I’ll let you in on a little secret. When I was in college I was one of the students who would give campus tours to prospective students. One of my favorite stories to tell the families was the story of how a one-time amusement park, Ivyside Park, eventually became the branch campus of Penn State …
These Pennsylvania locations are said to be haunted by spirits of the past. Whether it be private homes, industrial sites, hotels, or public buildings, one thing these locations all have in common is that they are home to the unexplained and paranormal.
It’s as if Crawford School was destined to be a haunt from the very day it was built. Constructed in 1916 as Crawford Elementary School it was an imposing structure built with red brick and adorned with lions heads and a coat of arms above the entrance. It operated until 1976 when it became the …
When you think of Philadelphia, Victorian gardens might not be the first thing that comes to mind. It might surprise you then that there are quite a few gardens right outside of the city. One of these is Morris Arboretum, started by John and Lydia Morris, a wealthy brother and sister. Although it was started …
While I was working on my new book, Lost Amusement Parks of Western Pennsylvania I ran across a curious little park located in the Aspinwall section of Pittsburgh. The problem is that some of these parks were so small and lasted for such a short amount of time that they have been almost completely lost …
It’s no secret there are many hidden historical gems right here in Westmoreland County. One of these gems is West Overton Village, located just outside of Scottsdale in Westmoreland County. West Overton was founded by Henry Overholt in the early 1800s but it was his son Abraham Overholt that took the Overholt farm from a …
It’s October! This means Halloween is in full force and so are the haunted attractions. For me, haunted houses are sort of a tradition and I’m always checking out new attractions, old favorites, and places said to actually be haunted. It has been quite a few years since I’ve been to Hundred Acres Manor in …
The summer is winding down and so is our summer of the “Western Pennsylvania Amusement Park.” We’ve visited some perennial favorites such as Kennywood Park as well as some smaller gems such as Conneaut Lake Park. So after visiting all of these historic amusement parks, which was the best you ask? After a summer of …
For nearly 100 years the soldier has silently watched over downtown Greensburg, a silent reminder of those Westmoreland County residents whose lives were lost in battle. While many may be familiar with Greensburg’s soldier statue, many more may not know the story behind this somewhat enigmatic statue. Beginning in 1865, at the end of the …
Nothing says summer relaxation like some quality time floating in a lazy river. While there are places in the area where you can actually float on the river, if the man made variety is more your speed, then this 1,200-foot lazy river at DelGrosso’s Amusement Park & Laguna Splash is something that you have to …
If you have ever been to Altoona, Pennsylvania you have probably figured out that the town has a rich history with railroading. This history is evident not only by noticing the current rail industry in the town, but also the many references that can be found regarding railroaders, railroading, and of course, the famous Horseshoe …
When it comes to the lost amusement parks of Western Pennsylvania, one of the ones that stands out in the minds of many longtime residents of Pittsburgh is West View Park. While I never had the chance to experience West View, as it closed in 1977 (six years before I was born), I had the …
