It was a great choice of music. Sometimes I go back to this video while playing "America". Thank you for this post. Hard sometimes to watch. This video is exactly how I remember it. The section in the video of the 7 mile stretch really gets me. I also remember living close to Reel's Corner and dad stopping there for gas, or bowling as a kid at the alley. Wish I had my own video to share of the greatest time of my life...
My husband and I did a motorcycle trip on the Lincoln Highway a few weeks back between Greensburg and Gettysburg. We stopped at a few of the "roadside giants" and took pictures....also looked for The Ship Hotel location. We did pull over at this spot but had no idea this was where it was. They should erect a sign or something to mark the location.
Thank you so much for posting this. We often camped at Shawnee in the 1960s (!) and would often take a much needed rest stop at The Ship On The Mountain! I just just finished reading Brian Butko's book, THE SHIP HOTEL, and was remarkably saddened by the fate of this wonderful roadside attraction.
We used to pass by there on route back and forth from Stoysyown and Elkland, PA in the late 50's and early 60's. I always wishd that I could stay there, but being one of nine children, that was just a wish. Thanks for the footage. I went down there to visit a couple of times in the 80's and always stopped there to see the view...outstanding! Didn't they advertise that you could see 3 states and a
sh&*load of Counties (can't remember that #)? Sad to hear that it burnt down.
Sorry, they took away the music track I added (Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf; America by Simon and Garfunkel). I wasnt trying to infringe on music copyrights, I just wanted some audio to make it more interesting since it is silent film.
It's a real shame that this place not only closed, but then burned to the ground. I remember eating there in the 60's, and it was great. So, rediscovered the place in the 1980's, and it had gone to pure shit. I ordered a salad which had brown lettuce. Then I watched the owners pour some black coffee that somebody did not finish, back into the pot. Then there was no running water in the restrooms. I knew at this point, it was doomed. I never went back after that experience.
Awesome video ! I grew up in Altoona, and remember driving past the "Ship" in the late 1980's. I've never been inside, but remember stopping to look at it. It was a true piece of history. Thanks for the great memories . . .
Thank you, thank you! I can't believe the memories! I live in Jacksonville FL right now but grew up in Central City about 7 miles away. Still depresses me to see the site now when I go every year to Reels Corner to visit family. The film footage is about the time I was growing up, too. What a great posting. Thanks again!!!
Thank you so much for posting this video, my grandparents would take me here a couple of times every summer. I remember the dining room, the deck and looking through the telescopes as well as the gift shop downstairs. It saddens me that it burned down, but thanks for bringing back many wonderful memories! I'm happy the ship hotel has not been forgotten!
Just some simple old Super8, or even Regular8 mm scratchy film footage to anyone else, but to those of us who live near, or have even visited this landmark in it's day, this clip brings back the memories. And coupled with that early 70's soundtrack, the two go hand and foot. And that classic Vanishing Point intro. Thanks for the great clip.
At 2:30 a.m. Friday, October 26, firemen responded to a report that the Ship was in flames. They were too late. The old structure burned so quickly that one fireman described the scene as "like the sun was coming up."
After fifty years of operating a roadside business on the site, Ship builder Herbert Paulson died in 1973. Five years later, his family sold the Ship Hotel for $70,000 to Jack and Mary Loya, locals who lived about half a mile down the hill. The Loyas tried to revitalize the property by renaming it "Noah's Ark," covering its metal surface with brown wood, and adding a petting zoo, but the venture fizzled. The Ship closed to the public in 1987 and soon began to deteriorate.
Was the arson an insurance claim?
Engineer245 1 year ago
It was a great choice of music. Sometimes I go back to this video while playing "America". Thank you for this post. Hard sometimes to watch. This video is exactly how I remember it. The section in the video of the 7 mile stretch really gets me. I also remember living close to Reel's Corner and dad stopping there for gas, or bowling as a kid at the alley. Wish I had my own video to share of the greatest time of my life...
jotacalvo 1 year ago
My husband and I did a motorcycle trip on the Lincoln Highway a few weeks back between Greensburg and Gettysburg. We stopped at a few of the "roadside giants" and took pictures....also looked for The Ship Hotel location. We did pull over at this spot but had no idea this was where it was. They should erect a sign or something to mark the location.
restlessacres 1 year ago
This is great! It's unfortunate that it burned it was neat!
crazyfunkyshoesA 1 year ago
Thank you so much for posting this. We often camped at Shawnee in the 1960s (!) and would often take a much needed rest stop at The Ship On The Mountain! I just just finished reading Brian Butko's book, THE SHIP HOTEL, and was remarkably saddened by the fate of this wonderful roadside attraction.
TonyDale 1 year ago
You may want to contact PBS in Pittsburgh they would probably love to see this footage
ZoranK50 1 year ago
We used to pass by there on route back and forth from Stoysyown and Elkland, PA in the late 50's and early 60's. I always wishd that I could stay there, but being one of nine children, that was just a wish. Thanks for the footage. I went down there to visit a couple of times in the 80's and always stopped there to see the view...outstanding! Didn't they advertise that you could see 3 states and a
sh&*load of Counties (can't remember that #)? Sad to hear that it burnt down.
denisewinant1 1 year ago
@denisewinant1 yep, 3 states and 7 counties
dirtrokker4 2 months ago
Sorry, they took away the music track I added (Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf; America by Simon and Garfunkel). I wasnt trying to infringe on music copyrights, I just wanted some audio to make it more interesting since it is silent film.
drums600 1 year ago
Cool video, I hope someone will replace this soon, a great idea!!!
crazyshellyfrombills 2 years ago
It's a real shame that this place not only closed, but then burned to the ground. I remember eating there in the 60's, and it was great. So, rediscovered the place in the 1980's, and it had gone to pure shit. I ordered a salad which had brown lettuce. Then I watched the owners pour some black coffee that somebody did not finish, back into the pot. Then there was no running water in the restrooms. I knew at this point, it was doomed. I never went back after that experience.
thelazycomic 2 years ago
why was this ship torn down? I remember going here when I was little. I wish it was still there to show my children.
prettyface777 2 years ago
it was burned to the ground in 2001 by a arsonist.
thuncat1 2 years ago
It was shot without sounds, so it was a lot more fun to watch with the music.
drums600 3 years ago
Awesome video ! I grew up in Altoona, and remember driving past the "Ship" in the late 1980's. I've never been inside, but remember stopping to look at it. It was a true piece of history. Thanks for the great memories . . .
Oldcarsarecool 3 years ago
Thank you, thank you! I can't believe the memories! I live in Jacksonville FL right now but grew up in Central City about 7 miles away. Still depresses me to see the site now when I go every year to Reels Corner to visit family. The film footage is about the time I was growing up, too. What a great posting. Thanks again!!!
jotacalvo 3 years ago
Thank you so much for posting this video, my grandparents would take me here a couple of times every summer. I remember the dining room, the deck and looking through the telescopes as well as the gift shop downstairs. It saddens me that it burned down, but thanks for bringing back many wonderful memories! I'm happy the ship hotel has not been forgotten!
ariesradio 3 years ago
Fantastic! I live in PA & miss this landmark. I have a page from the 1930s logbook. The soundtrack was perfect. Thanks for sharing the rare gem.
coleco69 3 years ago
My great grandfather, Emilio Rosso, was one of the builders of the ship. We never got to see it. Thank you for the footage.
nikkimoll1113 3 years ago 3
Just some simple old Super8, or even Regular8 mm scratchy film footage to anyone else, but to those of us who live near, or have even visited this landmark in it's day, this clip brings back the memories. And coupled with that early 70's soundtrack, the two go hand and foot. And that classic Vanishing Point intro. Thanks for the great clip.
shotrag 4 years ago
I live only a couple minutes from the Ship Hotel's location. This footage is great. It brings back a lot of memories.
FestivalPublishing 4 years ago
I have some reel to reel film on the Ship Motel from 1968 or 1969, Im going to try to convert it and put it up
Thanks for the memory
sheltiepaws1 4 years ago 4
...the year it burned was 2001.
drums600 4 years ago
At 2:30 a.m. Friday, October 26, firemen responded to a report that the Ship was in flames. They were too late. The old structure burned so quickly that one fireman described the scene as "like the sun was coming up."
drums600 4 years ago
After fifty years of operating a roadside business on the site, Ship builder Herbert Paulson died in 1973. Five years later, his family sold the Ship Hotel for $70,000 to Jack and Mary Loya, locals who lived about half a mile down the hill. The Loyas tried to revitalize the property by renaming it "Noah's Ark," covering its metal surface with brown wood, and adding a petting zoo, but the venture fizzled. The Ship closed to the public in 1987 and soon began to deteriorate.
drums600 4 years ago