There’s a pretty sweet detour you may want to consider taking just outside of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. From the larger-than-life elephants guaranteed to capture your attention to the sweet smells of homemade fudge and nostalgic candy permeating from within, this is a most unique, one-of-a-kind roadside attraction for young and old alike. I am, of course, referring to the one and only Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium—a true novelty in Adams County.
For locals and well-knowing folks who have had the honor of visiting before, Mister Ed’s is a must-do anytime while driving through Orrtanna. Yet surprisingly, despite having been in operation for nearly half a century now, it still remains one of the area’s best-kept secrets, particularly among tourists opting to explore the more obvious regional callouts in nearby Gettysburg. If you’ve never had the chance to experience Mister Ed’s Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium before then read on. I’ll make a prospective fan out of you yet!
A Bit of Mister Ed’s History
The story of how Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium came about doesn’t begin at its current site location. It all started on February 26, 1975 when husband and wife Ed and Pat Gotwalt opened “Mister Ed’s: The Territory’s Most Unusual General Store” along Route 30, circa three miles east of the current operation. It was a far cry from the Mr. Ed’s of today, serving as a roadside stop and shop venue renowned for hoagies, snacks, and uniquely diverse merchandise, including Native American jewelry, coal gifts, antiques, and candy. It quickly gained traction with locals and anyone else happening to be passing by that way. The store even hosted a couple of in-house events over the years. Sadly, though, in 1983 they had to close…but not for long.
Soon after, Pat and son Michael got wind of an abandoned property nearby with plenty of retail potential. That location would eventually go on to become the same Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium of today. Despite many trials throughout the years, including a devastating fire that nearly destroyed the store back in 2010, Mister Ed’s has proven to be a strong and enduring retail attraction with a spirit as mighty as a pachyderm. And on that note, let’s turn our attention to those elephants in the room.
The Elephants
Ever since opening at the new site, one of the most attention-drawing claims to fame at Mister Ed’s (aside from the enticing edible selections, which I will get more into a little later on) has been the massive collection of featured in-house elephants. The first was the eternally popular life-sized moving and talking elephant Miss Ellie. Over the years, even more have been added to the mix (thanks to donations from friends, family, and customers). Now the collection comprises around 12,000 or so elephants of all different shapes, sizes, themes, and mediums. From figurines to four life-sized elephants, the variation is most profuse to say the least. So, it goes without saying that the store has undergone additional construction to compensate for housing them all. The museum has even gained national and international recognition for its famous elephant collection.
Selections of Confections
While the elephants are largely responsible for much of Mister Ed’s great acclaim, the delectable in-house confectionary finds here do well in garnering attention and recognition too. That’s because there are plenty of novelties to choose from. Included in the fanciful lineup are around 200 different varieties of homemade fudge, pecan pralines, turtles, roasted nuts (including jumbo peanuts and house-made cinnamon glazed nuts), freshly made peanut butter, and candy galore! But don’t make the mistake of assuming that all the candy is standard; Mister Ed’s is famous for offering both today’s hottest hits and those nostalgic throwbacks from yesteryear. From over a thousand different candy varieties (including hard-to-find favorites) to more than 400 candy bars and even one of the largest displays of PEZ on the East Coast, is it any wonder why coming here makes you feel like a kid in a candy store whatever your age?
More to Explore
In addition to the inside of the museum and emporium, Mister Ed’s boasts pleasing and versatile surrounding grounds and gardens. Open year-round, visitors are welcome to stroll around at their leisure, checking out the plants, onsite goldfish pond, stairs to nowhere, and other whimsical sights to behold. Another callout feature is Miss Pat’s Teapot Museum, home to a giant teapot pilled with 200 smaller ones. Picnickers are always welcome.
Events
Fun follies are forever ongoing at Mister Ed’s, although let it be known that there are several annual events hosted onsite here—free for all to enjoy. The most widely popular and well-loved happenings include the S’more Summer Please Back to School Party, Great Pumpkin Party (a Halloween event), Santa Party (at Christmas), and the Easter Egg Hunt & Bunny Party, which is coming up soon. Always held the Saturday before Palm Sunday, the 2024 event will take place on March 23. Again, this event is free but registration is required in order to participate. Once registration opens (one month prior to the event) You may register via the link here.
Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium is unlike any destination you’ve ever been to, guaranteed. You just have to experience it firsthand to know exactly what I mean. For more information including directions, hours of operation, and all other general information, go to the website at www.mistereds.com.