6019 Chambersburg Road
Orrtanna, PA
www.mistereds.com

If you happen to be on the way to see the historic Gettysburg Battlefield, plan on a short side trip to Orrtanna for a stop at Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium. The museum started after Ed Gotwalt received an “elephant-themed wedding gift”, and as he freely admits, “Things kind of got out of hand from there.” Today the collection has grown and his grandaughter Nicole has taken over the museum and candy store.

Located just off Highway 30 W, tMr. Ed’s offers an accessible parking place on a cement pad near the front door; and level access to the front entrance. Inside, there’s plenty of room to navigate a wheelchair through the candy store, and over to the museum proper.

There’s good access to the display area, which is literally lined with elephants. From wicker to ceramic, metal, glass and stuffed incarnations; the museum boasts more inanimate pachyderms than most folks have seen in a lifetime. Notable artifacts include an elephant hair dryer, a Dumbo riding model (a photo op for youngsters), and an unusual sculpture of a head with elephants protruding from the top. Add in the requisite Jim Beam collector bottles, a few elephant clocks and even a lamp, and you have a pretty comprehensive collection. .

The candy shop is worth a visit too, as it’s filled with lots of sweets from yesteryear, and includes a large selection of mix-and-match wrapped goodies. Add in a Jelly Belly self-service bar, and an odd selection of edible insects and you’ll find something for just about everyone on your gift list. And don’t forget to sample the home-made fudge — the selection is impressive and the quality is second-to-none.

A fun stop for kids of all ages!