One Tank Getaway: Zinn's Diner and Recreational Park

One Tank Getaway Zinn’s Diner and Recreational Park – Making Amos Famous

by Benjy Eisen This One Tank Getaway is a little bit different than the usual. After all, Zinn’s Diner, in Denver, PA, is a specific place within a destination rather than a destination itself. Now, you might be wondering, “Why drive nearly an hour just to go to a diner?” If you’re thinking on your toes, you know what the response is going to be, right? It’s not just a diner. Zinn’s Diner opened in 1950, an inconspicuous little dive just a mile off the highway in the middle of nowhere, Amish Country, PA. Featuring authentic home-cooked Pennsylvania Dutch meals and a giant statue of Amos, Zinn’s Diner quickly became a favorite amongst both locals and travelers. But it still wasn’t enough to dictate its own One Tank Getaway. The Zinn family added a gift shop beneath the restaurant, a little Amish boutique featuring arts and crafts such as Yankee candles and Rowe pottery. Still not enough (for an OTG). Then came the park. Piece-by-piece. First there was the miniature golf course. One of the most invigorating miniature golf courses in the state, and certainly one of the more entertaining ones, the golf course/diner combination became a hit and started attracting people from beyond the county line. Like the diner itself, the park grew, too, and now, Zinn’s Recreational Park offers two five-star 19-hole miniature golf courses, “Water Wars,” an arcade, a snack bar and ice cream shop, “Bank Shot Basketball,” batting cages, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground wonderland, picnic tables with grills, and rentable pavilions. A scenic creek and well-kept 32-acre landscape make this a surprising alternative to a state park for the family barbeque or get together. And all from the little diner that couldn’t stop growing and a giant statue named Amos. If you plan on taking advantage of this little mini-getaway (which, at just about an hour’s drive, is perfect for a Saturday afternoon), hurry up! Most facets of the outdoor Recreational Park close at the end of September. You may wish to call first to find out specific hours for the various activities. As for the diner itself, which is open year round, there are plenty of advertising-worthy testimonials. The turnaround rate for the staff is unusually small (many have been there for years and years), there’s almost always a wait at the door, and the diner is known across state lines for its shoo fly pie (a molasses-based Pennsylvania Dutch desert). Zinn’s has established a small cult following of diners and enthusiasts, gaining the ultimate cult accolade in 1999 when the first Zinn’s Diner fan website was launched on the Internet. Other Internet sites serve as further evidence that the diner really does have a visible, active cult-like following. Even roadsideamerica.com, a site dedicated to “offbeat attractions,” has a listing for Zinn’s — thanks to Amos, “The Giant Amish Man,” an estimated 15 foot high, fiberglass representation of an Amish farmer, with a traditional rake in hand and a speaker system that makes him spout Amish jokes, tell-alls, and catch phrases for minutes on end. Amos is the official mascot of the diner. And this Amos is famous. Well, sort of. He is supposed to resemble founder Lee Zinn — only taller and invincible. While Amos may have giant fiberglass bare feet (apparently very rare for fiberglass giants according to roasideamerica.com), note that inside the diner, shoes are required. *Amos, pictured here, is a landmark of Zinn’s Diner and Recreational Park	Zinn’s Diner and Recreational Park 2270 North Reading Road, Denver, PA 717-336-2210 Directions from Harrisburg • Take the PA Turnpike (I-76 E.) to Exit 21 (US-222/Reading/Ephrata), which is about 39 miles from Harrisburg East and $1.35 in tolls. Go straight for about one mile, following signs for 272 North. Turn right on 272 North. Look for the giant fifteen-foot statue of Amos, just ahead on your left. A parking lot, with free parking, is directly in between Zinn’s Diner and Zinn’s Recreational Park. Sample menu and useful information • www.find-dining.com/Zinns/ Fun fan websites • members.tripod.com/ ~SamanthaS_2/ZinnsDiner3.html • www.hollyeats.com/ Zinns.htm • www.roadsideamerica.com/ attract/PADENzinn.html Nearby • A lot of things are nearby Zinn’s Diner, but keep in mind that Zinn’s is nearby here. Denver, PA is about 9 miles from Adamstown, which is known for antique shops and Stoudt’s Brewery. Visit antiquescapital.com for more information on Adamstown. Denver is also directly between Lancaster and Reading, both being about 20 miles on either side.