factory tours in central pa

7 fascinating factory tours to visit in York County

• Published: Aug. 12, 2016, 12:00 p.m.

Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive

Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive.com

7 fascinating factory tours to visit in York

York County, Pennsylvania, is the self-titled “Factory Tour Capital of the World,” and there are over a dozen great tours that you can take in and around this south-central PA county. Wading through which ones to do can be difficult, which is why I decided to pick out a few of my favorites to share with you.

Martin's Potato Chips

Located along Route 30 west of downtown York, Martin's Potato Chips offer weekly factory tours in Thomasville. Unlike many other food factory tours, the tour at Martin's allows visitors to walk along the factory floor and get an up-close look at how their snack foods are made.

Tours are offered on Tuesday mornings by appointment.

Photo used with permission from Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Harley Davidson Vehicle Operations Plant

Whether you love motorcycles or just want to get a great look at how vehicles are made, a visit to the Harley Davidson Vehicle Operations Plant  is a must. Visitors don eye and ear protection and head onto a path through the factory floor to see the process of building motorcycles from start to finish. Even as someone who's never ridden on a motorcycle, I very much enjoyed seeing how these beautiful machines are made.

Tours are offered weekdays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Snyder's of Hanover

Snyder's of Hanover offers tours of their Hanover, Pennsylvania, snack foods factory. Tours take visitors through corridors overlooking the factory floor. At each stop, a guide offers information on the process of making snack foods, giving visitors a nice understanding of what they are seeing.

Tours are offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Reservations are required.

Bluett Bros. Violins

I was surprised to learn that one of the nation's foremost stringed-instrument builders is located in York. Bluett Bros. Violins handcrafts a variety of stringed instruments for customers all over the world from their small factory on the outskirts of the city's downtown. Visitors can meet owner Mark Bluett, watch him and his apprentices in action, and see some of his latest creations with a visit to his factory.

Tours by appointment.

Photo used courtesy of the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Utz Quality Foods

The Utz Quality Foods factory in Hanover, PA, offers visitors the chance to see where some of America's most popular snack foods are made. Tours here are self-guided through a hallway overlooking the factory floor below. Along the way, audio narration tells about the history of the company and the work that is being done on the factory floor below.

Self-guided tours available Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sunrise Soap Company

Sunrise Soap Company produces high-quality handmade soaps in downtown York. Their kitchen is located at the rear of their downtown store, and visitors can stop by to see a variety of steps in the process of making soaps. Those interested can even produce their own products using some of the store's equipment.

Demonstrations available during store operating hours.

Perrydell Farm

Visit Perrydell Farm for the chance to get an up-close look at a real dairy farm. Experiences depend on when you visit, and it's possible to see anything from cow milking to milk bottling during the self-guided tour of the farm. Those interested in a more in-depth look can call ahead for a guided tour through the farm.

Self-guided tours are offered daily. Guided tours are available by request.

Want more cool places in Pennsylvania?

Jim Cheney is the writer behind  UncoveringPA , Pennsylvania's most-read travel blog. He has traveled to every county in Pennsylvania and to many countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. He lives in Harrisburg, Pa.

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Factory Tours

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