Note: Storyland is located on posted, private property and trespassing is strictly forbidden. Enjoy the trumpeter and statues that can be seen from the road from exactly that — the road. I’ve visited a lot of amusement parks over the years. While I love the historic value and unique rides that can be found at …
Fifty years ago, large, public swimming pools were common. They could often be found paired with amusement parks and even drive-ins. Over the years, these pools began closing, each one disappearing into memories. Ligonier Beach, which was a local staple, managed to survive for 93 years before closing forever last year. It always seems that …
The first time I noticed the Penn-Lincoln Hotel in Wilkinsburg I was on a bus on my way to work. It has a fairly simple facade, but as the largest building in Wilkinsburg’s Penn Avenue business district, it was rather hard to miss. The hotel was constructed in 1927 by Pittsburgh architect Benno Janssen. Janssen …
Large public swimming pools and drive-in movie theaters were very popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It wasn’t unusual for towns to have several of each. With four different drive-ins as well as a 1.5 million gallon public pool, Irwin had both. The Blue Dell was located three miles east of McKeesport along the Lincoln …
I owe my love of historical and iconic attractions to my parents, in particular my dad. When I was younger we would take Route 30 up to Breezewood when we went on vacation. Whether it was attractions such as the Ship Hotel, Kings and Queens Restaurant, or Storyland, he was always receptive to my calls …
There are landmarks that seem to be iconic, such as the Ship Hotel, others seems to silently fade from memory. For me, one of those places that time is slowly forgetting is Shirey’s Motel, also known as Shirey Lake View Motor Court. Located just outside of Ligonier, this motel was a collection of single room …
As you are driving along Route 30 eastbound on the way up the mountain you might happen to notice a small, wooden church in the weeds beside an auto body shop. This is the former building of the Trinity Reformed congregation in Jennerstown. This unassuming church has quite the history. Originally located at the crest …
*Author Note: This article is now somewhat of a retrospective as the Penn Irwin Motel closed at the end of March 2019. The motel was demolished approximately a month later to make way for what was eventually to become yet another nondescript strip mall. Unfortunately, another piece of history lost.* When I mention heart-shaped jacuzzis, …
Sometimes the most inconspicuous buildings hold some of the most interesting secrets. Over the summer we decided to take a road trip to Mann’s Choice, PA (outside of Bedford) to stay at the Lincoln Motor Court. The motor court is adorable in and of itself and it absolutely something every history enthusiast should check out, …
How cute is the Lincoln Motor Court? I’ve always loved motor courts and tourist cabins. So when I heard that there was an operating one in Mann’s Choice, just outside of Bedford, I knew we would have to check it out. The perfect opportunity came when we planned a road trip to Baltimore and decided …
If you missed my post yesterday about the beginnings of Monsour Medical Center from yesterday be sure to take a few minutes to check it out. It was inevitable what was to come. The hospital was in such bad shape from vandals, arsonists, and trespassers that the inside was completely trashed. Medical charts, mattresses, and …
If you follow my blog at all, you know I love roadside oddities and attractions. Of course, this meant that while we were on our recent road trip to Bedford we had to stop at the giant Coffee Pot located at the Bedford Fairgrounds. A fixture in Bedford since 1927, the Coffee Pot was built …
