If you’ve never tried Lebanon bologna (pronounced “leb-nun buh-low-nuh”), you’re missing out—it’s nothing like the lunchmeat we all remember from our childhood sandwiches. And if you already know how good Lebanon bologna is, imagine going inside the smokehouses where it’s made, surrounded by the rich, smoky aroma of slow-cured beef and a tradition over a century old. Take a Seltzer’s Smokehouse Lebanon bologna tour!
That’s exactly what I did on my recent visit to Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Let me take you behind the scenes of this iconic smokehouse and show you why this experience belongs on your travel bucket list.
About Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats
Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats has been smoking its famous Lebanon bologna since 1902. Founded by German immigrant Harvey Seltzer, this family-run business has stayed true to tradition for over 120 years. While most meat producers have gone industrial, Seltzer’s still uses an old-school wooden smokehouse—one of the few left. Slow-smoked over hickory and oak, their bologna has that deep, smoky flavor that’s helped them dominate about 90% of the Lebanon bologna market.
Seltzer’s Smokehouse Lebanon Bologna Tour
After learning some history from a film and museum, we geared up with hairnets (and beard snoods for some) and headed to the smokehouses. They warned us we’d probably leave smelling like smoke—but since I love the scent of burning wood, I wasn’t complaining.
Inside the Smokehouse
Seltzer’s prepares its meat mixture—100% ground beef with no fillers—at a separate facility in Lebanon. It’s trucked fresh to the smokehouse the same day, where it’s finely ground, scanned for metal, and stuffed into casings inside a stocking net. They prepare over 100,000 pounds of Lebanon bologna a week!
The stuffed bologna balloons—each a hefty 9 pounds—are rolled in a cart to the smokehouse, where they’re tossed up into the rafters and hung on nails.
There, they soak up rich, smoky flavor for 2½ to 3 days before being stripped of their stocking nets and sent off for packaging.
Each smokehouse holds a massive 15,000 pounds of Lebanon bologna, with one specially built for the rich, double-smoked variety.
Taste the Tradition
After watching the bologna soak up all that smoky goodness, it was time to see if it tasted as amazing as it smelled. After the smokehouse tour, we headed back to the outlet store for the best part—sampling Seltzer’s bologna. Before this visit, I was convinced I hated bologna. But one bite turned into two… then several more, and I realized I actually love Lebanon bologna! My favorite? The double-smoked sweet. I also tried both the original and double-smoked jerky—despite never liking jerky before—and they were both delicious.
By the way, you can burn off those tasting calories with a hike or a climb up the observation tower at nearby Governor Dick Park.
As a souvenir, I picked up a “Lebanon Bologna Junkie” t-shirt. If I weren’t traveling for a few more days, I’d have stocked up on bologna and jerky, too!
Final Thoughts
The Seltzer’s Smokehouse Lebanon bologna tour was absolutely amazing—one of the most unique and fascinating tours I’ve ever taken. I’ve done plenty of behind-the-scenes tours, but this one easily ranks in my top five. Whether you’re a die-hard Lebanon bologna fan or just curious to try something new, this smokehouse tour is an unforgettable experience. If you get the chance, don’t miss it—I highly recommend it!
Know Before You Go
- Address: 209 N. Railroad Street, Palmyra, PA 17078
- Outlet Store hours: 9-4 Monday-Saturday. Closed Sundays.
- 30-45 minute guided tours.
- Advance reservations are required. Book a tour.
- Closed toe shoes required.
- No children under the age of 5 are permitted in the production facility. Ages 5-17 must be with an adult.
- Participants will need to sign a release.
- Photos are allowed. No videos.
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