Weird Pennsylvania: Your guide to unique spots in the state

Beyond the immortalized battlefields, museums of science and historic collections, Pennsylvania also is home to an amazing array of weird and wacky sites and attractions.

Here’s a look at 23 of those special places, including a few right here in our own backyard.

Castle Halloween, Altoona

Decades of Halloween and decades of research/collecting have come together in more than 36,000 artifacts of the Oct. 31 holiday spilling — literally spilling — out of the Loudon Mansion along a residential street in Altoona. The Castle Halloween Museum was moved from West Virginia to Altoona a few years ago, the entire collection of everything from rare, Halloween-themed pinball machines to some of the earliest Halloween costumes to every decoration, novelty and food in memory. As possibly the largest Halloween collection anywhere, Castle Halloween regularly loans out parts of itself to far-flung exhibits and programs.

Centralia

The one-time thriving coal town saw its history and legacy change dramatically in 1962 when a trash fire near an abandoned strip mine ignited what was left of the coal seam beneath the town. That fire never stopped spreading and, as it did, released noxious gas and opened sinkholes. Eventually, the town became uninhabitable, with the population shrinking from more than 1,000 residents in 1980 to 63 by 1990. Pennsylvania condemned the borough in 1992, and 10 years after that the postal service discontinued the town’s zip code. In October 2013, officials reached an agreement with the last seven residents to live out their lives there.

Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland, Allenwood

A zoo focused entirely on reptiles and amphibians — everything from tiny poison- arrow frogs to giant crocodilians and Komodo dragons — Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland offers close-up looks at some of the less-cuddly members of the animal kingdom. Daily feedings of various animals are featured. Learn more at reptiland.com.

Civil War Tails, Gettysburg

The Civil War Tails at Homestead Diorama Museum LLC has several dioramas of Civil War battles, including Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. What makes this museum truly quirky, however, are the miniature cats that have taken the place of its soldiers. Learn more at civilwartails.com.

The Coffee Pot, Bedford

The Coffee Pot is a structure that’s shaped like a coffee pot with a spout and handle. David Berton Koontz built the structure in 1927 to attract customers to his service station along the Lincoln Highway and U.S. 30. An example of programmatic architecture, the structure was bought for $1 by the Bedford County Fair Association and moved across the street to the Bedford County Fairgrounds by the Lincoln Highway Heritage Park Corridor in 2004.

Columcille Megalith Park, Bangor

The Columcille Megalith Park has several standing stones in what its website described as “a park rooted in Celtic spirituality and inspired by the Isle of Iona off the coast of Scotland.” It’s meant as a place that welcomes anyone seeking renewal and transformation. Learn more at columcille.org.

Coudersport Ice Mine, Coudersport

Ice forms in the mine just outside of Coudersport in early April and continues to do so as the weather warms up, according to previous reporting by PennLive. It only begins to melt in September, and there’s only a residual amount left during winter. Despite that, the mine has never been used to harvest ice. Learn more at facebook.com/gary.buchsen.

Gravity Hill, New Paris

The laws of physics appear to be suspended at Gravity Hill, where your car seems to roll uphill and water flows. On the roadway, you’ll find the indicators for “GH Start” and “GH Finish.” Don’t let the fact that it’s an optical illusion get in the way of your amazement. Learn more at gravityhill.com.

Haines Shoe House, York

Today an ice cream shop, the shoe-shaped building has been a sightseeing stop for decades. Commissioned by Mahlon Haines in 1948 as an advertising gimmick for his business. It has since served as a residence for several people. There’s a surprising amount of space for a building with such an interesting space, with five levels, three bedrooms and two full baths. The ground level of the house features the bakery and ice cream parlor. Learn more at hainesshoe house.com.

Soldier’s and Sailor’s Monument, Lewistown

The only piece of President Abraham Lincoln’s tomb to ever leave Springfield, Ill., came to Lewistown in 1890 during a remodeling project. It was released in recognition of the fact that the Logan Guard from Mifflin County were some of the first volunteers to answer President Lincoln’s call for troops to defend the Union in 1861. The 14-by-24-inch granite block was incorporated into the monument that still stands today. Learn more at lewistown square.com.

Phil’s Burrow, Punxsutawney

Groundhog Day may be over, but you can still visit Punxsutawney Phil all year round at his burrow in Barclay Square. He likes to sleep toward the back of the man-made burrow. Learn more at groundhog.org.

Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium, Orrtanna

“Mister Ed” Gotwalt and wife Pat launched Mister Ed’s: The Areas Most Unusual General Store in 1975 about 2 miles from the current location of the museum and emporium, which since 2014 has been owned and operated by granddaughter Nicole and husband Isaac. The original Mister Ed’s enjoyed much success as a community gathering place where locals would come for food and fellowship at the snack bar and to see curiosities, like a small elephant collection. Gotwalt re-invented Mister Ed’s as an elephant museum and candy emporium at its current location in 1983. On July 5, 2010, the store caught fire. More than 2,000 elephant statues, toys, figurines and more were lost. But, within two weeks, a temporary store was set up in a 400-square-foot trailer in the parking lot and a “Save the Elephants” cleaning event was organized. The new store and museum opened on Feb. 5, 2011, and today houses more than 12,000 pachyderm figurines, circus souvenirs, political paraphernalia, toys and more. Learn more at mistereds.com.

The Pagoda, Reading

Towering 620 feet above Reading on Mount Penn, the Pagoda stands 7 stories high on a 28-by-50-foot base. Commissioned in 1906 at a cost of $50,000 by William Witman Sr. to cover his stone quarry, the Pagoda was completed in 1908. It was originally intended to be a luxury resort, but because of the bank foreclosure and the denial of a liquor license, Witman never opened it. By 1910, the Pagoda and the surrounding 10 acres were deeded to local business owners Jonathon Julia (Bell) Mould. On April 21, 1911, they sold the Pagoda to the city for $1. Learn more at readingpagoda.com.

Penny Rock, Montrose

Along a trail in Salt Springs State Park stands a boulder packed with manually inserted pennies. Legend holds that good luck will follow those that hammer a penny into the rock but will abandon anyone who removes a penny from the rock. Learn more at dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/SaltSpringsStatePark.

Pymatuning Reservoir Spillway, Linesville

Known as the place “where the ducks walk on the fish,” the spillway at Pymatuning Reservoir has long been a popular tourist attraction, with visitors buying tons of loaves of old bread to feed the huge number of carp. Equally large numbers of ducks gathered for the free hand-outs, often walking on the carp in their dashes for the bread. Learn more at facebook.com/Linesville- Spillway-191690847543460.

The Pizza Brain, Philadelphia

A bucket-list stop for all pizza lovers, The Pizza Brain is home to the world’s first pizza culture museum and shop. According to Guinness World Records, the eatery holds the largest collection of pizza-related items in the world, with more than 550 artifacts in rotation. Pizza Brain educates foodies about the cultural impact of the famed Italian import while serving up gas oven-fired pies. Learn more at pizzabrain.org.

UFO Memorial, Kecksburg

On the night of Dec. 9, 1965, thousands of people in six U.S. states and Ontario, Canada, saw a fireball racing across the sky. Witnesses claimed it landed in the woods of Kecksburg, a village southeast of Pittsburgh, according to previous reporting by PennLive. Before the U.S. Army cordoned the site off to the public, witnesses reported finding an acorn-shaped object that was the size of a Volkswagon Beetle. Officials said it was a meteor, though some speculate that it might have been an alien spacecraft or a Soviet space probe. The annual UFO festival has been canceled for this year, but is set for July 29-31, 2022. Learn more at kecksburgvfd.com.

Playthings Etc., Butler

With more than 3,000 toys in stock, Playthings Etc. warrants a visit based on its huge selection of classic to futuristic science kits, hobby products and educational toys. It makes its way into our look at weird places by existing in a building shaped like a steel stealth bomber. Learn more at playthings-etc.com.

Ringing Rocks Park, Upper Black Eddy

Ringing Rocks Park is the most famous of Pennsylvania fields of igneous rock. The 10-foot rock piles produce variously pitched ringing sounds when hit with hammers or other rocks. The 128-acre park also features picnicking, hiking and nature areas and a picturesque waterfall. Learn more at buckscounty.org/government/ParksandRecreation/Parks/RingingRocks.

Mutter Museum, Philadelphia

Home to bones, organs and cabinets of skulls, the Mutter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia is an exploration of anatomy and medical history. The items in its collection range from seventh century to 2014 and include pieces of Albert Einstein’s brain, the Soap Lady and a giant megacolon. Learn more at muttermuseum.org.

Randyland, Pittsburgh

Randyland is one of Pittsburgh’s most colorful and Instagrammable landmarks and offers unique insight into the mind of its artist and owner, Randy Gilson. Randyland welcomes visitors to explore the public art displays in and around the property. Learn more at randy.land.

The Stoogeum, Ambler

North America’s only permanent tribute to the comedy of Moe, Larry, and Curley (and Shemp, Joe and Curly Joe), The Stoogeum houses more than 100,000 pieces of Stooge-themed memorabilia — like pinball machines and breakfast cereal — and personal items, such as Shemp Howard’s discharge papers and Larry Fine’s driver’s license. Learn more at stoogeum.com.

Trundle Manor, Swissvale

Trundle Manor bills itself as “the most unusual tourist trap in the world meets the most bizarre private collection on public display.” Every room of the place is packed with oddities like animals in jars of alcohol, old taxidermy, bizarre gizmos, antiquated medical tools, strange weaponry and the likes. Learn more at trundlemanor.com.