I had never heard of this layout until the last couple days despite traveling to PA often. It looks pretty amazing and I'm sorry to have missed it. I cannot help but think a more relevant name may have helped their promotions... "roadside America" doesn't really conjour up an image of anything!
Flintlock76 Roger Carp Happy Thanksgiving And the same to you Roger, and all the crew!
Roger Carp Happy Thanksgiving
And the same to you Roger, and all the crew!
Ditto! Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
Same me, different spelling!
I don't live far from Roadside America. It holds a special place in my heart. My father took me a few times, I went on my own many times then took my daughter. Truly a sad day. My dad died long before my daugher was born, but we all share interest in trains.
Roger CarpHappy Thanksgiving
The closing of Roadside America ends an important chapter in the history of toy trains in America.
Our brand-new special-interest publication, Families and Electric Trains, includes a history of Roadside America and the family responsible for its development. You will enjoy the article and the many others included--all brand-new material.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Roger Carp
Senior editor
Classic Toy Trains
Truly sad news. We visited Roadside America several times years back and it was an absolutely stunning thing to see. Their motto "Be prepared to see more than you expect!" was absolutely true.
I just don't have the words, know what I mean?
It is a shame. Covid was the final nail in the coffin, however it was going downhill over the past few years. Last few times I went, there were fewer trains running, lots of broken displays and it was a bit rundown. I wish someone could have purchased and upgraded things, while keeping the historic value.
We visited Roadside America a few times and found it to present model railroading as it was done in the past. There is nothing else like that exhibit anywhere as it is not only an artful creation it represents a period of history like a priceless antique. It is very sad that it is going away. The Covid crisis was probably the final blow.
This is truly distressing news. I've made many visits since I was a small child. There are other commercial train displays, but nothing that quite compares to the exquisite nostalgia that Roadside America offers. I sent letters to the PA legislatures just in case they are able to do anything to help find a buyer to keep it intact. Probably won't do any good, but at least it's something.
After 85 years of entertaining guests with one of the largest indoor displays of O gauge model trains, scenery and towns; Roadside America has closed its door permanently. The display was handbuilt by the late Laurence Gieringer originally in his home then expanded to a purpose built building in Shartlesville, PA. off of Rt 78. It was a magnificent display that covered 8,000 square feet, was quite a sight to see and it had many animations. The exhibit was quite old and depicted small town Pennsylvania living in the 1940's and 50's. No buyer has come forward to purchase it so it is likely that an auction will be held to sell the layout piece by piece. I am sad to see such an important part of model railroading history go away.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month