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, Mr. 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!
Barrier-Free Travel 22 Accessible Road Trips for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Built in 1949, this three-bedroom home looks like a giant work boot — a Haines work boot to be more specific. It was built in 1948 by Mahlon Haines to promote his shoe store chain. The 1500-quare foot stucco and wood frame house, which measures 48 feet long, 25 feet high and 17 feet wide, cost $26,000 to construct. Originally used as a vacation spot for newlyweds, it’s also been a public rental space and even an ice cream shop. Today it’s a vacation rental, but you can still drive by and snap a photo or two of this unusual domicile from the street. There’s room to pull off the road and take a gander at the Haines Shoe, but only guests are permitted to go any closer. Unfortunately the home is not wheelchair-accessible, but it’s worth a quick stop on any Pennsylvania road trip.
Barrier-Free Travel National Park Lodges for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Factory Tours offer a fun peek into the manufacturing process, and many even give out free samples and substantial discounts at their factory stores. And although not all areas of many factories are wheelchair-accessible, more and more companies are making their factory tours doable for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. Additionally, factory tours are easy on the the wallet, as many are low-cost or free. With that in mind, here are some fun wheelchair-accessible factory tours across the US.
At the top of the list of wheelchair-accessible factory tours is Ben & Jerry’s in rural Waterbury, Vermont. This fun tour chronicles the story of childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, and details how they started their business by taking a correspondence course on ice cream making.
Accessible parking is available near the information booth (just follow the signs), but if you can’t do distances, there is a drop-off point in front of the main building. There is level access to the lobby, and a wheelchair is available for loan at the tour desk. The entire tour is wheelchair-accessible, with level access to all areas.
The 30-minute tour begins with a movie about the history of the company, then continues to the mezzanine viewing walkway. Although you don’t go directly in the factory, you get a good birds-eye view of the ice cream making process from this overhead vantage point. There are free samples at the end of the tour, but if you’d like more than a sample, there’s a scoop shop outside. And although it’s not on the tour, be sure and visit the Flavor Graveyard outside. There is a small charge for this popular tour, and it’s a good idea to get your tickets online to avoid disappointment.
Hyundai
www.hmmausa.com
For a look at how Hyundai and Genesis vehicles are made, make sure and take the Hyundai Factory Tour in Montgomery, Alabama. There’s plenty of accessible parking in the visitors lot, with level access to the visitors center, where you’ll find a display of newly minted Hyundai and Genesis vehicles.
The 1.5-hour tour begins with a short movie, after which visitors are escorted to a wheelchair-accessible tram. Head sets and safety glasses are issued to everyone, and then the tram begins its trek through the factory. Along the way the tour guide explains the production process as the tram weaves through the stamping shop, welding shop, general assembly shop and engine shop. The tour ends with a short trip out to the test track. It’s a very interesting tour, and although it’s free, advance reservations are required. The tours are offered during the days on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and in the evenings on Thursdays. Sorry folks, no free samples on this one.
Next up on our list of wheelchair-accessible factory tours is Abita Brewery. Located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, this Louisiana mainstay brews a healthy selection of craft beers and craft sodas.
There is level access to the factory, except the bottling room, which has one step. Still you can get a good look at the bottling process without entering the bottling room. The informative tour last 30 minutes, after which visitors can enjoy a pint in the Tap Room. Alternatively the family-friendly tour offers a walk or roll through the craft soda section of the brewery. This 20-minute tour offers a close-up look at the brewing process, and includes samples of the sodas brewed there. As with the craft beer tour, this tour also offers good wheelchair access.
There is a charge for both tours, and although tickets are available in advance, spots are also held for walk-ups on every tour. These guided tours are held daily in the afternoons, except on Christmas and Thanksgiving. Closed toes shoes are required for all tours.
If you’ve ever wondered how jelly beans are made, than a trip the the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, California is a must. There’s a small charge for this self-guided tour, but advance reservations are not required. Accessible parking is available in front, with level access to the building. And if you can’t manage the short walk from the parking lot, there’s also a drop-off area near the front door.
All areas on the self-guided tour are wheelchair-accessible, with an elevator up to the second floor gallery that circles the plant. Employees are stationed along the way to answer questions, and videos detail the whole production process. There are even lowered windows in the viewing gallery, so wheelchair-users get an excellent view of everything.
The sugary confections start out as slurry which is poured into molds to create the jelly bean centers. The centers are then transferred to spinning drums filled with sugar to form the hard outer shell. Finally the beans are polished in another set of drums filled with syrup. After all that, they are stamped with the Jelly Belly logo, packaged and sent on their way.
After the tour visitors can browse through the art gallery, which contains jelly bean mosaics of presidents, rock stars and fashion icons, have a jelly bean shaped burger in the cafeteria, or try some fudge in the chocolate shop. And don’t forget to pick up some tasty treats in the gift shop.
Last but not least on our roundup of wheelchair-accessible factory tours is the Tillamook Creamery. Originally established as a cheese shop in the 1950s, this Oregon cheese factory has offered free tours since 1968. And although it’s probably the most touristed attraction in town, it’s still worth a stop.
There’s plenty of accessible parking in front, with level access to the building. The self-guided factory tour starts in the Farm Exhibit Hall, which focuses on the basics of cow care by Tillamook farmers. After that, visitors take the elevator to the second floor gallery, which offers an expansive view of the factory floor. Videos and touch screen presentations help describe the production process, as the cheese is transported from station to station on conveyor belts. Visitors are able to view the whole process from start to finish, after which they they head back downstairs for a sample of the finished product.
There is level access to the first-floor sample buffet, where you can try the many different varieties of Tillamook cheese. And if you’d like to take home some cheese, there’s also a cheese shop nearby. There’s level access to the adjacent restaurant which features a variety of cheesy treats. And don’t forget to stop by the ice cream counter to order a scoop of Tillamook ice cream. It’s the perfect way to top off a Tillamook Creamery visit.
Barrier-Free Travel 22 Accessible Road Trips for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
6019 Chambersburg Road
