During Part I and Part II of our 2025 Summer Road Trip, my wife and I drove through nine states and one Canadian province. We saw several waterfalls, including Niagara Falls. We took a scenic detour to a Great Lake. We ate lunch at the bar that invented the Buffalo Wing. We drove through a historic Minnesota town. We stopped by a gas station built in 1918. It was a week full of adventure!
On our return trip, we discovered one of the coolest, quirkiest museums either of us have visited in recent memory: Bill’s Old Bike Barn. Located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, the museum began as a place for Bill Morris, a motorcycle mechanic and entrepreneur, to display his collection of over 200 motorcycles. But it’s more than just a place for gearheads like me. Bill also has an impressive collection of 20th century American stuff… dolls, toys, cameras, model trains, neon signs, all housed in an indoor village. So impressed were we with Bill’s Bike Barn that I decided that it deserved its own post.
So come along, then, as we visit a 55,000-square foot museum of awesomeness!
Let’s begin:
Bill’s Old Bike Barn
Located only a mile off Interstate 80 in central Pennsylvania, Bill’s Bike Barn is a must-see location!As I related in my last post, my wife asked if I wanted to take a detour on our way home from the Midwest. Her directions included a turn at a dinosaur statue…At the end of a winding driveway, there was no doubt we had arrived at the correct spot!As I stepped into the museum, my jaw hit the floor. Beyond the numerous bikes on display, this place had a collection of seemingly everything. I gladly handed over the $10 admission fee for my wife and I, and then immediately dove into the collection.Near the front door sits one of the oldest motorcycles in the collection: a 1909 Peugeot. This gorgeous two-cylinder bike cost 875 francs when new – about $3900 today.The collection includes numerous bikes from American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson. This three-wheeler is a Servi-Car, a motorcycle designed for commercial duty, including deliveries. First rolling off the assembly line in 1932, it remained in production until 1973 (via Riding Vintage).Indian Motorcycle Company is also well-represented in the collection. This Scout was built in 1949, the last year the model was produced.The museum is housed across several different rooms. The Military Room focuses mostly on military service-related bikes.Perhaps one of the most interesting objects in the collection – a 1962 dump truck from Italian motorcycle manufacturer Moto Guzzi. Notice anything interesting?The entire dump truck shell is built around a motorcycle. The cargo capacity of this motorcycle-truck is about 1500 kilograms, or over 3,300 pounds!The museum houses a sizable collection of World War II-era motorcycles, such as this German BMW with sidecar.I spotted a second Harley-Davdison Servi-Car on display. The bikes are all in immaculate condition, and look like they all just rolled off the showroom floor.Numerous signs hang from the ceiling, such as this Harley-Davidson sign, commissioned for a proposed Harley-Davidson dealership in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The dealership lost its corporate approval before opening, owing to constraints in the immediate years after World War II. However, the sign had already been made, and it eventually made its way to the museum. I learned the back story through the museum’s audio tour (available through its website). The tour is narrated by museum founder Bill Morris. It is easy to use and quite informative, offering lots of information on the various items on display.A small, but notable, collection sits outside in a lean-to on the side of the building. These knights are from Belgium and were discovered by Bill and his wife when they were making purchases for the museum. The knights had been used previously as movie props.When you step outside, look up at the collection of license plates on the ceiling! This is Bill’s collection of license plates, which he accumulated over six decades.This WWII-era German Kettenkrad was one of the most interesting items on display outside. A motorcycle with momentum provided by half-tracks, the Kettenkrad (or Kettenkraftrad) is a small, light tractor for airborne troops, capable of traversing challenging terrain (via Wikipedia). This one was built in 1939.My maternal grandfather fought in the European theater during World War II, and as part of his duties drove a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. This one made me think of him, and the stories he told me of his time fighting to vanquish the Axis war machine in Europe.Welcome to Billville! Built to display Bill’s seemingly endless collection of 20th century American cultural items, the storefronts and shops have been all lovingly built by hand.How often have you seen museum displays themed around storefronts? As an aficionado of old cameras, I absolutely loved the camera shop.The level of detail is deeply impressive. Each shop feels like a step back in time. The Post Office (right) came from a small town in Ohio.Every village needs a mayor, and every mayor needs an office, of course. The 19th century writing desk from France and the throne are optional.The iron door to the banquet room is from several European castles that date to the 13th century.And of course Billville has its own Harley-Davidson dealer…“I like trains,” said Bill on the audio tour. So do I, Bill. So do I.After leaving Billville, we took one last stroll through the museum. This small tricycle doesn’t seem too noteworthy until you dive deeper. It was built in 1895 and is designed to steer with the rear wheels. It still has its original manufacturer’s tag. It’s in fantastic shape!Bill was sitting by the front door, greeting customers as they entered. When I first arrived, he was deep in conversation with other guests, so I waited to chat until I was leaving and he was free. At 86-years young, he is still intimately involved in the operation of the museum. “Got any Hondas?” I asked. He laughed and pointed me to the blue CB350 in the middle of the room.Bill also directed me to a Honda CB450, a more powerful bike capable of 110 miles per hour. The CB450 was built from 1965-1974, and this example was in phenomenal shape.After sharing with Bill how much I enjoyed the museum, I made an offhand comment that Billville reminded me very much of The House on the Rock in Wisconsin (longtime viewers might remember my visit to The House on the Rock three summers ago). Bill smiled and responded that he loves The House on the Rock, has visited it 15 times, and that it was one of the primary inspirations for Billville.Before leaving, I grabbed a glamour shot of the TLX. The museum was absolutely awesome – I would recommend Bill’s Old Bike Barn to anyone traveling through central Pennsylvania!About 90 minutes later, we crossed back into New Jersey, bringing our 2025 Summer Road Trip to a close. Bill’s Bike Barn was a fantastic chapter for an end of our adventure!
A Blog Milestone
For the past nine years, The Open Road Ahead has chronicled my adventures on the highways and byways of America. I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge a special milestone – this post is the 300th that I have written since March of 2016 when the blog started.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read through these posts, to comment, like, share, email, and text their support. Here’s to the next adventure!
Wrapping Up
Bill’s Old Bike Barn is an absolute gem of a museum. If you’re heading through Pennsylvania on I-80 and have the time, it is definitely worth the stop. Bill’s Bike Barn is open year round on Thursday and Friday (10:00 am – 6:00 pm), Saturday (9:30 am – 6:00 pm) and Sunday 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm). Admission is $10 per person, and is collected at the door. If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, don’t forget to stop in the small but well-stocked gift shop located off the main entrance. And if Bill is sitting by the front door, be sure to say hello!
Thanks for coming along on this cool detour along the open road ahead.
The Open Road Ahead 
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