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USA - PENNSYLVANIA : QUIRKY PENNSYLVANIA  Weird. Wacky. And sometimes, just plain eerie. Pennsylvania’s quirky attractions may not be in your typical travel guide, but their colorful names, spooky stories and unexplained phenomena are an integral part of roadside Americana. From a giant shoe to a haunted dress, a “bird-in-hand” to a snake lover’s dream, Pennsylvania’s quirkiest attractions prove why it is truly the State of Independence. The village of Bird-in-Hand was named in the early 1700s when the Old Philadelphia Pike was being created between Lancaster and Philadelphia. Legend has it that two road surveyors were discussing staying overnight or traveling more, when one said to the other, “A bird in the hand is worth two in a bush,” and so they remained on the road and the town became Bird-In Hand. A few neighboring towns of similarly peculiar names are Intercourse, Blue Ball and White Horse. The town of Jim Thorpe named after “the greatest athlete in the world” was previously known as Mauch Chunk or Bear Mountain until 1953. When Jim Thorpe passed away his wife asked his hometown in Oklahoma for a memorial to be built in his honor. When they declined, the towns of West and East Mauch Chunk joined together, accepted and renamed their new town Jim Thorpe. Thorpe’s remains were laid to rest there later that year. Mars is not only a planet, but also a small town north of Pittsburgh. Named after the “Star of Mars”, Mars was founded in 1875. The town’s symbol is a silver and purple spaceship located in the town square. A few businesses, such as Mars Pizza Shop and Mars Travel use the town’s extraterrestrial name. Amos the Giant Amish Man stands 15-feet tall and lives outside the Hershey Farm and Restaurant Inn located in Strasburg. In one hand he holds a giant rake and the other hand he extends as a friendly gesture to all those that travel through the PA Dutch Country. Ringing Rocks Park, located in the far north of Bucks County, is the most famous of several Pennsylvania fields of igneous rock which produce variously-pitched ringing sounds when hit with hammers or other rocks. For years, occultists have touted Ringing Rocks as a near-lifeless area of paranormal activity, a convergence of ley lines where compasses won't work properly. Although scientists don't know exactly why the rocks sound like they do, plenty of flora, fauna and beautiful waterfalls can be enjoyed in the approximately 100-acre area. Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland in Allenwood is an AZA accredited zoo specializing in reptiles and amphibians. Since opening in 1964, Reptiland has provided the public a link to the less-loved members of the animal kingdom. Visitors experience daily feedings and touch a variety of reptile skins to feel the difference between turtles, snakes and crocodiles. Haines Shoe House along the Lincoln Highway is a home stuffed into a white, 25-foot stucco boot. Colonel Haines built the “Shoe Wizard” in 1947 as a wild advertising ploy. Today the house can be toured by appointment on Friday through Sunday. The Haunted Wedding Dress of the Baker Mansion in Altoona can be seen as part of Blair County Historical Society's museum. Legend tells that this was the wedding dress for the daughter of Mr. Bell, a prominent local man. Bell founded and gave his name to the nearby town of Bellwood. Over the years, the wedding dress has gained a reputation as being haunted. Visitors claim to have seen the wedding dress move within its glass case. A Coffee Pot Shaped Building on the Bedford County Fair Grounds stands 18-feet high and was a popular lunch spot back in 1925 after it was constructed. Today the coffee pot has been restored and is still an entertaining stop along the Lincoln Highway. Gravity Hill, located in the suburbs of New Paris, is a gravitational phenomenon. This attraction proves that gravity has gone haywire. Water flows the opposite way and cars glide uphill. There are no explanations for this phenomenon and this attraction is completely free. Photo courtesy Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau
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