Pittsburgh's Randyland: Visitors guide

Famous for two decades as one of the city's most colorful landmarks, Pittsburgh's Randyland is artist Randy Gilson's backyard. The eclectic attraction draws guests from all over the world.

Randyland has also been dubbed The Most Painted House In the World, and Roadside America has picked it as one of its Favorite Quirky City Sights.

>>Top attractions for kids | Kennywood

The story of how Randyland became Randyland is inspirational. Though he's been homeless twice and drew welfare until he was 26, Gilson was able to transform both the home and the neighborhood beginning in the mid-1990s. 

When he found the place and its enviable Victorian architecture, it had already served as a raucous speakeasy and a church. Gilson brought it back to life by recycling the trash he saw in the home's surroundings, an area marred by drugs and trash. "I bought it for 10,000 bucks on a credit card," Gilson told Roadside America. "People said, 'You're a waiter; you don't have any money; what are you gonna do with it?'"

The resulting wonderland of color at Pittsburgh Randyland is intended to show the world love, according to Gilson. He wants everyone to know, "Wealth is the size of your heart, not your wallet."

Today, the art in and near Randyland is on view for art enthusiasts and other visitors from all over the world. 

Gilson doesn't charge a fee for anyone who comes to check out the much-painted premises, though he's been known to accept materials donations (just not "boring colored" paint).

A huge part of the appeal of Randyland is Gilson himself. He constantly interacts with visitors, from posing for photos to explaining the origins of the items he's made into art to sharing a bit of encouragement and philosophy. While Gilson plans on decreasing his daily involvement with Randyland, he assures fans that the venue will continue to operate under new leadership.

Must-know info about Pittsburgh Randyland:

Hours: According to Yelp, Randyland is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Sunday.

Accessibility: There is street parking and bike parking outside Randyland.

• A 40-foot mural, created in just five days, covers one wall with dinosaurs, giant ladybugs, waterfalls, a golden castle, doves of peace and other symbols of Gilson's journey through life. He admitted he painted it so quickly because the city inspector was out of town those days.
• Planters are made from disposables including plastic flamingos, peace signs and a suit of armor.
• More than 50 paint colors have been employed at Randyland, all of them purchased cheap from local stores when ordinary people returned them.
• Gilson's first interaction with his North Side Pittsburgh neighborhood began when he started planting guerrilla mini-gardens there in the early 1980s. The plots he's worked on or inspired now number in the hundreds.
• In 1988 WQED Pittsburgh produced "The Spirit of Pittsburgh," a segment that featured both Mister Rogers and a young gardening activist called Randy Gilson.

For more information:
Randyland
1501 Arch St., Pittsburgh
412-342-8152

A video that tells the Randyland transformation story can be found on the Circa.com website.

Cox Media Group