's the spreading of knowledge that is not commonly for the mainstream.

Since the beginning of time people have been looking for ways to share their stories, with the invention of the printing press that dream became a reality for many. Now anybody with radical thinking and a different ideology than the general public could get their word out to hundreds, possibly thousands. Both Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin were independent publishers.

The origin of the word zine is unknown, but began to be used widespread during the early 1970's. During this time is when more zines began appearing, particularly in the underground sex and punk club scenes.

During the 1980's zines started gaining more of an artistic appeal. They even spawned their own subculture, zinesters. Zines during the 80's were very perverse and often covered obscure topics. Subjects often deemed too taboo for mainstream society.

However in the 1990's when the internet began to surge, zines then began to slowly disappear. Fortunately these same writers were able to gain a larger audience. This attention helped to turn a few self published writers into established authors.

Today zines are being embraced by a new generation, a generation that doesn't always trust the media and it's opinions. A new breed, who believes we need to be more self sufficient in our own needs. A group that doesn't want their information and mass media spoon fed to them.

Outta the way zines are available in traditional B & W form, and also as a color PDF you can print from home. Each zine consists of several out of the way places to visit. Each place will contain history, photos, and driving directions. Now get outta the way, 'cause we're going Outta the Way!

Find more zines on Etsy!
Learn more about zines and creating your own.

Gravity Hill in Numidia, Pennsylvania

The name of the town invokes mysticism, magic and mystery. The fact that only roughly 250 people live in this tiny village certainly doesn’t hurt the mystery. That makes the tiny town of Numidia pretty easy to miss.

There are a couple of reasons to visit this sleepy town. In fact if you’re a racing lover, this place will appeal to you even more. One of the biggest attractions Numidia is known for is its drag strip. Thousands of spectators flock every year to the Numidia Dragstrip to watch rocket fueled cars race down the ¼ mile speedway.

Yet there’s another spot in this mountain village that not many know about, but those that do get to test their own cars out on this magical spot. Instead of diving as fast as you can down a straightaway, here you do almost the exact opposite. With little help from you other than a gear shift, you can drive your car backwards up a hill, while in neutral on the rural road known as Gravity Hill. Locals have been challenging each other for years to defy gravity. Placing your car in neutral on the right spot gives the illusion that your car is rolling uphill on its own. There are numerous of these gravity hills located throughout the world. Most claim that there are magnetic pulls or supernatural powers at work. That’s why you’re able to defy gravity. The fact that this gravity hill is quite rural, yet easily found helps it to stand out above some others. It’s also mainly only known to the locals, and is not used to attract tourists, and being in a town called Numidia, well, that’s just pure magic.

Video ride on Gravity Hill

Lost Riverboat in Shartlesville, Pennsylvania

Marooned not too far from the wondrous attraction known as Roadside America lies an old riverboat looking oddly out of place. The dilapidated boat lies detached in an open field, far from the days of entertaining guests off the coast of New York and New Jersey. Originally the riverboat was built in Minnesota and was named the "Suwannee Belle." The riverboat spent slightly more then a decade elating tourists from all over the world. It was eventually decommissioned in 1991. After a failed attempt as a restaurant the "Suwannee Belle" sat in a New Jersey storage unit until 2003. At this point the riverboat was purchased and was finding a new home in rural Shartlesville, Pennsylvania. The original owner had planned to use the riverboat as a tiki bar, unfortunately his dreams never came to fruition. Since then it has sat in this remote field never fully living up to the potential it seemingly had just a few short years ago. The new owners of the nearby restaurant continue to pay homage to the lost riverboat, having named their venture the Riverboat Saloon.