What fall would be complete without a leaf ride to see the the patchwork quilt of colors on the hillside? Now this is not always a thrill for those grumpy teens that may get drug along for the journey, but if the end result of the trip was a zombie history lesson, that may spark some interest.
A ride down Perry Highway out of Meadville (also known as route 19) may be just the ticket for some fall and Halloween seasonal fun. So charge up those camera batteries, load the family in the car, pack a little cash for a sweet treat and hit the road.
Our journey is going to start with a scenic drive down Route 19, through many small towns with unique roadside appeal. Depending on when you go, there is ample opportunity to see different views of the fall colors.
Continue to follow Route 19 to Zelienople where your first cool stop for the young and old alike. Baldingers Candy Store located at 519 Perry Way, Zelienople will give the adults a trip down memory lane with some nostalgic and hard to find candies from the “good ole days” and excite the kids with the sheer volume of choices. If sweets are not your thing there is also a Mazza wine shop on site which offers tastings. The store is open from 10am to 6pm daily with the exceptions of major holidays and is well worth the stop and you will soon understand where the saying “like a kid in a candy store” stems from.
Once you reach Zelienople you will want to head east to Evans City, home of the Night of the Living Dead. This 1968 independent horror film by George Romero shaped the modern view of the zombie in ways no one could have ever predicted. Originally the film had a $6000 budget coming from 10 investors with $600 each who formed the production company Image Ten. More money was necessary and the final budget for the film was $114,000 from additional investors. The movie opened in Pittsburgh on October 1st, 1968 (50 years ago) and was received with mixed reviews. The film was criticized for its graphic content and gruesome zombie scenes (Can you even imagine how the some of the modern zombie shows would have been received?) Despite this, the film gained a following and became a cult classic grossing $12 million in the United States and $18 million internationally which was nearly 250 times the budget for the film and spawning a series of films.
Be sure to stop at the Living Dead Museum and Gift Shop (121 E Main St Evans City) open W,Th,Fri,Sun 12 to 5 and Sunday 10 to 6pm. For a $5 admission fee you can tour the exhibits or go to the gift store for all your zombie gear. The staff is very knowledgable about the movie and a great resource to ask questions about the filming locations.
The official marker in town is at 204 South Jackson St near the library and a neat photo, but here is the cool part, you can visit the cemetery used in the film and recreate the iconic images that shaped the pop culture of zombies around the world. A quick google search of “the night of the living dead cemetery images” will give you tons of images to try and match locations to.
“They’re coming to get you Barbara” will be on your mind as you wander through the Evans City Cemetery located on Franklin Road in Evans City. The Blair grave marker is located on the first road to the left as you enter the cemetery, and the Kramer one (the one Barbara clings to after her zombie encounter) is the tall white one located to the left and back a row. The Cole marker is next to the Blair headstone, and the one that Barbara and her brother go to visit in the first few scenes. The building on site was seen in the movie several times in the background and came into disrepair and was actually restored by fans of the the movie. I had a blast walking around and figuring out the locations from the film. 50 years have passed since the movie was made and trees are larger or removed and new graves have been added, but the locations are very similar to the original once you find them. So go ahead and wander, you PROBABLY won’t get lost. As Seen in Meadville Tribune
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