Things To Do
Jim Thorpe, the county seat of Carbon County, is located at the foot of the Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania. A small town of approximately 5,000 people, it has a history rich in tradition, ranging from the beginning of the coal mining era in Pennsylvania, through the Industrial Revolution to its present-day rebirth as a tourist attraction.
Activities
Mountain Biking: among the best on the East Coast
Hiking: State Game Lands, Hickory Run State Park, Switchback Trail, Glen Onoka, Lehigh Valley Gorge, etc.
Whitewater Rafting: trips through the beautiful Lehigh River Gorge State Park in the Poconos. 4 rafting companies in the area.
Swimming/Fishing: Mauch Chunk Lake (in town), Beltsville (5 miles)
Skirmish/Paintball: 7 miles away on Route 903.
Skiing: 1/2 hour to 1 hour: Big Boulder/Jack Frost, Blue Mountain, Camelback
Cross Country Skiing: Mauch Chunk Lake
Golf: 10 miles away
Antiques & Crafts: Dozens of shops in and around the Jim Thorpe area.
Festivals: Year round variety of festivals including the Laurel Fest, Fall Foliage Festival and Renaissance Festival.
Cultural Events:
Cultural events such as the Bach and Handel Chorale and various art shows and the festive Christmas atmosphere also bring many visitors to the town.
Museums and Historical Sites: Jim Thorpe is the home to eight buildings on the National Register of Historical Places.
Sightseeing
The entire downtown area of Jim Thorpe is included in the National Register as the "Historic District of Old Mauch Chunk".
Its Victorian architecture, antique and craft shops, and fall foliage train rides offer many sights and leisure time.
Some of the sites are:
The Switchback Gravity Railroad - 1827
Asa Packer Mansion - 1861
Harry Packer Mansion - 1874
Carbon County Jail - 1871
St. Mark's Church - 1869
Mauch Chunk Opera House - 1881
Jersey Central RR Station - 1888
Mauch Chunk Museum
Dimmick Memorial Library
Art, Music, Movies & Culture
Jim Thorpe Artists - a non-profit organization devoted to supporting and promoting the arts, music and performance in Jim Thorpe PA.
Jim Thorpe Artists Music Series - JTAMS hosts an array of national and up-and-coming artists at
the historic Mauch Chunk Opera House including Richie Havens, Tom Rush,
Willy Porter, John Abercrombie, Chicago's Dance Inc, and also produces cultural
festivals, fundraisers and family shows.
Carbon County Cultural Project - Built c.1850 as a wire mill, and later home to a silk mill and dressmakerCarbon County Cultural Project’s factory, the Carbon County Cultural Project has undergone extensive renovation from its industrial origins to the present art gallery facility.
Bach & Handel Chorale: Dedicated to the production and preservation of sacred music,
especially that of Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel
Penn's Peak: Penn�s Peak is a cozy venue located in Penn Forest Township, Pennsylvania that can comfortably host 1,800 concertgoers with its spacious dance floor, lofty ceilings, twin bars and restaurant.
Mauch Chunk Opera House: The Mauch Chunk Opera House once again is rising to it's former glory as the
jewel of the community and respected venue for live performance and cultural
events.
Mauch Chunk Musuem and Cultural Center - portrays the town's fascinating industrial and cultural history, elegant Victorian architecture and great scenic beauty through video, photography and artifact.
Number 9 Wash Shanty - Anthracite Mine Tour and Museum
Mahoning Valley Cinema - Multi-screen Movie Theatre.
Recreation/Outdoors
Hickory Run State Park
Lehigh Valley Gorge Park
Mauch Chunk Lake
Beltsville Lake Park - Beltzville Lake is 949 acres with a shoreline of 19.8 miles. The park is along the Pohopoco Creek with recreation areas around the lake.
Glen Onoka Falls
The Switch Back Trail: The Switch Back Trail is the most historic among the trails in Pennsylvania's Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. It traces the route of the historic Switch Back Gravity Railroad, an 18-mile round-trip through countryside once called "The Switzerland of America." It offers enjoyable outings for walkers, hikers, and mountain bikers.
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway - The train ride lasts about one hour, round-trip.
Blue Mountain Sports
Pocono Biking Adventures
Carbon County Environmental Education Center: promotes awareness and understanding of our total environment through education.
White Birch Public Golf Course - Barnesville, (570) 467-2525
Mahoning Valley Golf and Tennis, Mahoning Valley, (507) 386-4515
Places to Eat
Trattoria 903 - Really, really good Italian cuisine. Worth the 6 mile drive.
Cafe Origins - A peaceful and tranquil environment for the finest vegetarian cuisine.
Moya - Delicious, simple and straightforward cuisine, concentrating on local seasonal ingredients.
Flow - A restaurant that reflects the spirit of locally grown, fresh foods that travel from the farm harvest to the kitchen served in an inspirational setting.
Black Bread Cafe
Emerald Restaurant, Molly Maguire's Pub, JT's Steak & Ale & Pepperjacks Tex-Mex
Gallo's Pub - Located at Flagstaff Park so there is a great view.
Articles on Jim Thorpe
WEEKEND EXCURSION; Resurrecting the Miner's World - New York Times
A Two-Wheeling Town - New York Times
The Poconos Beyond the Billboards _ New York Times
HAVENS; Weekender | Jim Thorpe, Pa. - New York Times
HAVENS; Finding Brigadoon in Pennsylvania - NY Times Article
Falling for `Brigadoon' among the Poconos - Toronto Star
ART; Those Beauties, Steam Trains - New York Times
Steaming Through Pennsylvania - New York Times
Step back in time with visit to Jim Thorpe - The Daily Item
Most death-defying day trip - Philadephia City Paper, CP Choice
Dangerous Trails, Philadephia City Paper
Links & Resources
Jim Thorpe Chamber of Commerce
The Village of Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe Net
The Times News
Jim Thorpe Today