Tat’s Bizarre Travels

Uniontown, PA - While heading deep into the Laural Highlands for a fun filled day of visiting predetermined offbeat attractions I came across the Searights Toll House. It was one of those unexpected stops. As I was driving along I saw this odd little building with a parking lot, so I pulled on in. Actually I turned around about 200 feet down the road and then pulled in. Typically I’m so focused on getting to my first destination I don’t stop to see the other odd sights that pepper the landscape.

The Searights Toll House is a museum, or so says the sign on the the window. There are no hours posted and the door was locked when I got there so I was a bit disappointed. At 2PM on a Saturday I thought I if they did have house I was nailing them. (In fact if you visit the Searights Toll House page you will notice that they advertise being open from 10 to 4) So with the toll house closed I proceeded to wander around the outside a take a gander.

The building has a list of toll costs on the outside and you can tell it was built in the good ‘ol cart and horse days. Especially when you read that cattle costs 3¢. Once you read the history of the toll house, which you have to get from the internet because the museum’s hours are mysterious, you find out that once the roads became paved and automobiles started ruling the highway the toll houses closed down, only to be replaced years later by those handsome devils the toll booth. And the Easy Pass.

SHIPPENSBURG, PA - This was my favorite stop in middle Pennsylvania. I wasn’t sure at first because there was no website and the only real mention was the listing on Roadside America (the best web site in the world). It’s only about a 5 minute drive from Mr. Ed’s, and if you’re not counting down the numbers on the mailboxes it could be easily missed. The place is situated in the back yard of Ernest Helm and according to the folks at Roadside America (RA) it was built for his cats. It’s almost magical because it’s on the crest of a hill, and, if you were coming in from the south like I was, it just appears behind the normal sized house.

There were no cats when I stopped, nor was Mr. Helm or any of his family around. I’m not sure if there are still any cats. All the building have had their windows and doors covered in plexi so I don’t imagine cat’s would be especially excited to hang out in Tiny World, unless it’s just to sit on the roofs of the town. It just goes to show that someone disrespected the true awesomeness of Tiny World and now the cats (and the rest of the viewing public) have to suffer.

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NEW VRINDABAN, Wv – After an hour and twenty some odd minutes of travel through the West Virginia wilderness I came across a little slice of heaven that defies the definition of this highly misunderstood state. I mean, when one thinks of West Virginia a few things come to mind. Mostly trailers, guns and second cousin marriages. West Virginia, like Jersey, really does get a bad rap…only West Virginia doesn’t require you to pay if you want to leave. And that’s why Jersey gets to keep its reign as the hole of America. But I digress, this entry isn’t about my loathing of the Jersey random payout tax, but one of the true surprises found in the rolling mountains of West Virginia.

The Palace of Gold and City of God is a great example of the diversity that can be found on these rolling country roads. It’s home to a group of Krsna devotees…well, not the palace but the grounds are home to a group Krsna devotees. The palace, built for Srila Prabhupada, is quite a site to behold. The exterior is an assortment of black and gold filigrees and carvings of all sorts of sacred animals including peacocks, elephants and two rockin’ green lions that guard the steps to the front door of the palace. I love those lions and have decided that I need a set for the home I will one day own. There are also some great little gazebos to rest your weary feet and take in the beautiful view of West Virginia wilderness.

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