Historic 100-ft. Grain Silo Gets a New Home

One of Pennsylvania’s largest dairy farms was home to an unusual move this summer. That’s because Kreider Farms in Manheim, Pa., moved a 100-ft.-tall, 480,000 silo approximately 300 yards to a new location that gives the structure new life as an observation tower that overlooks the Lancaster County countryside.

“The observation tower will be an addition to our farm’s tour,” says Ron Kreider, president and CEO of Kreider Farms. “It’s another way we try to educate the public about the importance of agriculture in our society. We’ve been giving tours of our farm for 10 years, and they are very popular with [both] school children and adult groups.”

The move was facilitated by Wolfe House and Building Movers, which relocates more than 100 homes per year. However, the company had never moved a silo of this size and speculates it could be the largest cylindrical silo ever moved. The job required a huge hydraulic dolly with more than 60 wheels. The silo itself was supported by steel beams and brackets.

The pace was slow, steady – and successful. The dolly propelled the silo along at two feet per minute for three hours total. Here’s a time-lapse video of the move:

For more information on Kreider Farms, visit Kreiderfarms.com or Facebook.com/kreiderfarms.