Star Barn Middletown, Pennsylvania

Looking for one of the most recognizable barns in North America? Look no further than a small suburb outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The Star Barn is easily recognized by its modern Gothic look, adorned with 5 point stars. The stars symbolize hope and good fortune.

Over the years, the land has been owned by war veterans and even politicians. The area consists of 3.1 acres, including a small pond. The Star Barn will soon be relocated closer to the Hollywood Casino, so get a look at this gem in it's natural place, before it's too late.

Chocolate World - Hershey, PA

Opened in 1973, Hershey's Chocolate World has been entertaining folks for over 35 years now. Originally built as a replacement for the actual plant tour, which became too overwhelming for the factory, the chocolate tour allows you to experience firsthand all that is needed to make the delicious chocolate from the begining stages of cocoa beans, to the finished product rolling off the line.

The tour has gone through numerous changes throughout its years, including a $4.5 million update in 1988 with a robot as your host. The last change occurred in 2006 when several scenes were replaced with singing animatronic cows. Today there are still parts of the ride that have changed very little.

One of the best things about the Chocolate Tour is it's absolutely free. Let's hope Hershey continues on with this tradition and gives many more families the chance to experience this musical ride in Chocolatetown U.S.A.

One World One Heart Winner

Thank you so much for your wonderful response to our One World One Heart giveaway! And thanks to our new followers and fans on facebook!

We have a winner of our pendant and zine giveaway:
3 Sides of Crazy

Thank you! (and stay tuned for another Outta the Way post here today, which includes a fun video!)

One World One Heart

Welcome to Outta the Way!

Here at Outta the Way we take a ride on our magic carpet (a/k/a our car) and go on road trips all over Pennsylvania (and into Maryland.) We love to visit odd, unique and historical places. We are Jim Kohler and Kim Burkhart (also of B.B. Bellezza). We share where we visit here on our blog and in our zine that we put out each month.

Get outta the way! We're going outta the way!

The Giveaway:

We're giving away a copy of Volume 10 of our zine about Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The zine covers 4 places with stories and black and white photos. I know that this is an international event, but I think the stories would be interesting and enjoyable for anyone to read. Places covered in this volume are: the historic Star Barn, Wildwood Park, Three Mile Island, and The Pennsylvania State Hospital.

and

Star Barn Original Photography Glass Tile Pendant
(the Star Barn is featured in Vol. 10 of our zine)

To Enter:

1. Have a blog (it is a blogging event, after all)
2. You can be from anywhere in the world
3. Leave a comment here on this post
4. Make sure your comment has a way for us to get back in touch with you. (either a link to your blog, or your email address)

The winner will receive both the zine and the pendant. The winner will be announced here on February 15th.

Good luck and have fun!

Shoofly pie, Ice cream & beer! Vol.9

Shoofly pie
Originally uploaded by B.B. Bellezza

While traveling the highways and by-ways of Lancaster county, searching the covered bridges. We encourage you to visit these local favorites.

Located along route 30 in Ronks, you'll find America's best shoofly pie. What trip to Amish country would be complete without this sweet treat. Since 1946 Dutch Haven has been dishing out this local favorite. If you have any doubts it's the best in America, they'll quickly put those to rest once you taste the free samples. Finding Dutch Haven is easy, just look for the big windmill. Walking out without a pie, that's about impossible.

If your sweet tooth is still craving, you can take a step back into time at the Strasburg Creamery. Resembling a Victorian era ice cream parlor,the creamery is a family favorite. Besides all the nostalgia, they dish out some of the best ice cream around. Whether your having an apple dumpling sundae, or the homemade E.T. special in a handmade waffle cone, no sweet tooth will leave unsatisfied. The creamery is located on 1 W. Main st. Strasburg, Pa.

After all those treats you may need something to wash it all down with. Located on Main street in Conestoga lies the Spring House Brewery. Basically a one man brewery with quite a following. Is there a better way to wash down shoofly pie and E.T. ice cream than with a Kerplunk chocolate stout? In the mood for something less sweet? Spring House offers the Seven Gates Pale Ale. The beer is named for a local urban legend.(see Outta the Way Vol. 2) At Spring House they're also brewing up a red ale, summer ale, a double IPA, and the more unique coffee stout. The hours of the brewery vary, though it is open most Saturday afternoons.

All of the places mentioned you will pass if you take the covered bridge driving tour provided in Volume 9 of Outta the Way.

Longest Covered Bridge in the World

In volume 9 of Outta the Way, we take you on a tour of the Lancaster County Covered Bridges. At one time Lancaster had the longest covered bridge in the world. Built in 1814, the bridge spanned over the Susquehanna River between the towns of Columbia and Wrightsville. The bridge was 5,690 feet long and built mainly of wood and stone. Tolls for the bridge at the time were $1.50 for a wagon and 6 horses or $0.06 a person.

It stood for 14 years before being destroyed by ice and high waters on February 5, 1832. In 1834 a second covered bridge was opened, using as much as they could salvage from the first bridge. The bridged was later burned during the Civil War by Union militiamen to prevent Confederate soldiers from advancing into Wrightsville. Afterwards the Columbia Bank and Bridge Company appealed to the Federal Government for reimbursement of damages sustained, but none were ever paid.

A third covered bridge was constructed in 1864, this time of stone, wood and steel. It was eventually destroyed by a hurricane in 1896. After the destruction of the third covered bridge, the idea was scrapped and a forth bridge was built. This time steel trusses were used. It was designed to withstand all the previous elements which had been so disastrous. This bridge eventually became used as strictly a railroad bridge until 1958. In 1963 the bridge was dismantled for scrap. The stone pieces still stand today just North of the Route 30 bypass, still offering us a glimpse back into the past.

Haunted Cashtown Inn Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

The Cashtown Inn

This week, Outta the Way is thrilled to bring you a first-hand experience at the Cashtown Inn from a director of the Documentary Film, "Investigating the Afterlife," Shane Free.

Shane writes:

I shot one night at the Cashtown Inn for my ghost hunting documentary "Investigating the Afterlife." My brother and I stayed in the Robert E. Lee suite on the very top floor. It was a little after midnight when we were shooting with our infrared cameras and recording with digital audio. My brother alerted me when he heard what sounded like a disembodied voice while listening through his headphones. We immediately stopped to review the tape and very faintly you could hear what did sound like a man either inhaling or exhaling, pretty creepy indeed. The rest of the night was fairly uneventful; although when I was reviewing the video footage I saw what looked like a ball of light travel from one side of the screen to the other. Overall, I found the Inn to have a very strange vibe; you could definitely feel the history within its walls.

My documentary is available through purchase or rental on Amazon.