Any Lancaster PA woodworking attractions?

Jim Mattheiss

Member
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467
Location
Long Hill Township, NJ
Hello:

My family and I are heading to Lancaster County PA over Easter weekend. We've been staying at the Fulton Steamboat Inn (intersection of 30 and 896) for years now. For a pretty standard Hotel my kids really love it. With outlet shopping across the road LOML is happy. With an indoor pool the kids are set. I'm looking for any woodworking attractions in the area.

I know there is a Harbor Freight Outlet in the outlet area. Are there any woodworking related gems in the area? It would be a shame to miss something good just because I didn't know it was there.

Thanks in advance.

Jim
 
Jim,
Easter weekend might find a lot of smaller places closed. Not as many as in years past (the gas stations and grocery stores would be closed on Sundays 20 years ago!) , but the small businesses in the area might be closed, so a call would be a good idea before going.

Area sawmills/lumber yards:
http://www.hollistersawmill.com/
Definite call needed before going since he is only open on Saturday mornings. This is an actual small mill - no store front here! Bob only stocks local hardwoods. A little off the beaten path, but neat place.

http://www.groffslumber.com/
A traditional lumber yard with a wide variety of lumber in stock. Right off RT 272 south of The Buck.

http://www.figuredhardwoods.com/
Sandy Pond Hardwoods - never been there, but they are just up the road from Groffs.

On your way over to Lancaster, there is Hearne Hardwoods (a bit out of the way) and the Downingtown WoodCraft (only if you don't have one in your area;)).
http://www.hearnehardwoods.com/
http://www.woodcraft.com/stores/store.aspx?id=537

Also, if you are going past Doylestown, check out the Mercer Museum - very cool place. Actually, it might be worth a detour!
http://www.mercermuseum.org/

Depending on how old your kids are, the Science Factory in Lancaster just opened to good reviews.
http://www.lancastersciencefactory.com/

If you are looking for a good meal, head over to T.Burk & Co. Deli. They're on RT340 (2433 Old Philadelphia Pike) just up RT896 from you're hotel. Not fancy, but they are frequented by locals and close. (We go there all the time - in an effort to have full disclosure, the couple that owns and runs the place are our neighbors.:thumb:)

OK, I'm not sure if that's what you are looking for, but that's what I came up with off the top of my head!

Wes
 
Wes seems to have covered the woodworking part pretty well, so let me add one non-woodworking attraction that I would never miss if I were returning to that area, the steam train at Strasburg. There is also the PA Railroad Museum - lots of beautiful woodwork in some of those old passenger cars!
 
There used to be a HUGE model railroad in Strausburg also.

Guy that built it went all out. glowing campfires at night, swings that are swinging, dutchmen actually sawing a log with a buck saw.

When we where there many many moons ago he had 7 lines running. Two trains on each line running head on. One would pull into a siding, sometimes it was a minute or so some times just seconds later the other train would pass

I had to go looking

The Choo choo barn

If you like trains you have to see it
 
Thank you for all the replies.

We are heading into Lancaster on Friday during the day, so it's possible to stop in on some of the places then. I'll check out those wood suppliers' web sites - thanks for the links Wes :wave:.

We know Easter Sunday is not a really great time to travel, but it fit into our schedule. The only food available in Groton Connecticut on Easter 3 years ago was Taco Bell.

My kid's are 8 and 11. My son is into trains, so we've been to Strasburg RR and the PA Railroad museum before, along with the Choo Choo Barn. We went to "A Day out with Thomas" there several years ago - crazy crowded and too hot.

I'll let you know what I find.

Cheers

Jim
 
Jim,
Easter weekend might find a lot of smaller places closed. Not as many as in years past (the gas stations and grocery stores would be closed on Sundays 20 years ago!) , but the small businesses in the area might be closed, so a call would be a good idea before going.

Area sawmills/lumber yards:
http://www.hollistersawmill.com/
Definite call needed before going since he is only open on Saturday mornings. This is an actual small mill - no store front here! Bob only stocks local hardwoods. A little off the beaten path, but neat place.

http://www.groffslumber.com/
A traditional lumber yard with a wide variety of lumber in stock. Right off RT 272 south of The Buck.

http://www.figuredhardwoods.com/
Sandy Pond Hardwoods - never been there, but they are just up the road from Groffs.

On your way over to Lancaster, there is Hearne Hardwoods (a bit out of the way) and the Downingtown WoodCraft (only if you don't have one in your area;)).
http://www.hearnehardwoods.com/
http://www.woodcraft.com/stores/store.aspx?id=537

Also, if you are going past Doylestown, check out the Mercer Museum - very cool place. Actually, it might be worth a detour!
http://www.mercermuseum.org/

Depending on how old your kids are, the Science Factory in Lancaster just opened to good reviews.
http://www.lancastersciencefactory.com/

If you are looking for a good meal, head over to T.Burk & Co. Deli. They're on RT340 (2433 Old Philadelphia Pike) just up RT896 from you're hotel. Not fancy, but they are frequented by locals and close. (We go there all the time - in an effort to have full disclosure, the couple that owns and runs the place are our neighbors.:thumb:)

OK, I'm not sure if that's what you are looking for, but that's what I came up with off the top of my head!

Wes
Well, I guess until someone shows up who really knows the area, Wes' response will have to do. :rofl:
 
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