My brother and I drove by the Horseshoe Curve during the first weekend of November. We were disappointed to see that the visitor’s center and the accesses to the viewing area near the curve were closed. The sign blocking the entrance to the parking lot said that the facilities would be closed until spring.
We considered scaling the fence and climbing to the top to view the action, but decided against it. We did not cotton being arrested for trespassing, which is what the warning signs were offering up.
In the past, although the visitor’s center was closed, if I remember correctly, one could still walk up the stairs to the curve.
The park and facilities at the curve belong to the Altoona Rail Roaders Memorial Museum. Designation as a National Historic Site does not make something the property of the government.
You remember right. A once great attraction has now been mis-managed almost into oblivion. When I was there this past August even the Coke machine at the top on the track level was empty . . . [%-)]
Horseshoe Curve has been a ‘National Historical Landmark’ since 1966. I’ve been up there in all seasons and at night from then until the early 1990s with no problems whatsoever - other than all those stairs up to the top, but hey, I needed the exercise anyway - even got to sleep/ camp out in the old PRR caboose at the bottom once ! So that’s not the source of the problem.
What is the problem is that when the Visitor’s Center and the access was ‘improved’ in the 1991-1992 time frame, and also when a ‘cooperative agreement’ was apparently signed with the National Park Service, it was put under the operating control of the Railroader’s Memorial Museum of Altoona. See
Do you recall the acess road to upper portion of the park, its near the area where a “boxcar” snack shop was once in operation? The museum people allowed that to be used to get to the upper park in winter and night in response to several complaints about not getting to the park when things were locked up. This idea, although a good one, eventually went to wayside and now back to square one. The HSC in winter is awsome as well as at night.
A local businessman once pondered the idea of restaurant over looking the curve but utilities, construction and acess to it were way too costly, and issues about destroying the look of the curve. The only real way to get back in there other than the Glen White area was Coupon, way out on 36. Hiking the old track bed now used by ATV’s is the only way in winter, Glen White risks trespassing violations.
One winter idea was purchasing a ticket in Altoona that would be shown to anyone who was at the curve on a volunteer basis. But now the museum itself closes during winter, starting Dec 29. The excuse of vandalism is always bopped from someone’s hip pocket. That place can be vandalized regardless, I would rather have responsible railfans there to protect it rather than the renegade type who burnt down the old caboose.
I have had a life time membership to the museum since its opening, its sad that despite complaints about the operation its falling on deaf ears. Sometimes I wish the curve would have been left alone, back then it was truely a railfan park and a great group was always there to make the day (or night) enjoyable. I urge everyone to use the museum web page and let them know you want acess in winter.