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.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, January 15, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy New Year!
Another year has quickly come to an end, which means it's time to drop unused items and celebrate the New Year. Here in the keystone state (Pennsylvania), we seem to take the quirkiness to another level. Sure, in Tallapoosa, Georgia they drop an opossum, or East Port, Maine, a sardine. But here we get a smorgasbord full of foods and oddities.
In Dillsburg, they drop a pickle; Ickesburg, a french fry; Lebanon a 100 pound stick of bologna - and these seem like the normal ones. In Frogtown, they lower a frog; Mechanicsburg, a wrench; and in Newport, a plywood hardhat.
No matter how you celebrate, have a Happy New Year! Stay out of our way, cause we're going Outta the Way!
In Dillsburg, they drop a pickle; Ickesburg, a french fry; Lebanon a 100 pound stick of bologna - and these seem like the normal ones. In Frogtown, they lower a frog; Mechanicsburg, a wrench; and in Newport, a plywood hardhat.
No matter how you celebrate, have a Happy New Year! Stay out of our way, cause we're going Outta the Way!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Tiny World Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
In Tiny World it's always Christmas, even in July you'll see lights on houses, trees in homes and wreaths on doors. Christmas all year is pretty strange, but what's even stranger in the world you're about to enter is that Tiny World is an array of buildings built by its owner for his cats to play in. Sounds normal enough until you see these tiny buildings and the detail astounds you. These cats must have their own systems in place also. There is a firehouse, a courthouse and a church, all built for the owner's lovable felines, who can't seem to get enough holiday cheer!
Happy Holidays from Outta the Way!!
(For more about Tiny World and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and the surrounding area, check out this month's zine!)
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Ghosts at Farnsworth Inn Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
One of the most historic Inns in the country has quite a dark past. The Farnsworth Inn, located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is a ghost hunter's delight. Numerous tales of ghostly apparitions paying nighttime visits is nothing new here. The Inn played a key part in the Civil War, acting as a lookout tower for Confederate soldiers, and also as a hospital for the wounded. It is said the bullet used to kill Jennie Wade was fired from this historic building. Right in the heart of Gettysburg lies this haven for the unrested.(Make sure to check out the Outta the Way zine this month for more about the Farnsworth Inn and other sites in Gettysburg, PA and the surrounding area!)
Friday, December 4, 2009
The Howard Tunnel
Just outside the small town of York-New Salem, Pennsylvania, along the York County Rail Trail lies the oldest continuously running railroad tunnel in the world. The Howard Tunnel, named for the young man whose idea it was to build the tunnel through a small mountain. The tunnel was built during the years of 1836-1837 and opened up in 1838. The 370 foot tunnel expanded to two rail lines in the 1870's. On a somber note, the tunnel has seen 3 Presidential Funeral Processions. Presidents Lincoln, Harding and McKinley's bodies all have passed through the tunnel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)