Exploring the Apocalyptic ABANDONED Pennsylvania Turnpike - 13 Miles of Decay

The desolate and abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike is a 13 mile stretch of road constructed in 1940 to help the flow of automobiles through the Appalachian Mountains. Using already dynamite blasted mountain tunnels previously constructed from a never completed railroad line, the Turnpike went through a total of 7 Mountains. The closure of the Turnpike was decided when too many delays were happening as a result of the automotive industry boom, and the road closed permanently closed in 1968. Since the closure, the road had seen many purposes in both Film, and the Military. A 2009 Movie titled "The Road" directed by Viggo Mortensen, follows a father and son while they travel America in a post apocalyptic future. The military also utilized this large stretch pf road for both storage for aircrafts on the road, and vehicle storage inside the vacant tunnel system. The road was also used for training troops for Iraq in the early 2000s. Now, the overgrown road has 2 Tunnels abandoned along with it, leaving behind a very post apocalyptic environment, we will be learning the history as we travel this long forgotten road. if you enjoy the video, leave a thumbs up and subscribe for more exploring and abandoned content!
thanks for watching! have a good day !
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[@DarkExploration]

Hopefully you guys are into this forgotten road as much as i am, Wandering down miles of overgrown road is something you'd have to experience to believe, a true feeling of being the last person on Earth. Make sure to stay till the end of the video, we will also be exploring the neighboring ghost town, and we'll see how the closure of the Pennsylvania Turnpike affected a local economy. We'll be checking out abandoned houses, hotels, diners and gas stations all closed because of the rerouted interstate system. This place has a ton to take in, both visually and with its history! if you enjoy the ghost town and Turnpike, leave a thumbs up, and I hope to see you next time !

[@zxyatiywariii8]

Very cool! Liked and subbed.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

The Road wasn't directed by Viggo Mortensen, he just starred in it and might have been an executive producer. It was actually directed by John Hillcoat, a dude who used to direct Depeche Mode music videos.

[@joshc63111]

The tunnel is used by chip ganassi racing not the military

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

@@joshc63111 He said it was used by the military in the past, not now.

[@joshc63111]

@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 yeah i dont think, the pa dot used it for testing new road compounds and paint for a long time. Than leased the tunnel just off mile maker 100 i think on the pa turn pike to chip ganassi racing for development of his team.

[@mikemullen5563]

WE bought a cabin near there a decade ago. The old owners used to hike up there regularly. They went up to do some cross country skiing one winter at the beginning of a snowstorm. and found a wrecked car and some skeletons near the tunnel entrance. They hightailed it baCK to civilization and reported to the local cops, who responded. "that damned film company was supposed to leave a guard!". They had had no idea this was a set.

[@LKA-si7ln]

That’s hilarious! Your comment deserves more likes.

[@chuckrann9784]

I’m 71 and traveled between Chicago and the east coast as a child many times. One of the routes we took was on the Penn Turnpike through Tuscarora & Allegheny Mountain in those tunnels. My other favorite path was on the old West Virginia turnpike. There were only two or three lanes and several tunnels back then. We would overnight in Charleston WV and the morning drive in fog was always an adventure. Thanks for the memories!

[@BlackMan614]

The WV Turnpike between Cheylan and Mossy is just like you would have remember. They merely added 2 lanes to the existing 2 lanes separated only by a concrete barrier. The only modernized section on this part, was the bypass of the Memorial tunnel.

[@user-so2ni3lq1x]

I haven't thought about the old turnpike in 40 years. Thanks.

[@JackMehoff-db8bt]

I’ve been to the old turnpike many times still go to this day for some things I’m in Parkersburg :) god blesss ya sir

[@rogerroger3383]

I have fond memories of traveling the PA turnpike in the 60s & 70s. We often stopped at the many Howard Johnson restaurants that were along that route. I wish they were still there. So nostalgic.

[@pghshops]

Same childhood many times every year. Philly to Chicago to St Louis and back.

[@fullofbsx2]

So fun facts. I live 10 minutes from there. The hotel with the collapsed roof looks that way because it caught fire a few years back. My wife, and mother in law cleaned there probably 20 years ago. The blue gas station was owned by my cousin's grandparents when I was a kid. We used to hang out there a lot. The silver dinner was a 70s themed Denny's style restaurant The empty lot across the road by the the days inn was a Hardee's that also burnt down. In the late 90s my cousins and I filmed a Star wars fan film at the tunnel entrance that was played in several other countries during film festivals

[@MrUnderhilll]

Is the fan film online anywhere?

[@josephgregorowicz5135]

I’m actually curious about this as well

[@Hiphopsyung12]

gonna reply so i get a noti if we get an update on this fan film .......... i just read your name and im hoping youre not all full of bs lol

[@euphemiaknw7696]

Haha show us the film!

[@john-nx4xn]

Where could I find it on Google maps?

[@donaldlampert331]

We drove the Old Pennsylvania Turnpike, through all the tunnels, in the later 1950’s and early 60’s, during summer trips between New Jersey, and South Dakota where our relatives lived. What a memory from long ago, to see this! Thank you!

[@steveclapper5424]

Me too!

[@NewNormalWorldOrder]

Boy you’re older than the dirt you sleep in, huh?

[@mrdirtydeedz2873]

It's amazing how a road that closed 56 years ago is in better shape than the currently maintained roads in the tri-state area.

[@thekingofkingsrp]

Lol

[@robert25archer25]

Well partly thats cause no ones driven on it since closed.

[@Courtesyflush52]

Tends to happen when nobody uses the road

[@eternalgamers10]

We got ourselves a genius in the making here, lol.

[@Courtesyflush52]

@@eternalgamers10 we got a Fullbright Scholar with this one lol

[@DWilliams-ce8nb]

As a child, we travelled that turnpike on every Summer vacation from 1947 to 1955. The tunnels were exciting, but scary. The tunnels were more narrow inside than at the openings. And there was traffic going both ways. We kids always looked forward to lunch at the service plazas. At that time they were Howard Johnson's. The food and service was top-notch. And their ice cream sundaes were spectacular.

[@lilyflower0616]

Everyone in the comments is so right, you are very unique. There are many other channels who do what you do but you bring a gentle, compassionate, informative take to every video. I would probably watch a video of yours if you just walked down the sidewalk of a street! Very calming. The world needs more people like you! ❤️

[@DarkExploration]

I appreciate your words :) Thank you

[@mmaaddict78]

PA resident here. There are a lot of modern ruins scattered around the state. A lot of them are industrial revolution era relics of the past(older than this spot). I've spent many weekends exploring these places and learning about their history, including this one. I have mountain biked this place a few times. Loved your video.

[@hreindustries]

one of my favorite aspects of PA is the exploration it offers

[@rachelmartin8130]

Just moved from New Jersey but I can tell you there's a lot of those places there as well.

[@jimmylieb5225]

the old stone iron furnaces and my father told us kids about the beehive coke furnaces that used to ring Uniontown.

[@MikeMovesPLK]

​@@hreindustriesone of the only positives is exploring and stuff looking cool Pa blows i lived here all my life lol. I also live where oil was discovered then they ran the town into the ground and left lol

[@hreindustries]

@@MikeMovesPLK once you live in MD you realize it aint so bad

[@eileennovak1656]

"Heaven for fans of abandonment and modern ruins." Well-stated, dude. Pleasure seeing this place again. ty

[@eileennovak1656]

haven - ops

[@matttilley8620]

You are the reason why I'm glad KZbin exists. This video appeared on my page 30 minutes ago, and I'm able to say you did a great job. Everything about this (production, narrative) is compelling and well worth the time.

[@DarkExploration]

Ultimate compliment. Thank you !

[@DreyzieArt]

Fun fact: this tunnel can be seen at the start of the "Death Toll" campaign in Left 4 Dead 1.

[@DarkExploration]

Love some Left 4 Dead, the beginning of the golden age of gaming

[@kateapple1]

I’m gonna leave such a boomer, but whatever 😂 doesn’t it make anyone else sad that this vista is only known really from a video game not from actually being there in real life?

[@wi11i4mchi11]

On of the best campaigns

[@DinnerForkTongue]

​@@kateapple1 Not really. It's not exactly a tourist hotspot to be well-known.

[@RealBradMiller]

​@@kateapple1Bahahaha Boomer is a special infected in L4D.

[@daphnerosemoon9843]

Just wanted to say I'm from UK and live in South CA. This is the kind of history that I like to see. The everyday history not cowboys or wars. Take care and thank you 😊😊

[@deadeyedarwin]

Cowboys?

[@GLING17]

That nice house shown at 10:00 would be perfect! On a deserted road so no loud traffic going by, no close neighbors to disturb the peace, lots of space. Just what I've always wanted but was never lucky enough to acquire something like that. A very sweet setup for sure!

[@robertschnobert9090]

Imagine the power goes out and you have to pay $100k to fix it hahaha no thank you 🌈

[@GLING17]

@@robertschnobert9090 You're just paranoid and you see tragedy everywhere. You've got to think positive!

[@existinginaspace8347]

​@@robertschnobert9090Put in solar.

[@renardfranse]

squatters

[@Silverhaired59]

Seems to me I can still hear the hum of traffic in the background from the nearby highway as he passes this inhabited White House. Not exactly peace and quiet.

[@ThunderChasers]

Based on the number of views, I'd say your audience loves this type of content. Thanks for doing this.

[@John_McDonnell_76]

As a Pennsylvanian, thx k you for showing this to the world. It’s an amazing, original, unique and place to be able to visit.

[@dharkling890]

I love your attitude about how older places, things, etc. have something "more". Keep doing what you do. It's nice to watch you especially knowing you appreciate it.

[@fultonco]

There are some inaccuracies in your presentation. I am not making these comments to be negative, to offend you, or to disparage your very entertaining video. These comments are being made to assist you in being more accurate, which I would think you would want to be. So, here goes. First, this section of the Turnpike was bypassed by the new section of road that can be seen and heard during parts of your presentation. It was done for safety and to bring the road up to modern standards. The first tunnel you went through, is called Rays Hill. At 14' 4" of height, it is not up to modern interstate highway standards (which are now 18' minimally). It is about 3500 feet in length (about 6/10ths of a mile). The early tunnels, built around 1940, had two-way travel. This was eliminated for many reasons, danger being one of them. All of the tunnels on the turnpike are one-way travel now. The town of Breezewood was not appreciably affected by the abandonment of this section of road. It is a rural area of Bedford County, so it was never a wealthy or cosmopolitan place. However, the Turnpike still exists and was never not operational there, after 1940. Breezewood is an important interchange, where I-70 splits off from the Turnpike (West of there, to New Stanton, the Turnpike is actually I-70 and I-76 running together). The Breezewood Interchange is heavily used. To take I-70 (to Baltimore and Washington, DC), drivers have to exit the Turnpike and drive into Breezewood to get to it. Because of this, there are numerous services for travelers in Breezewood. If anything, the services in the area has grown in recent times. This is an interesting video that I enjoyed watching. I hope my comments have helped you.

[@Chris-of6xm]

Thanks for your comment and the time you put in to help shed light on this. I found your information along with his very informative. I just drove out on the turnpike from Philadelphia all the way to Ohio to watch the eclipse so it's very relevant to me. Thanks again

[@dinoangelici6163]

@@Chris-of6xm Most welcome. Glad you had a safe trip.

[@bockhouse]

I feel we should also elaborate on the fact that this is now used by the US Park service and is part of the rails to trail system and is accessible to the public for use as bike riding when not visited in the fall or winter. During the warmer months of the year it is extremely active with cyclist and pedestrians and hikers. It is still used by the army for training purposes and for testing purposes... As was stated by The Fulton county chamber of commerce this area of Bedford county which I am originally from was always rural the town of Breezewood aka the city of hotels is literally as big as that little piece that you see it is three stop lights that span 3/4 of 1 mile... Breezewood has grown a great deal since this time and has declined again due to covid and generational changes. I feel like it should be stated too that when parked if you parked in the correct area when you film this video there are actually signs directing you to the tunnel. It was actually a favored spot growing up. There is some beautiful graffiti art throughout the tunnel and some amazing views of the Everett valley on the other side. Also what you're stating as being an entry ramp is the service entrance for the old Howard Johnson's restaurant that used to be at that spot that is not the entrance to the highway itself nor was it ever That local interstate that you are pointing out in the video is the Pennsylvania turnpike...

[@Chris-of6xm]

@@bockhouse wow more great info! I'm going to have to visit to view the Everett valley after the tunnel. Thanks for posting

[@bockhouse]

Also just as a word of caution if you do stay there overnight you need to ensure that you have some kind of weapon as you are in the mountains of Pennsylvania and there are bobcats coyotes and much as the game commission would like to tell you there are no mountain lions... there are. Friend just bagged one a couple weeks ago just 15 miles west on Wills mountain... Make sure you stay safe!

[@billstill1794]

I went through that tunnel going from Chicago and heading to New Jersey with my parents when I was a toddler but remember nothing... but I was there!

[@billstill1794]

... So, thanks for showing it! I must have gone through the other tunnels as well. That tunnel could still be used in cases of national emergency or other future issues. Please return and explore the other tunnels in the future if you can!

[@christinevangilder6245]

So was I 😊 Cleveland to S Jersey in the back seat of a '65 Bonneville. I don't recall, but many pictures of those trips prove it 😆

[@acb2439]

We truly don't appreciate things until they're gone. I often ponder the days of my youth. Before the days of the dreaded Smart Phones which people seem unable to put away for more than a few minutes. People seemingly getting along with one another. Courtesy, respect, common sense and decency were the order of the day. How simple things were as a kid. How fun they were. Without the need for electronic games to keep us entertained. Hopping on a bike, skates, playing with physical toys. My Dad gathering the family, jumping in the car and going on a road trip for the day. Pulling in at a rest area and taking-in the sites and sounds. Connecting with Nature. Stopping at a diner for something to eat. Ending the awesome meal and ambiance with a tall Chocolate Milk Shake topped with Whipped Cream. What a mess things have become. I long for the simpler times. Your video was well done and as you can tell, stirred up fond memories. If you ever go back to this location I wonder if you'd consider securing an interview with the people/family at that one house with the ranch and horses. Or any of the other houses along that abandoned Turnpike if they're occupied. They just might have one or two wonderful stories to share. Keep it real brother. God bless.

[@surlyunicorn9461]

Great job. Another slice of forgotten America. Thanks for taking us along.

[@williamshanaman5098]

I remember diving thru this tunnel with my parents in 1963 on a AAA ‘trip tick’ driving tour. They used to things like that back in the 60s

[@community1949]

What I remember about the Pennsylvania Turnpike is that my family took a trip from Indianapolis Indiana across Ohio, then Pennsylvania and over to Washington DC in 1962 and part of our trip east was on the turnpike - I remember it as a four lane highway with cement walls on either side for several miles so there was no site seeing in that section.

[@User-1147]

Your personality is the perfect kind to be an explorer of this era of abandoned urban infrastructure. 10/10. looking forward to more of your uploads. stay safe exploring these abandoned places and delivering them to the world.

[@timcowl7630]

The juxtaposition of the past with the present, by overlaying the vintage clips of the turnpike with the road as it exists now, is awesome. It makes the visual tour like an archeological dig, where one uncovers an artifact! Great stuff!

[@travellinmark2745]

My family travelled through the tunnels from the 1950s through the 60s when going from New York to Southwestern PA to visit extended family. As a very young boy, the tunnels were the highlight of the long journey. Kittatinny, Tuscarora, Allegheny, etc. The tunnel route was replaced by "switchbacks" taking the Turnpike around the mountains.

[@jimmylieb5225]

I remember well those very unique tunnel names!

[@axis3d]

I worked as a visual effects artist on the movie, “The Road”. Seeing your video brought me back to working on scenes that were filmed there. Some of my shots in the film were adding a large billboard (where there was none), on the side of the road. Plus, other scenes. Nice job on your video.

[@jerryanderson2226]

That's cool. Was that the one that had the quote from Jeremiah on it

[@axis3d]

Exactly. I’m surprised you remember it. Those shots go by very quickly. Originally, there were more shots at that location with some dialogue between Viggo and the son, but the director cut that stuff out to shorten the running time.

[@wtfBrad]

Finally getting to watch this. Really enjoy when you add the news and clips from the past. Thanks for another great explore buddy.

[@DarkExploration]

Glad you enjoyed ! It was really fun finding those clips and comparing then and now ! Thanks as always Brad

[@markc2643]

You give the impression that Breezewood's decline began when the turnpike built the new section around the 13 mile stretch in your video. Breezewood, as it's known today, only built up after I-70 was built in the late 60's and was forced to connect to the Turnpike via State Route 30. It became a giant rest stop for anyone traveling on I-70. It's one of only two spots on 2 digit Interstate highways that have traffic lights.

[@harryparatestes]

Yeah, we travel through here a couple times each year on the way to my parent's house. The area is economically depressed, but the "abandonment" of the turnpike isn't the reason. There is a big 4 lane turnpike less than 2 miles away. Yes Breezewood has abandoned buildings, but most of them were built after the turnpike was rerouted.

[@craigdarby9533]

He should interview some locals and lay off the drama. I'm guessing that 13 mile stretch was only temporary while they completed the real turnpike? Driven through Breezewood many times, getting to and from 70. Do you know if that burnt hotel burned down on it's own or did it just go out of business and the fire department used it for training purposes?

[@DyreStraits]

@@craigdarby9533 This was the'real turnpike'. The turnpike authority re-routed the roadway to bypass some of the tunnels or added new parallel tunnels for travel in both directions.

[@spaceflight1019]

​@@DyreStraitsThe original Turnpike alignment followed the abandoned Carnegie Railroad right of way. They have worked hard to eliminate sections with high accident numbers, like the eastern approach to the Allegheny Mountain tunnel and Rattlesnake Mountain.

[@evanstauffer4470]

@@spaceflight1019 The formal name of the railroad was the South Pennsylvania Railroad. It was a somewhat speculative scheme intended to compete against the virtual monopoly of the Pennsylvania Railroad in east-west travel through Pennsylvania. For those interested in the details, I highly recommend reading the book "The Railroad That Never Was, Vanderbilt, Morgan and the South Pennsylvania Railroad". Herbert H. Harwood, Jr. Indiana University Press 2010.

[@LCohenSax]

Yes from the movie The Road!! I recognized it immediately.

[@montanausa329]

Good dark movie and followed the book very closely

[@user-ic7qd5km3n]

I remember the PA turnpike from back in the day. My family traveled this route from Michigan to Fredericktown, PA. Where my grandparents lived: it took us 12 to 14 hours but I loved it. Thanks for showing this film and for being very informative and patient in your filming and story telling. I hope you don’t stop.

[@jimmylieb5225]

likewise, my brothers, parents, and I went through these tunnels in the same same era from Michigan to Uniontown and Northampton PA!! those days will never come back!

[@ginajackson8482]

I think we all crave real and raw emotion. That is what you bring and it is so cool. Thank You!!

[@jordi8307]

Your videos are so great because you are respectful, you never break or take anything. I really like how you explain the history of the places you visit. It adds context to what we see in the video and makes these places come alive!

[@meganpetroff5537]

I live in Pennsylvania, not too far from these tunnels. You definitely should make a couple days out of this location again, to do the other tunnels, when our Pennsylvania weather finally breaks and stays warm. Loved watching it from your point of view. 😀😀

[@DarkExploration]

I might pack some camping gear and jump on a bicycle to explore the rest. That'd be cool ! I'd make sure to document of course

[@meganpetroff5537]

@@DarkExploration I think I’d pretty dope to camp out there for a day or 2. Def looking for a return trip video. I’ll be keeping an eye out for a video. 😁

[@louds10]

Which town is this?

[@CrimsonHound84]

​@@louds10Breezewood

[@secondhandrc7024]

I’m little over an hour drive from here! Will be making a few trips to the tunnels with the RC’s this spring!!👍🏼 thanks for the preview!!😁🤙🏼

[@karencrawford9227]

I am from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and you taught me something new!

[@itz_akuma]

Same here ,…. So this area is near breezewood .???

[@dorenjackson1166]

@@itz_akumame three! I didn’t watch the full video but I seen some ppl mention breezewood & that brought back memories for me. It took would take us about 2 hrs to get to breezewood and we take a break. Then hop back on the road for another 2 hours & Maryland we arrived. I miss those days 🥲

[@johnstup4479]

I pass through Breezwood a couple times each month for work and always think about stopping and checking the abandoned highway out. Might do it this summer when it's a bit warmer. Definitely want to bike it. Always been facinated with the history, starting with it being a railroad that never was. I've been going through Breezwood for the last 15 years and have seen its decline. Hotels that have closed up and have been demolished or set on fire. A few fast food restaurants that have closed up. Next to the Days Inn was a Hardees that caught fire back in October of 2022. Loved your exploration video of this location. Stay safe dude!

[@harryparatestes]

This video seems disingenuous. Breezewood has declined, but he seems to link it to the rerouting of the turnpike.

[@boggy7665]

Breezewood was a major junction for traffic heading toward the DC area even before I-70 was completed sometime around 1966 +/- a year or two in my memory. Also, the comparatively recent completion of I-68 to the south, allowing travelers to avoid the Turnpike when going to DC/Baltimore from anywhere west of Pittsburgh, the completion of I-80 to the North giving a direct route to NYC for Great Lakes region travelers, cheap airfares, and faster, safer, more comfortable, more reliable cars, have more to do with Breezewood's decline than the bypassing of the tunnels.

[@thechurch5000]

The tunnel cannibal scene with the truck in the road and the one at the mansion are my favorite scenes in the Road. Brilliant film thanks for this video.

[@dngrwllrbnsn_]

I was really engaged by this piece. Passage of time is always delightful melancholy to me, and post apocalyptic themes. I only ever played FO3 and 4. I subbed because I wanna see more. I was 4 when they closed this road. My wife lived in Harrisburg for a couple of decades and never heard about this road. I told her about it. She still doesn't care.

[@whicker59]

I love seeing older America like this..... it's pure AMERICANA. U got me as a SUBSCRIBER.

[@craigross2372]

Thank you so much for this video. My aunt and uncle used to live in Ft. Thomas, KY and we visited them at least twice down from RI. As a child born in 1955, this was the primary way to go at the time. I was a little tyke and fascinated by this stretch of the trip down to Kentucky. It must have been in the sixties. I used to positively scream at each tunnel entrance, a subject of conversation for my parents. Thanks again!

[@sonnysteckler949]

I spent my youth playing in that tunnel and the entire area. My family own a farmhouse right up the road. Loved it there

[@podpolia]

I live not too far from the abandoned turnpike, and have been there numerous times. While doing my master's in history, I wrote a paper on the economic impact of the creation of the turnpike on rural areas like this, as well as another project creating a historic tour of one of the tunnels. If you're interested in abandoned areas related to this, I can recommend Vanderbilt's Folly some miles east of there - a section of partially completed rail route from the 1880s that was bypassed in the '30s when they built the turnpike on the old rail paths.

[@geralderdek282]

Those abandoned stores are unfortunatly a sign of the times. We're seeing it all over the country now. Ive traveled this country many decades ago and ive never seen it as bad as it is now. Ive enjoyed your video immensly. Hope to see more.

[@michaelnazaruk4100]

Hey, Build Back Better baby!

[@trashyraccoon2615]

@@michaelnazaruk4100Stuff like that takes time. Can’t do it in 3 years that’s for sure.

[@zegotashalom3881]

It's baffling how some individuals can leave litter behind. The Boy Scouts once had a motto: "Always leave the place cleaner than you found it." Yet, it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch. I enjoyed the video, and God bless.

[@gingercat7925]

The motto has been "Be prepared" since 1907.

[@evanstauffer4470]

@@gingercat7925 Perhaps the commenter was mistaken in the use of the word "motto". Perhaps "policy" or some other word would be more appropriate. But it nevertheless is their practice. Are there any Boy Scout officials out there who can clarify this point??

[@amyhepker9025]

I like watching videos from days gone by. I am not sure, but I believe we went through that tunnel back in 1964. It grieves me to see old roads and rail lines lost to time. When I was a kid, most of our family went to New Jersey to see some friends of the family, we went there in our New 1964 Plymouth 4 door Valiant. I also remember there was a town we went through as the turnpike was not finished as of yet, and the was a place that had a huge Paul Bunion and inside they had a huge train display, but we didn't go in to see it. I have a saying, Nothing Stays the Same and Nothing Lasts forever

[@kyleCFH]

Things like this are always so interesting to see, especially when they're from the 50s-60s, because it's like entire chapters of relatively modern history and ingenuity are just gone. Like at the time this was a pretty groundbreaking thing, and now it's just another part of human history lost to time. You gotta keep this up man, fantastic work.

[@uuuultra]

It's older than that

[@michaelnazaruk4100]

I absolutely love nostalgia, especially anything having to do with transportation in the 40's, 50's, and 60's. You can color me weird if you want, but it brings a tear to my eye when I think of all the people back then, loading up the kids and luggage into the family car and going on a vacation trip, riding on the great Pennsylvania Turnpike, going through those amazing tunnels, stopping at the rest areas to gas up, and of course, to get some eats and treats at Howard Johnsons! So, how can I visualize all of this? Because I lived it as a young boy....

[@alrad5686]

I used to go to Hershey every fall and traveled the Turnpike every year from around 1977 to 1987. When I went they had just shut the 3 tunnels down leaving 4 to go through. I was always fascinated by the tunnels. Thanks for sharing your journey through the tunnel.

[@docrusty8320]

Amazing how you added the historical clips from the beginning of this forgotten place

[@PattyBandAidz]

I've lived in PA (Philadelphia specifically) my entire life and have driven on 76 more times than I can count and I have never heard of this abandoned stretch of roadway until now. Next time I'm that far out into the state, best believe I'm going to check it out.

[@vashawndiromano]

These outdoors explores are my favorite ones, keep it up!

[@igoratfargo]

same here

[@evafreeman6730]

What I love about this video (first time watcher) is you include a great amount of history content. I love urban explorer content but they usually just explore and never give you a history. I jumped on subscribing to your channel because you started out with a history and the movie clip you played interspersed with your exploring is what hooked me. It makes such a difference to know a brief history of what you’re exploring.

[@henkdouma8448]

On the channel of post10 you can see him visiting these tunnels also (numerous times). Also the ventilation system on top of it. Great work from you as always!

[@mrVIPjoeyT]

That's what I was going to say as well

[@Zerbinator]

This is an extremely beautiful production. Thank you so much for all this work!

[@10p6]

Nice. Seems like the ideal location for a half marathon, or a full marathon with return and natural cooling sections.

[@roberteshaw9520]

Old roads are my favorite abandoned videos. Spooky and peaceful. The tunnel is quite a place. The Esso report captured the vibe of those times as far as I know, while looking back. Good look back.

[@GLING17]

Yes, please do an overnight in that tunnel sometime! I would watch for sure. 👍

[@ZebraContent]

Staying overnight is prohibited. In an effort to be extra respectful, no one should do that. Besides it's not really safe.

[@craigdarby9533]

​@@ZebraContentThanks Tunnel Police!

[@YaelSharon3410]

This was a great video. My favorite part was walking through the tunnel and when you sat on top of the tunnel with legs dangling down. I like that you take the time to keep the camera on the scenery and don't move it too quickly, it gives time to appreciate the whole scenery. This is the 2nd video of yours that I watch and I think your channel has become one of my favorite exploration channels. Thank you for this video I really enjoyed it.

[@wamerlin3]

This video was nicely done. A nice touch to include the old news reel footage. Well presented,felt as if I was there with you. As an aside, I have a vague memory of traveling this highway as a young child. I can remember a tunnel entrance as we approached. We were going to Ohio from Delaware to visit relatives.Thanks for filling in missing pieces of the past for me. Well done sir!!

[@terrancealexander5621]

I had heard of the abandoned PT put didn't know anything about it. Thanks for your efforts to bring this once major highway back to life !!

[@BeeLG1992]

Yesss love this ! Worked hard this week, this video is a whole zen vibe for me ! Great way to end my hard work week with cancer patients and their journey ! Thank you !

[@BeeLG1992]

Upload everything! No regrets

[@bodyfitt67]

I love your content. The way you integrated the old commercial & faded it in to the video was great! You're so pleasant to listen to. Thank you!

[@goofusmaximusII]

Without fail you churn out terrific pieces, thank you very much.

[@user-qy3ml6bv1d]

Among many other things, I am a life long fan of the "Day After" genre from "World, Flesh, and the Devil" to "Omega Man" to "Walking Dead", "The Last of Us", "Fallout" and all the other movies and tv shows of the like; and was always fascinated by ruins. So I love this stuff you and a couple other guys are doing in the abandoned places. This is neo-archeology, and makes me wonder what future people would make of it. All these sites are less than a century old, and look how forgotten and mysterious they are already. Like discovering ancient Roman roads, ley lines, and ruins. For me, it's like being Robert Neville walking through the empty world, with that oddly exhilarating eerie feeling. These movies are so popular because we all have that fantasy of being the only one left to take anything from the stores, drive whatever car we want and so on. And thanks for showing where they filmed parts of "The Road", another one of my favorite movies in this genre. Also the books; MaCarthy's novel, Matheson's I Am Legend, The Bridge by D. Kieth Mano and many more. Nowadays I'm a retired filmmaker with poor health, so I can't do all that walking anymore, so I'm glad you guys are out there recording this stuff and bringing it to us. Thanks, and keep it up dude!

[@richardmcleod1930]

Such towns represent America as it once was. Sad to see them so neglected.

[@luiginayerino592]

Thanks, these tunnels bring back my childhood memories. Drove through them every other weekend from the Pittsburg area to my grandparents in West New York, New Jersey.

[@jayharr6250]

I meant to say earlier, have you thought about exploring the turnpike on a mountain bike? You can cover a LOT more ground much faster on a mountain bike versus walking. Just a thought ✌️

[@jimmylieb5225]

wow!! many memories of going through these tunnels with my brothers and parents in the 1960's and 1970's as a kid and young man to visit my grandparents in Uniontown and Northampton from our house in Michigan. I remember the loud trucks the ceiling lights passing overhead and the diesel fumes. coming out into the light was always a relief!!

[@he11yess]

I really love your passion for old historic sites and architecture, which sets your videos apart from others. You let it speak for itself, which had drawn me to keep coming back. Any video you put out, we will love. Keep it up!

[@WhyDidntIInventYT]

This is fine work, both the exploration and filming/editing. What's especially striking is the contrast between the old film reels, with their pervasive sense of optimism & confidence, versus the decaying present. But, such is the fate of the US...

[@deannaclaire6920]

New to this channel and I love this video I can imagine what goes on at night in that abandoned house yikes ❤.

[@Missboomie1]

I grew up as a Pennsylvanian in a little town called Shelocta,PA. That movie was an awesome one and one of the best I’ve ever seen tbh.

[@richyrich4672]

I worked at the power plant in Shelocta for many years. I’m from J-Town. Helped build the new smoke stack there.

[@jaysrandomnesschannel]

I find it so dope that you were able to gather footage of this road when it was in it's prime! The internet is a double edged sword but these kinds of videos make it all so worth it!

[@FAMILIA-TV]

Much respect to you my friend, it takes a lot of heart to go out there on that adventure, I am in the Poconos & I've been in PA since 2000 & as I get older I'm so into the history of PA, & your adventures are truly educational & better than what you would learn from reading a book, this was the 2nd video of yours that I've watched & I'm going to binge-watch your videos, just be careful out there & look 4ward to more of your videos

[@Kelly-qq1ew]

Really enjoyed this video. You really have a talent for speaking and narrating your adventures. Thank you for taking us along. ❤

[@SwedishChef1977]

Just discovered your channel and loving it! Thank you for all the great content you put out here! Cheers from Sweden!

[@matteotomaso7204]

Great edits including the news reels.

[@allencrossland1973]

I traveled the Pa Turnpike as a child and youngman with my parents and siblings going to New Jersey to visit our cousins. I remember those tunnels every well.

[@Stitcher_in_MD]

I’m from Georgia and about 8 years ago my adult son and I explored old bridges and railroad bridges that were abandoned long ago in PA. It was eerie and interesting to see the architecture. Thanks for sharing your explorations!

[@EveningShadeLori]

I absolutely love this kind of video. This was very well done!! I really enjoyed how you called the other people survivors. Lol and made a little story in the old house. new sub!

[@Zonalar]

This is a good video. You got an Intro, eerie music to set the mood, laying down the premise for the video, and then walking down on it and giving nuggets of information.

[@brendahart9930]

My Dad would always use this road when we were traveling. He would honk the horn for me when we got to the middle of the tunnel, it made an cool echo! Good memories of that time.

[@LRS11B]

Very cool. I'm a Pennsylvanian and on one day in mud October I traveled from Lancaster County to Pittsburg on the Turnpike and went through multiple tunnels. What a view. The leaves on the trees throughout the mountains were changing colors and it was spectacular to see

[@bobstaurovsky3506]

Come to Connecticut, Winsted is a cool town, behind the Dam is the old Route 44, it was abandoned after the Great River Dam was built, it was built after the 1955 flood which caused major damage in the area. Most of Winsted was destroyed but rebuilt after the flood and some of the buildings have scars from the flood. Neat piece of history !

[@tommyhansen2116]

Viggo Mortensen's family is from Denmark - greetings from Copenhagen, Denmark 🔥❤️🇩🇰

[@theontologist]

Great video! Don’t sweat the comments about Breezewood - the area has its boosters and defenders, but you are right that the town fell into decline, just later than the Turnpike rerouting. Being an outsider and involuntary visitor, I didn’t even know until now that the abandoned Turnpike was nearby. That actually gives me a reason to stop there now, instead of avoiding the whole area.

[@marktemplin1159]

Me and my friends used to play paint ball in the buildings at the head and end of each tunnel,,, big huge ventilation systems, awsome place for paint ball,,,, used to ride our dirt bikes and quads threw the tunnels cuz they connected off road trails,💪💪 such a cool place as a young man,,,, one of them has become a tourist attraction

[@BigBlue1026]

They say you learn something new everyday and the existence of this abandoned section of the PA Turnpike is certainly new to me. Extremely apocalyptic looking.

[@babaoreally8220]

Wow,didn’t know that.We moved from Toledo to Williamsport in 1953 on that Turnpike.Should have kept it up as a State highway.The other tunnel is where the Trolls live,no one goes there.Thanks for this visit to the past.

[@wtmayhew]

Thanks. I traveled this now abandoned section of the Turnpike with my parents’ family several times in the early 1960s. The tunnels were a big choke point because four lanes of traffic squeezed into two lanes of opposing direction inside the tunnels. The Turnpike is a limited access highway with integral service plazas. Travelers mostly stay on the Turnpike. The relocation of the 13 mile stretch probably did not have much direct impact on the adjacent townships. The flight of manufacturing out of the region was what led to the collapse of supporting small businesses who lost their clientele as workers moved away and need for motels diminished. A lot of that decay happened in the 1980s well after the Turnpike relocation. There are still several tunnels on the PA Turnpike. Some are now double tunnels with traffic flowing in one direction each, but there are cross-overs which allow bidirectional traffic to be rerouted through a single tunnel of the pair if needed. I had the opportunity to drive the section between the Ohio border and the Laurel Highlands a few years ago. It is a much more pleasant trip (relatively) than it used to be. You can see one of the abandoned tunnels if you look to the right as you descend from the mountain pass, as the modern road with wide gore area between lanes necks down to older original narrow right of way with only a guard rail separating the directions of travel. The section of the Turnpike between Ohio and the start of the new bypass is a pretty curvy road. One has to make constant steering inputs as the road snakes through the hills. It is a rather fatiguing hour and a half or so of driving because of the constant curves. The PA Turnpike is one of the more expensive toll roads around. I pretty much emptied out the ready cash in my wallet driving from the Ohio border to Hershey because I didn’t have EZ pass. Thank goodness for ATMs. Even though it is an interesting road, if I need to go that direction again, I will definitely look for an alternate route if it avoids tolls and doesn’t add a lot of drive time.

[@jilllovesbeegees70]

The pavement looks fairly good considering some roads we drive on have potholes the size of a car🤣

[@joed9491]

Thanks for the video. Like the animated movie Cars where a new interstate affected the so many businesses. I remember driving down I-95 through Southern Virginia South of Petersburg in the late 70's where section was yet to be completed so we had to use US 301 which ran parallel in that area and it was lined with gas stations, motels etc. Driving on the completed section of I-95 years later on many trips from Florida to the Northeast, you could see the impact it had as those places became abandoned.

[@Safc73]

Enjoyed coming along with you these are the places that fascinate me - well done really enjoyed your presentation and keaness - from the UK

[@Smellslikegelfling]

This brings back memories of growing up when my friends and I used to explore abandoned roads and buildings.

[@user-cu7jn6zz9g]

I have driven on the turnpike multiple times as a western New Yorker living in Virginia for many years. I never knew about this section of the highway. Thanks for your presentation of it.

[@DaveD2488]

The structural architecture they used at the entrances is amazing. It's just something you wouldn't see in today's designs. Today's designs are so basic and plain. It was a great walk through.

[@joesiklosi5000]

My brother, sister, and I were youngsters around August 1963, when we did a stop over in Breezewood, making our way to Florida. We vaguely remember this route with the tunnels.

[@oooh19]

Such a shame about that beautiful house 🏡 maybe someone can save it

[@birdsoup777]

You have a talent for photo and cinematography. It's awesome to see somebody using their talent

[@roberth7822]

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!! I never knew there were long sections of abandoned highway like this, other than in places like Centralia. Nicely done!!!

[@who7056]

Thanks for the great content! I totally agree with you on the new age stuff. Zero art, emotion or passion...couldn’t have described it better! I almost turned the video off at first because the music was too loud to enjoy hearing you speak. Then I realized when you made the transition WITHOUT the background noise, that this was definitely something I’d love...and I did. Subscribing.