Roadside America Celebrates 80 Years

I have been there a couple of times, and find it interesting.
Once I went with my older brother, who is knowledgeable about old toys. He pointed out a number of highly desirable toys that were placed around the layout for scenery.

Here is another write-up (This site tries to be humorous).

I have to see this some day!  

I was there when I was a kid. Took my kids there and it is still the same 30 years later.

I drive past (or at least near) this several times a year, and I am ashamed to say that I haven't stopped in yet...

It's pretty neat, I've been there a couple of times.  I think it's getting a little dated, but certainly worth a visit if you have never been there.

 

One word for that place:  LionChief Plus!  (or maybe that's three words)

 

Imagine how jazzed the kids would get if you hand them a pretty foolproof way to run a train on that layout.  It might even keep them in business for another 80 years!

I finally stopped there a few years ago after passing it for 40 years.  It is very interesting but I don't know if it is worth a repeat visit.

Well worth the trip.  Especially if you're interested in old toys, old trains, and great model buildings.   Congratulations, Roadside America, and best wishes for another 80 years. 

another place I need to get to. Happy Birthday.

 

It's a mandatory stop on my way home from any event in Penn!

 

Neat place

I have gone there a number of times through my life; I believe that is what kept me in the hobby with all the animation.

I'm going to stop there tomorrow on my way to York, just to get psyched a little more and to show the wife how much space I really need.

A true treasure!!!!

I have been to Roadside America a few times and you can marvel at an 800 sq ft layout, running about 12- 14 trains (and streetcars). It was designed and built entirely by Lawrence Geiringer to illustrate how rural life was served by the railroads of the 1930's. There are over 300 scratch-built structures and over 10,000 handmade trees.   

The exhibit is an amazing accomplishment for one man to build single handedly and the work is not only good but also features hand built animation. Lawrence past away many years ago but left this marvelous exhibit for those that came after him to enjoy. I believe that the 2nd generation of the Geiringer family still runs and maintains it.

 Full story here.

http://roadsideamericainc.com/our-story/

Definitely on my bucket list.

Always want to see this as a kid. Remember reading about it in train magazines. Don

I had never heard of Roadside America before, thanks for pointing it out.  I am really glad that they have been able to keep it operating all these years.  It definitely looks like a nice place to visit when we're in the PA area.   

I haven't been there in at least 20 years.  Might be time for a return trip to acknowledge their 80th anniversary

-Greg

Roadside America is the last of the great Lionel postwar layouts. Mr. Gieringer's articles and photos were published in Toy Trains Magazine.

I was there about ten years ago with my family, it's truly a wonderful thing to see. I would suggest it for all toy train lovers and those who appreciate a true work of art.

 

when I first got back into trains in the 1970s, I read everything I could in the old hobby magazines, including of course TOY TRAINS, and read the stories about Roadside America. My kids were small then and on one of our trips to PA I promised them a surprise and we stopped at Roadside America. They had a ball seeing the place. Mr. Gieringer had passed on by then but his family was still running the display. A few years later we began going to York and never got back to Roadside America but I still have fond memories of that visit with my family and remember saying to them that, someday, I hoped to have an operating train layout. They're all grown up now. married with kids, but when they do come home to visit, they still look at my now completed layout and say, "hey dad, I still remember that place in PA we stopped at when we were small." 

Good memories! And still a great place to see a display layout that is one of the historic greats in our hobby.

Fred Dole

 

always good to see your posts Fred!

I have been to Roadside America many times, probably 8 times. I love the level of detail Mr. Gieringer did with the houses he built. I have heard some people say that you could sit on the houses because they were very well built. Mr. Gieringer used Lionel trains from his time when he built the place.

 

Directions to Roadside America; you can take old route 22(runs parallel to I-78) from Hamburg to Shartlesville or take route 183 from Reading to old route 22 and head towards Hamburg some, or get off at the exit on I-78 for the Shartlesville Hotel.

 

I used to live in north Reading Pa and still know a lot of the area around Leesport, Dauberville and Hamburg PA.

 

Lee Fritz

Been there twice and fond memories both times.

First time was August of 1990. I was married one day and stopped there with my new bride on our way to Phoenix. We sent everyone postcards and I loved the finale with the recording of Kate Smith singing "God Bless America".

Went back this past summer with my wife and eleven year old daughter, spent two hours in there and we all listened to Kate Smith again.

A true piece of Americana!

All the best,

Miketg

I've been there a couple of times, but it has been a few years since my last visit. Due to other attractions in the area, I see the ChooChoo Barn much more often. Still, once the weather gets warm enough for a long motorcycle ride, a return to Roadside America is definitely on tap. I usually partner it with a stop at Cabela's and the Merchant Square Mall in Allentown.

Went there on a 3rd grade field trip along with Crystal Cave. We are talking 1966! I remember being in awe and buying postcards, that are long gone unfortunately, so I could dream about my future layout! Loved the real water used for the rivers. Went back maybe 10 years ago and still looked great! Maybe time for a re-visit soon. I am only about 45 minutes away.

Roadside America is a wonderful place that I consider the ultimate Folk Art for Pennsylvania and the US in the 50s.  It is so much more than a train layout and if you are expecting an outstanding 'train' related experience you will be disappointed.  However, as a snapshot of American history from log cabins, to cowboys and indians to 'modern day' 1950s it has it all.  Even has a coal mine in 'depth' showing the tunnels and coal cars in the mines.  I went as a kid several times and a few more times as an adult and I never tire of looking at it.  Some would consider the 'ending' a bit of schmaltz with Kate Smith singing God Bless America but all of us older guys know from where that comes!!  

 

Yes it could use some updating but it is a microcosm of the US in 1960!  Prior to hippies, the civil rights movement, political correctness and all the other stuff that has transformed our country. Some for better, some for worse.  

 

I heartily recommend it to anyone who wants to see a bit of American history and great craftsman talent and even some trains.  Remember, it did not start out as a train layout!!

It's truly an icon of Americana, and I'm amazed that it is still standing in this same location after more than 60 years. 

 

I remember my uncle taking our family to see it when i was a kid.  It's hard to believe that was 40 years ago! 

 

Jim

Every time I pass the sign for Roadside America I say to myself who wants to see a miniature village? There is no indication that this is one of the best Lionel Layouts in the country. I am sure they would see attendance increase if they would just mention what it actual is. Thousands of cars pass that way each day, someone needs to tell the owners.  

Quite true!  I have an old color brochure that shows pictures of a couple members of the Gieringer Family sitting on those model houses.  Most likely a level of craftsmanship and dedication that is very rare by today's standards.  But perhaps highly symbolic of much simpler times too.

 

David

I encourage everyone to visit, and draw some inspiration from the scenery. No, it's not photo-realistic. It's better. The builders' eye for architectural styles gives us all something to work towards. Plenty of "accurate" models don't nail the proportions like Mr. Gieringer and his crew.