Coolspring Show info wanted

[Zira]

My father & I are talking about going to the Coolspring show in 2011. We have never been, so just some basic questions:
1. Is there one "big" show there each year?
2. We figured 2 days there, to see the show & the museum. Is that reasonable? We spent 2 at Portland year before last & felt like we saw most of what we wanted to see (including a bunch of time in the flea market).
3. Is there a large/active flea market or is it more of a show event?
4. Where do people stay (we will not be camping, dad will be 74 & doesn't want to sleep on the ground)?

Thanks

[Mike O]

June is the best show to go to, 2011 dates are June 16,17and 18, That is Thursday through Saturday. The place is a ghost town on Sunday so make sure you plan accordingly.

You can certainly see the show in 2 days BUT there is so much cool things in the buildings on semi and permanent display that you can keep going back in to different buildings and see something new and different that you didn't notice before.

This is really a SHOW, there are "some" flea market guys there and a lot of the guys displaying have something for sale but you will NOT find toilet seats, Christmas lights, trinkets ETC. there most of the flea market stuff is old and engine or farm related

Best place to stay is in Brookville PA, it is right on RT. 80 and there is a half a dozen hotels, like Super 8, Quality inn. Etc. plus plenty of places to get a bite to eat. I guess it is like 10 miles or so from the show grounds. Book your room sooner then later as they do get full on Coolspring weekend.

Bring your camera you will have a blast!

[Jonathan Widelo]

Zira,

The June show is the "big show" The fall show is a smaller swap meet. The June show is for sure worth the trip. I was there this past June when the featured engine was Jacobson and Warren County PA built engines. I brought my 3hp Bulls Eyes and spent 3 days there. It was an excellent show and a great turnout of various Jacobson engines. I am hoping to make it back there in 2012 when they are featuring Foos and Ohio built engines, so I can bring some of my Woodpecker engines. As for Hotels there are no real places to stay in Coolspring its self you have to stay in the next town over which is Brookville PA. There is a Super 8, a Quality Inn and a Days Inn in Brookville. There are also some good restaurants close by. I usually stay at the Quality Inn which is right across the street from a good buffet style restaurant. I am sure you and your father will enjoy the show. The museum has an excellent collection of very rare and interesting engines, also you never know what will show up on the field for sale or display.

~ Jonathan

[Walt Beeman]

Zira,
I stayed at the Quality Inn in Brookville this past June, no complaints. You really need 2 full days to see most of everything at Coolspring, get there early and you can park in the first lot and it is a very short walk to the grounds for your dad. While there you HAVE to try the homemade ice cream. The show is 15 minutes from the Hotel. Great show, I hope to go again this summer, if so I'll be at the Quality Inn again.

Jonathan is right about the buffet across the street, the Chinese restaurant next to the buffet is good also.

[Rod Fielder]

THE FALL SHOW IS ALSO GREAT. IF YOU DON'T MIND THE COLDER WEATHER THE FALL FOLIAGE IS FANTASTIC. THE SWAP IS MUCH SMALLER AND SO IS THE WALK IN CROUD, BUT THERE AREN'T ANY BIG LINES AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK OVER ANY SHOULDERS TO SEE THE ENGINES IN THE BUILDINGS. THE CURATORS ALSO HAVE MORE TIME TO EXPLAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, OR YOU COULD JUST DO LIKE ME AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE AND GO TO BOTH OF THEM. THE FALL SHOW NEXT YEAR IS ON OCT. 13-14-15. ROOMS ARE EASIER TO GET ALSO. NOT QUITE AS BIG A LINE AT THE ICE CREAM SHOP, BUT STILL A LINE.
THERE WILL ALSO BE RUNNING DISPLAYS WITH VERY SMALL CROWDS ON APRIL 15-16, MAY 20-21, JULY 15-16, AUGUST 19-20, AND SEPT 16-17. IF YOU LOVE ENGINES AND DON'T MIND DRIVING, GO TO THEM ALL.

GO TO wwwcoolspringpowermuseum.org for more info



ROD

[Ray Ethridge]

If you mess around too long like I did once the Comfort Inn in Clarion is not a bad deal either.

[Rich Wood]

IMHO the most important thing you can do for a first visit is to plan on being in the area on Wednesday afternoon & stay thru Sat. I only live 3 hours drive away but when I can't get off work during the week & drive down for the day on Saturday there is always a bunch of neat stuff leaving on Sat. morning. A lot of people drive a long ways to show @ coolsprings & there always seems to be a lot of neat stuff on trucks headed out for the long trip home on Saturday morning that I never get to see when I only go Sat. Plus this show has a ton of stuff in buildings on displays that run well into the evening.

[Mike Monnier]

Actually Ray, Clarion seems to have some nicer offerings even if it is an additional 15 miles from Brookville. The steakhouse located between the Comfort Inn and Hampton Inn is worth the extra mileage in my opinion. I stayed in both between the June & October shows this years for reference.