Breezewood, Pennsylvania, a name that might evoke images of a quaint Midwestern suburb, is anything but. Far from suburban sprawl, Breezewood is a unique, almost paradoxical place, intimately familiar to Pennsylvania Turnpike travelers yet surprisingly obscure to the wider world. This small, unincorporated area nestled in the scenic Allegheny Mountains, about two hours southeast of Pittsburgh, is less a town and more a concentrated strip of highway hospitality. While a tiny residential population exists, Breezewood’s essence lies in its relentless array of services catering to motorists: gas stations, restaurants, gift shops, and hotels, all packed into a half-mile stretch. It’s a place best captured not in idyllic snapshots, but in the detailed, almost overwhelming photography of artists like Edward Burtynsky, who have highlighted its captivating clutter of signs and curb cuts.
Unfortunately, capturing Breezewood’s essence in a single photo is challenging. For a truly evocative image, I recommend exploring the work of Edward Burtynsky, a photographer who masterfully portrays the area’s visual density. [Note: I apologize for the lack of original exterior photos of Breezewood in this article. Inspiration struck after my visit. I plan to update this post with original photography on my next trip.]
Breezewood’s story began with the Pennsylvania Turnpike, designated as Exit 6, but its boom truly ignited in the early 1960s with the construction of Interstate 70. This crucial segment of the Eisenhower Interstate System linked Pittsburgh and the Turnpike to Western Maryland and Baltimore. However, a quirk of 1950s federal law, designed to prevent direct connections between toll roads and free highways, inadvertently shaped Breezewood’s destiny. This law, since repealed, mandated a segment of standard road – complete with intersections and traffic lights – to bridge the gap between I-70 and the Turnpike (I-76). In this specific locale of south-central Pennsylvania, the resulting asphalt void became filled with a dense concentration of rest stop businesses, giving rise to modern Breezewood.
For decades, Breezewood flourished as a vital transfer point, channeling motorists between I-70 and I-76. It became synonymous with roadside rest and recreation, a quintessential mid-20th-century highway oasis. However, in recent times, signs of decline have emerged. A Google Street View tour reveals vacant storefronts, questioning the once-apt moniker “Gas Vegas.” Industry observers, like GribbleNation, suggest that the very roadside typologies that fueled Breezewood’s golden age are waning in popularity. The sit-down restaurants, reminiscent of Howard Johnson’s and Perkins, popular during the oil crises of the 70s, gave way to fast-food chains in the 90s. Yet, even these fast-food staples are now departing Breezewood. The closure of a Perkins, even one attached to a functioning Flying J Truck Stop, and the absence of even Taco Bell or Wendy’s outlets, paints a picture of struggle.
But amidst this backdrop of decline, a beacon of success shines brightly: the Gateway Travel Plaza.
Image alt text: Exterior of Gateway Travel Plaza in Breezewood, Pennsylvania, showcasing its comprehensive roadside services.
The Gateway Travel Plaza, accessible immediately upon exiting the Pennsylvania Turnpike onto US-30/I-70 westbound, stands as a testament to adaptation and comprehensive service in the evolving landscape of roadside travel. It’s the first establishment on the right along Breezewood’s main strip, acting almost as a commercial black hole, seemingly overshadowing the businesses further down the road. Following the Gateway Travel Plaza, one encounters a string of vacancies: a demolished KFC, a closed Exxon (now within the Gateway complex), a former Taco Bell, a seemingly abandoned IHOP/sports bar, and a long-shuttered Sheetz gas station.
While it’s an oversimplification to solely blame the Gateway Travel Plaza for the struggles of its neighbors, its dominance is undeniable. The Gateway’s history stretches back to 1941, initially as the Gateway Inn, a pioneering rest stop along the newly constructed Pennsylvania Turnpike. Over the decades, it has evolved and expanded, seemingly outmaneuvering its competition. Stepping inside, even during pandemic-related restrictions, it’s evident that the Gateway Travel Plaza is attuned to the modern traveler’s needs in ways that many other Breezewood establishments are not.
Image alt text: The spacious Quick Mart and Travel Stop inside Gateway Travel Plaza, offering a wide selection of convenience items for travelers.
The Quick Mart and Travel Stop within the Gateway is significantly larger than typical gas station convenience stores, offering a broader range of goods and services catering to diverse travel needs.
Image alt text: Operational fast-food options within Gateway Travel Plaza, providing diverse dining choices for travelers in Breezewood.
Despite regional indoor dining restrictions at the time of the original article, the Gateway Travel Plaza boasted five operational fast-food restaurants, albeit with some adjusted hours, showcasing its resilience and commitment to traveler convenience.
However, the true differentiator of the Gateway Travel Plaza lies beyond the expected gas and food offerings. It’s in the unexpected amenities tucked away, often unseen by casual visitors, that reveal its comprehensive approach to serving the roadside traveler, particularly truckers and long-haul drivers.
Image alt text: Clean and functional laundromat and shower facilities at Gateway Travel Plaza, providing essential services for truckers and travelers.
Facilities like a laundromat and showers, while perhaps primarily intended for truckers, underscore the Gateway Travel Plaza’s commitment to providing a higher level of service. The sanitized and well-maintained environment elevates it beyond a typical truck stop, appealing to a broader spectrum of motorists. The surprises continue on the second floor.
Image alt text: Staircase leading to the second floor of Gateway Travel Plaza, hinting at the unexpected amenities available upstairs.
Image alt text: Unexpected Radio Shack retail location inside Gateway Travel Plaza, offering electronics and accessories for travelers.
Image alt text: Second-floor hallway at Gateway Travel Plaza, revealing a variety of services beyond typical rest stop offerings.
Yes, remarkably, the Gateway Travel Plaza hosts a Radio Shack, a brand now resurrected by Retail E-commerce Ventures and often found in partnership with HobbyTown USA or similar vendors, as is the case here. But even more surprising are the other second-floor discoveries.
Image alt text: Comfortable TV lounge and training room at Gateway Travel Plaza, potentially used for small conferences and meetings.
A TV lounge and a training room, likely used for small conferences, perhaps catering to the logistics industry, further highlight the Gateway Travel Plaza’s diverse offerings.
Image alt text: Chaplain’s office at Gateway Travel Plaza, providing a unique service of spiritual guidance and support for travelers.
Even more unexpectedly, a chaplain’s office provides spiritual support, a truly unique amenity from a family-run business that has consistently invested in upgrading its facilities. The training room, in pre-pandemic times, also hosted chapel services.
Image alt text: Closed arcade and billiards room at Gateway Travel Plaza, temporarily unavailable due to COVID-related restrictions.
An arcade and billiards room, unfortunately closed due to COVID-19 at the time of the original visit, represent another dimension of the Gateway Travel Plaza’s offerings, intended for leisure and entertainment.
Returning to the main level, some observations regarding COVID-19 protocols were made.
Image alt text: Functional hand dryers in the restrooms at Gateway Travel Plaza, a point of observation regarding COVID-19 hygiene practices.
The restrooms featured operational hand dryers, a detail that, in the context of varying COVID-19 restrictions, raised questions about hygiene protocols, as some institutions had opted for paper towels to mitigate aerosolized particle spread.
Image alt text: Open first-floor arcade at Gateway Travel Plaza, contrasting with the closed second-floor arcade due to Pennsylvania COVID-19 mandates.
Similarly, the first-floor arcade remained open, while the second-floor arcade was closed due to Pennsylvania state mandates, suggesting a nuanced approach to pandemic-related restrictions within the Gateway Travel Plaza.
It’s important to note that Breezewood is not entirely a picture of obsolescence. The area still boasts a Holiday Inn, a Starbucks, and surviving locations of chains like Pizza Hut and Bob Evans, as well as a Tesla Supercharger station. However, the trend is clear: the majority of Breezewood is struggling to maintain relevance, while the Gateway Travel Plaza is demonstrably thriving. The overall demand for traditional roadside services in Breezewood has likely diminished, partly due to increased competition from rest stops at shorter intervals and the 1992 completion of I-68 in Western Maryland. I-68 provided an alternative route, diverting traffic from the I-70/76 corridor and impacting Breezewood’s traffic volume.
Yet, the success of a well-managed business cannot be underestimated. The Gateway Travel Plaza has effectively emulated the publicly funded Pennsylvania Turnpike service plazas, even mirroring their architectural style with a pitched roof and dormer windows. Offering a comprehensive range of services under one roof – essentially everything a traveler needs, excluding lodging – the Gateway Travel Plaza maximizes convenience and minimizes the need for multiple stops. In a challenging environment, the Gateway Travel Plaza provides a model for roadside businesses adapting to evolving traveler needs. Perhaps the only missing element, in line with modern travel trends, is a dog park, a feature increasingly common in contemporary travel plazas. The remaining businesses in Breezewood could learn valuable lessons from the Gateway Travel Plaza’s success as they navigate the changing landscape of roadside hospitality.
