Rockhill/ Orbisonia

Rockhill/ Orbisonia

Rockhill & Orbisonia are adjacent to one another, each offering residents and visitors a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Both feature everything you could ever want in a small town, including Sandy Ridge Market, Community State Bank, Orbisonia True Value, Jenkies Joint, OIP, Broad Top Area Medical Center – Orbisonia, and Xtreme Fitness.

Come and see history come to life at the East Broad Top Railroad in Orbisonia. The railroad was built in 1872 to primarily haul semi-bituminous coal from the mines of the Broad Top Mountain plateau to the Pennsylvania Railroad in Mount Union. The railroad also carried substantial amounts of ganister rock, lumber, passengers, some agricultural goods, concrete, road tar, and general freight. In its first three decades, the railroad supplied much of its coal to the Rockhill Iron Furnace, operated by the railroad’s sister company, the Rockhill Iron and Coal Company, and in turn hauled the pig iron from the furnace.

Today, with rail-industry leaders, the East Broad Top Foundation, along with the hard work and dedication of volunteer driven organization “Friends of the East Broad Top,” the historic, narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad is on the fast track to preservation and restoration. Visitors can enjoy a scenic glimpse back in time on the historic railroad, tour of the shops, or a ride on the Rockhill Trolley. Many special events are also planned at the at the East Broad Top. Favorites are “Easter on the Rails”, “East Broad Top Goes to War”, and “Ragtime in Rockhill”.