The 85 yo tourist layout in shartlesville PA. Out side Lancaster is closing for good. Apparently they have been trying to sell it but with some interested parties but no deals were closed. With covid, the final,straw. I am sure though if somebody stepped up to talk sale, they would go for it.
It was an interesting layout to see. All handmade with whatever they could find, with imagination. Turn it into a layout item. The grandkids of the builder have gone to retirement with nobody to pass onto.
shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
I used to take the boys there about once a year when they were young, but hadn't been back for at least 20 years now. I wonder if they were still playing Kate Smith's God Bless America to the end?
Rick
I had to Google it, WOW! What a spread! There must be pop-up access panels all over the place! Incredible!
https://roadsideamerica.co/
hey also have a Face Book page with lots of pictures.
https://www.facebook.com/raminivillage
Mike.
My You Tube
I read about it on another forum. I had never visited the place and it sounds like the owner(s) didn't get offers acceptable to them, which is sort of understanding because they put many years, time, effort and expense into the place, so they would probably never get an offer that would relate to what they feel the value is. But that is probably not uncommon.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
It was a wonderful thing, and one of the great icons of model railroading when I was young. I'd think this was worthy of preservation as a historic location, even if 'not open to the public'.
Some of the problem might be that when the road was converted to Interstate standards it became difficult to get to it slthough it was clearly visible just the other side of a fence as you went by.
Overmod Some of the problem might be that when the road was converted to Interstate standards it became difficult to get to it slthough it was clearly visible just the other side of a fence as you went by.
The first thing I wondered when I saw the first picture is "who dusts it?"
It will be a terrible shame if no buyer is found and it is destroyed.
When you think about it, it would take an unusual person to purchase it and run it. Lot's of responsibility. It will be a tough sell.
There is a thread over on the Toy Train forum as well, my post from there:
Yes, this is very sad news. I have been there multiple times as a child and as an adult with my own children and grandchildren.
I think one of the challanges these days for them was the fact that there is nothing else nearby of similar interest.
Strasburg PA, where the Strasburg Rail Railroad is, has a long list of train and model train attractions, including the ChooChoo Barn. A display similar to Roadside America although not as large or elaberate, but very nice none the less.
It is a shame no one was able to take it over. It would be interesting to know the asking price and recent revenues.
On a similar note, I recently saw where Northlandz, an HO display in Flemington, NJ, is apparently under new ownership and has been refurbished and reopened. The wife and I stopped there on a road trip we took about a decade ago, large but unimpressive in my view.
I live close to Strasburg, we go there several times a year on average.
Sheldon
Deane JohnsonWhen you think about it, it would take an unusual person to purchase it and run it. Lot's of responsibility. It will be a tough sell.
Someone bought, moved, and reopened the electric map from Gettysburg. So unusual things do happen. But the location of Roadside America is kind of a tough sell.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
America has a very large and diverse population. Most people are busy and rather focused. I don't know what the owners have done to get the message out, but I'm sure somewhere there's a person who'd jump at the chance to rescue this facility. They just don't know it's in a pickle. Maybe it won't even be someone from the USA.
I saw this news a couple of days ago. They've been trying to sell for 3 years now, with no takers. It's really a shame - it's literally about a half hour from me. I've been thre countless times since I was a kid. I've gone as an adult because it's just somethign you have to see. I've taken my kids there. I've taken the next generation there - I don't have any grandkids yet, but my GF's nephew and his wife and their two came for a visit and we went to Roadside America as well as Strasburg (oh was that ever a mistake - I didn't realize it was a Thomas day. Unless you have little kids who are gung ho about Thomas - do not go to Strasburg on a Thomas wekekend, the place is a complete zoo).
And yes, the last time I was there not too long ago, they still were playing God Bless America.
I've been to many such displays - there's none like Roadside America, and it will be sad to see it gone. Seems like no one wants the whole place, so they are going to essentially part it out. You may see bits and piece of it in places, but I doubt it will ever all be together in one place ever again.
Unfortuinately I did not win the lottery over the past 3 years.
Here are some local stories about it:
https://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-opi-roebuck-roadside-america-tribute-movie-20201124-vfg5tx6k3ffk3idi3pfinc5hra-story.html
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown/2020/11/worlds-greatest-indoor-miniature-village-shutting-down-after-nearly-9-decades.html
https://www.mcall.com/opinion/readers-react/mc-opi-let-roadside-america-closure-comments-20201125-nuum7malhfb4neu3xmrlfggnlu-story.html
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
zugmann Deane Johnson When you think about it, it would take an unusual person to purchase it and run it. Lot's of responsibility. It will be a tough sell. Someone bought, moved, and reopened the electric map from Gettysburg. So unusual things do happen. But the location of Roadside America is kind of a tough sell.
Deane Johnson When you think about it, it would take an unusual person to purchase it and run it. Lot's of responsibility. It will be a tough sell.
I remember seeing that electric map when I was little. I had no idea it was still around, I'll have to check that out.
It's not like Roadside America is in some nowhere palce, it's right alongside I-78, a very busy highway. Shartlesville used to be home to probably tyhe best example of PA Dutch food you could find, served family style - Haag's Hotel. They too are now closed. See Roadside America, and get a great meal. No more.
I think every time we went to RA I saw something different that I missed before or just maybe forgot. I'll have to go look at some old 35mm photos that I have taken over the years, just to... see it again.
Deane Johnsonago: The first thing I wondered when I saw the first picture is "who dusts it?"
https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/.image/t_share/MTcyNDgzNjI5MDY2MDM3MTYy/image-placeholder-title.jpg
A glimmer of hope?
https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/local-train-enthusiast-thinks-he-has-idea-to-keep-roadside-americas-legacy-chugging-along/article_bf8f23c4-335d-11eb-aebf-87d633ace4ad.html?fbclid=IwAR3OR_smZAsHBThYjpPmqan-e0tuOoUjtOb-GSPSA9ruzUElQzDq_26a0kU
(no, not me)
I just stumbled across this thread for the first time tonight. I had never heard of Roadside America, so it was interesting to see photos and videos of the layout. Since it has been around for 85 years, it is a bit sad to learn that it will be torn down and demolished. But, layouts get torn down and demolished all the time, so this isn't the first and it won't be the last.
Rich
Alton Junction
It's a bit more than just "a layout". It's more a living history museum. Still pictures really can't convey the experience of walking through the display and the various vantage points. I never thought the trains were the focus - they just served to draw your attention to the various structures, all scratchbuilt.
rrinker It's a bit more than just "a layout". It's more a living history museum. Still pictures really can't convey the experience of walking through the display and the various vantage points. I never thought the trains were the focus - they just served to draw your attention to the various structures, all scratchbuilt. --Randy
richhotrain rrinker It's a bit more than just "a layout". It's more a living history museum. Still pictures really can't convey the experience of walking through the display and the various vantage points. I never thought the trains were the focus - they just served to draw your attention to the various structures, all scratchbuilt. --Randy That sounds simply amazing. Rich
That sounds simply amazing.
It truly was. You could walk through the display on two levels. It is an amazing displ of the history of this area.
Here is an article listing bid prices for some of the items are being auctioned.
https://www.pennlive.com/life/2021/01/these-are-the-most-expensive-items-at-the-roadside-america-auctions-so-far.html
It is still going on if you are interested in something.
The best part of going there was eating at the Americus hotel buffet in Allentown afterward. Unbelievable spread including a table covered in ice with all the split cold lobster tails you could eat. It and the hotel are long gone also.
hbgatsf Here is an article listing bid prices for some of the items are being auctioned. https://www.pennlive.com/life/2021/01/these-are-the-most-expensive-items-at-the-roadside-america-auctions-so-far.html It is still going on if you are interested in something.
When the auction was announced my wife sai that I could bid on something, she did not realize how pricey this could get. I thanked her and said no.
The only items I will have from Roadside America are my five postcards (published by Laurence T. Gieringer). They are not photographs. They look to be the sketched then water colored in type.
Everything I saw in the auctions was selling for much higher than I would be willing to pay.
This attraction must have held special memories for a lot of people. Many seem to want to own a part of it.
I wish I could have seen it in person.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Yeah, you had to have seen it to know the value. BTW, they are large structures, not HO size, larger than O for the most part.
Gonna need a big truck for the dutchman and his wife - those are HUGE - they stood outside the place.
Someone from the historical society was going to see about getting the Locust Summit breaker section, but at that price, I kind of thing we didn't get it.
Also, those are only the 24 most expensive. That's out of thousands of items. Surely there are plenty of other things with much lower price tags. Not even one complete town or village is represented by that number of items.
Was that when the Moffas still owned it, prior to the mid-'80s?
ndbprrIt and the hotel are long gone also.
rrinker Also, those are only the 24 most expensive. That's out of thousands of items. Surely there are plenty of other things with much lower price tags. Not even one complete town or village is represented by that number of items.
If you followed the link to the auction there were almost 700 items listed. Some did not receive a bid at all, but those were mostly the stuff from the building not the display.
Yes - I could have gotten a Hammond organ for $90!
TThat was just the first group, with 700 items. I didn;t see on the main auction site where it mentions how many groups, or when the next set starts, or a catalog for any more items, but there are most definitely a whole lot more just structures that what have already sold - unless previous arrangements were made for that stuff and it's not going up for auction.
A shame the circus scene was broken up. Hopefully the same person was able to bid and win all of it.
Overmod Was that when the Moffas still owned it, prior to the mid-'80s? ndbprr It and the hotel are long gone also. It reopened, I think in 2016, and shows as open today. I doubt the buffet returned with it, though...
ndbprr It and the hotel are long gone also.
It reopened, I think in 2016, and shows as open today. I doubt the buffet returned with it, though...
You guys went to PA Dutch land to visit Roadside America and didn't pop almost next door to Haag's Hotel for a real PA Dutch meal served family style? Now that is a place I really miss.
Igot some buildings still paying it off and mine was the CHEAPER ones Trains are suoposedly going on the block soon If the buildings are any indication pricess are gonna be hell