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- Brookville, Pennsylvania - Scripture Rocks Heritage Park
Bible verses were chiseled into rocks over 100 years ago in a park operated by the Jefferson County History Center. Definitely worth a visit.
[David J Brown, 05/21/2017]Message-Rocks Carved by a Madman:- Address:
- Hwy 28, Brookville, PA
- Directions:
- Scripture Rocks Heritage Park. I-80 exit 81. Drive south on Hwy 28 for a quarter-mile. You'll see the sign and parking lot on the left.
- Hours:
- Dawn-dusk (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 814-849-0077
- Admission:
- Free
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
- Centralia, Pennsylvania - Town Atop a Burning Coal Mine
I spent this weekend in the Western Poconos, and on 10/24 visited Centralia and rode both the coal mine ride and the little steam train ride up and around that hill the Mammoth coal mine vein is in.
Last time in Centralia, a few years ago, the road on up N of it heading toward Elysburg (54? 61?) was like a roller coaster, with steam right alongside both side of the road from the mine fires under it. Now that road is CLOSED , so I didn't even bother to try to go up there. But where the fire was beside the one cemetery last time I was there, now it's moved to beside the one on the opposite side of the road and is right up to the fence beside the cemetery. What's gonna happen to the people buried there? Are they going to MOVE the cemetery? Amazing to see -- trees burned from the roots up by the heat & rocks all around too hot to touch. Still about 30 people living there.
As for the coal mine ride, it goes about 1500' into the hillside, then there's a very nice display along tunnels inside at the end with a guide telling you all about the mining operation (that takes about 40 min.). The train ride up around the side of the hill takes about 35 min. At top where it ends, there's a lovely view clear over to Shenandoah, PA at the horizon and to the left the smoke from the Centralia fires. By the way, the SMELL from that Centralia smoke is SICKENING (sulfur?).
[Kay Stallard, 10/25/1999]Centralia Mine Fire:RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report
- Address:
- Route 61/54, Centralia, PA
- Directions:
- 7 mi. W of I-81, north of Ashland, east of Mount Carmel. Rt. 61/54.
- Hours:
- Gases are considered dangerous, proceed at your own risk. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Elaborate dioramas are populated by thousands of tiny hand-made cats in Civil War uniforms.
Roadsideamerica.com Report...
Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum
- Address:
- 785 Baltimore St., Gettysburg, PA
- Directions:
- Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum. South edge of town, on the southbound side of Baltimore St. just south of where it splits from US Hwy 15 BUS/Steinwehr Ave.
- Hours:
- M,Tu,Th 3-8; F 1-8, Sa 10-8 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 717-420-5273
- Admission:
- Adults $6.50
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
- Hellertown, Pennsylvania - Lost River Caverns
Lost River Caverns seems very small after visiting such places as Luray Caverns in VA, etc. I haven't visited to take the cavern tour for over 10 ten years because I don't feel it's worth it. However, their gift/mineral shop alone is worth the trip. They have beads made out of many types of rocks & minerals and you can actually pick stones and have them set in jewelry settings (may take anywhere from minutes or a few days depending on if the guy who does it is there at the time, if they are backlogged with orders, etc) and My sister and I like to have jewelry made for birthdays, etc. Visit for the store.
See the cavern once, but I promise you'll go back just for the shop. Plus it's nice and cool in the summer.
[Jennifer, 09/20/2008]Lost River Caverns:- Address:
- 726 Durham St., Hellertown, PA
- Directions:
- SW of Bethlehem. Take Rt. 611 north to Rt. 412 north into Hellertown. At 2nd traffic light in Hellertown (Penn Street) turn right, continue on Durham St 1/2 mile Caverns on right.
- Hours:
- Summer daily 9-6. Fewer hours and days off-season. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 610-838-8767
- Admission:
- Adults ~$14, 3-12 ~$9
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
Show cave's food-like formations include bacon, eggs, a five-foot-long ear of corn, and "upside down ice cream cones." Opened as an attraction in 1873. Get married in a cave.
Roadsideamerica.com Report...
- Address:
- 963 Crystal Cave Rd, Kutztown, PA
- Directions:
- I-78 Exit 35. Take 222 South to exit for Kutztown/Virginville, follow signs for 5 miles. Only 12 miles from Cabela's.
- Hours:
- Daily Mar-Nov. 9-5; Summer 9-7 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 610-683-6765
- Admission:
- Adults $16.
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
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Over 100 boulders and rocks were inscribed with biblical and other messages by Douglas M. Stahlman from 1912-1913. At the time he lived atop one of the boulders. He spent the last 27 years of his life in an insane asylum. Sept. 2017: Photo added.