Pennsylvania’s back roads hide treasures most tourists never see. Beyond the Liberty Bell and Gettysburg, a network of quirky, forgotten monuments tells a different story of the Keystone State.
Pack some snacks, fill up your tank, and discover these overlooked roadside wonders on your next weekend adventure.
1. Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum, Orrtanna
Trumpeting its uniqueness along Route 30, this pachyderm paradise houses over 12,000 elephant figurines in every imaginable form. The jumbo-sized Ms. Ellie statue greets visitors with a raised trunk, a symbol of good luck.
Founded by the late “Mr. Ed” Gotwalt, this whimsical collection grew from a personal obsession into a beloved roadside stop. Don’t miss the candy shop where homemade fudge awaits weary travelers.
2. The Reading Pagoda, Reading
Perched atop Mt. Penn like an architectural hallucination, this seven-story Japanese pagoda seems wildly out of place in Pennsylvania. Built in 1908 as a luxury resort by a quarry owner hoping to beautify his industrial scar, it never opened for its intended purpose.
The city purchased it for $1, saving it from demolition. At night, its red lights guide travelers for miles around, a beacon of Reading’s quirky charm.
3. Coudersport Ice Mine, Coudersport
Mother Nature defies logic at this perplexing geological wonder where ice forms in summer and melts in winter. Discovered in 1894, this natural freezer baffled scientists for generations with its backwards thermal behavior.
Visitors descend a staircase into the rocky hillside to witness spectacular ice formations during the hottest months. The phenomenon likely results from complex air pressure systems within the mountain’s fissures – nature’s own air conditioning system.
4. Koontz Coffee Pot, Bedford
Steam practically rises from this 18-foot-tall coffee pot building, a prime example of novelty architecture from America’s early road-tripping days. Built in 1927 by David Koontz to lure hungry travelers to his gas station, it originally served light lunches.
After years of neglect, local preservationists saved and relocated this quirky landmark to the Bedford County Fairgrounds. The distinctive brown pot with its curved spout remains one of Pennsylvania’s most photographed roadside oddities.
5. Jenny Globe, Somerset
Spinning silently above Somerset County stands a rotating globe, originally constructed by Jenny Products in the late 1960s to celebrate their worldwide expansion.
This metallic planet bears meticulous continental outlines visible from Route 219 and the nearby Turnpike. After its advertising purpose ended, this spherical oddity remained, becoming an unintentional monument to industrial optimism. The globe continues to be a cherished and prominent landmark.
6. Gravity Hill, New Paris
Optical illusion or supernatural force? At this unassuming spot near New Paris, cars in neutral appear to roll uphill, defying the laws of physics. White paint marks on the road indicate where to position your vehicle for the best effect.
Local legends claim it’s either the work of ghostly children from a nearby tragic accident or magnetic anomalies beneath the road. Scientists explain it as a horizon-line illusion, but that doesn’t stop thousands from testing it annually.
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