Going once, going twice … get your bids in now.
Roadside America, a famed attraction billed as the “World’s Greatest Indoor Miniature Village,” is permanently closed after 85 years. But its small-scale models are fetching big bucks at a soon-to-close online auction.
Bidding through the Renaissance Auction Group started in late December on the thousands of items from Roadside America’s miniature village and the adjacent Pennsylvania Dutch Gift Haus near Shartlesville, Berks County. The bidding is scheduled to end Saturday at 6 p.m.
The auction features everything (and we mean everything) from the attraction, from the large outdoor sculpture of an Amish couple on a bench to laminate tables and display cases. There’s even an old root beer barrel dispenser up for grabs.
Here are some of the items drawing top bids as of Thursday night:
Roadside America sculpture
This enormous fiberglass sculpture measures 75-by-172-by-113 inches and depicts an Amish man and woman seated on a bench. It’s mounted on a wooden platform in the parking lot between the PA Dutch Gift Haus and Roadside America. The bid as of 7 p.m. Thursday was $2,800. The item is pickup/haul away only in Shartlesville.
Coin-operated orchestrion
What’s an orchestrion? It’s a large mechanical musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of a full orchestra. This one measures 93-by-58.5-by 29.5 inches and is from the Western Electric Piano Company. According to the auction house, it features a fixed panel glass top with three exterior brass sconces and two interior porcelain fixtures displaying xylophone, tuned bells, wood block, triangle, cymbal, bass drum, kettle drum, snare drum, tambourine and more. The winning bidder is responsible for pickup and removal in Shartlesville, or must arrange shipping. The top bid as of 7 p.m. Thursday was $2,675.
Country Club
The Country Club includes a cottage and nine figures, including a dog, two knights in armor, seesaw, two lampposts, flower beds, trees and landscaping. This item is pickup only or the buyer must arrange shipping. The top bid as of 7 p.m. Thursday was $1,025.
Fairfield Train Station
The Fairfield Train Station layout measures 36-by-60 inches and the train station measures 17-by-22-by-20 inches. This is a stone, Tudor-style structure and includes four platforms, “Elmer’s News” newspaper stand, 25-plus figures, travel and train accessories, two benches, two streetlights, train signal, three power lines and landscaping. This item is pickup only or the buyer must arrange shipping. The top bid as of 7 p.m. Thursday was $1,000.
Long’s Esso Servicenter & Fuel Yard
Long’s Esso Servicenter measures 48-by-27 inches and includes two Esso sidewalk signs, four Esso pumps, two vehicles in service bays, 20-plus figures, barrels, trailer, four big trees and landscaping. The Fuel Yard includes the office, Lionel Bycyrus Erie 250 railroad crane & deck, four Lionel fuel tanks and much more, including the Ice Vendor’s building. This item is pickup only or the buyer must arrange shipping. The top bid as of 7 p.m. Thursday was $740.
Fairfield Cathedral
The Fairfield Cathedral layout measures 48-by-48 inches, and the cathedral itself is 21-by-25-by-34 inches. This lot is three pieces, with two towers, stained glass windows, 15-plus figures, four benches, six gardens, four utility poles, two streetlights, seven trees and landscaping. This item is pickup only or the buyer must arrange shipping. The top bid as of 7 p.m. Thursday was $800.
Many other items included in the Roadside America auction are drawing high interest. A lot featuring a model Country Estate had a high bid of $720 Thursday night, as did a lot featuring a Dutch Barn House.
Also up for grabs are murals, Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs and promotional posters.
The public sale does not include the property that housed Roadside America and the next-door gift shop, which are part of a separate real estate deal.
For more information, visit here. Anyone needing assistance with registering or bidding can call Renaissance Auction Group at 610-370-2879.
