Most of the early historic service stations are no longer standing. One of the most famous along the Lincoln Highway across Pennsylvania was the Lincoln Highway Garage in the east end of York City. It was reported by many to be the first drive in service station along the Lincoln Highway between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh but the first in York City was actually a Gulf Refining Company Service Station that opened a few years earlier on the other side of town on West Market Street.
Did you know that there were actually at least FOUR service stations with different owners with the name “Lincoln Highway Garage” across York County? Read all about it in this blog post by York historian Stephen H. Smith. Hallam Lincoln Highway Garage We’ll see the building standing there today during our bus tour on Thursday, June 26, 2026 on the way to Wrightsville and the Susquehanna River.
The York City Lincoln Highway Garage today is a Turkey Hill convenience store. Attempts to preserve the historic service station was unsuccessful but the building does mirror the original roof line and boasts murals about its history. It’s open 24 hours so worth a stop. Take in the new Welcome to York City mural on the wall that includes the iconic Lincoln Highway logo and a painting of a 1928 concrete marker. Still lots of selfie opportunities here.
Other early service stations that have been repurposed are Jim and Nina’s Pizzeria on the western edge of Hallam Borough. Try their famous pickle pizza if you dare. Back in the day it was an early Atlantic Service Station.
At 1801 West Market Street in West York stand an early Amoco station that now serves Mexican ice cream and treats as La Michoacana. If you want to see many then and now photographs of these early service stations, check our Jimmy Rosen’s book Got Gas available for purchase in the pop-up book store during the conference.
Finally, no tour of Lincoln Highway service stations is complete with mention of the art deco Gulf Refining Company masterpiece called Dunkle’s Gas in Bedford. Unfortunately, the garage is closed since the death of the owner a few years ago. We are not aware of any future plans for the building but hope that this iconic service station can be preserved and reopened in some capacity.
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