"The Town That Was' puts a face on Centralia's story

Since 1962, the once booming coal mining town of Centralia in northeastern Pennsylvania has been on fire.

[Amused Crack-er]

I've heard about Centralia and have been checking out the online stories and resources about it for a couple of months now. It's pretty eerie to see the before and after photos online. It's on my list of "day trips" that I want to take this summer.

[joe poli]

Amused, if you go up there go to Knoble's Groves Amusement Park which is nearby. Drive slowly when you leave Ashland because you could drive right past Centralia without knowing.

[MsJones]

Good article, Amy.

[goon]

I remember checking out the coal regions back in the 80's and driving through Centralia. It was shocking to see this town with vents for the coal fire sticking out right in the middle of main st. There was a haze around the place and kids were playing near there and folks walking around like it was nothing. Ad in the general beatness of the place and it was surreal but quite interesting.

[Amused Crack-er]

joe poli wrote:

Amused, if you go up there go to Knoble's Groves Amusement Park which is nearby. Drive slowly when you leave Ashland because you could drive right past Centralia without knowing.

Thanks for the tip! I had a friend who went to Knoeble's every year and loved it.

[R Ziegler-1943]

Amused Crack-er wrote:

I've heard about Centralia and have been checking out the online stories and resources about it for a couple of months now. It's pretty eerie to see the before and after photos online. It's on my list of "day trips" that I want to take this summer.

We just took a day trip yesterday, 6/28/2009.set the gps address to center st, Centralia,PA. took us right to it. We walked around saw steam holes, the Rt 61 highway that had been closed, 4 lane highway, the only thing is if you have small children the graffiti kids marked on the road isn't for small kids to see. We couldn't find the highway at first, we stopped and asked a group of teenagers that were walking on the street, they directed us right to it. you have to walk on the highway about 1/4 to 1/2 mile in too see the buckling of the road and large cracks with the steam coming out. we saw only about 4 or 5 house with people still living there. It was sad but some what interesting. You have to watch where you walk, the only problem we had was my 10 year old son got two bug bites, so if you wear shorts use a bug repellent, HA!

[FYI]

Amused Crack-er wrote:

I've heard about Centralia and have been checking out the online stories and resources about it for a couple of months now. It's pretty eerie to see the before and after photos online. It's on my list of "day trips" that I want to take this summer.

Centralia is at the intersection of routes 42 and 61/54 outside of Ashland. You need to be careful around the fumes because some it may be unhealthy for you. There's also a mine tour in Ashland that looks interesting, but I've never stopped since I'm either coming or going to Bloomsburg U and I don't have the time. One of these days I'll get there. Knoble's is a great park for families, especially since there is no entrance fee.