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(The large municipal parking lot on Route 209 is your best parking option.) Because of this, I definitely recommend visiting on a weekday if you can. Old seats were removed and new ones installed, thanks to the hardworking Kirk Jacobsen of Great Eastern Seating in Breinigsville, who donated his time and expertise. There were carpet replacement projects, exterior painting, backstage renovations, and building maintenance. Sometimes it’s a lot of snow shoveling and toilet plunging,” Hugos said. The elevation of the Borough of Jim Thorpe ranges from 540 feet (160 m) at Broadway and Hazard Square downtown to 1,700 feet (520 m) above sea level 3 miles (5 km) northeast of the borough center near the Penn Forest Township line. It has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average downtown monthly temperatures range from 26.5 °F in January to 71.2 °F in July.
Notable people
For decades, every year in late May, the community came together for Jim Thorpe’s birthday celebration. The festival celebrated prosperity and the town’s honorary citizen. Although the event takes a pause this year, local authorities plan a redesigned version of the festival to return in 2024.
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The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company established its headquarters and a worker’s village on the Lehigh River that year. The village took the name of Mauch Chunk, which means “Bear Place” in the Munsee-Lenape Native American language of the region. A unique fundraising campaign, a world-renowned athlete, who never stepped foot in the town, and a U.S.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The park is centered around a beautiful lake that is home to a popular beach during the summertime. There are also several miles of hiking and biking trails, including the aforementioned Switchback Railroad Trail. This train leaves from the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey train station at the northeastern end of town near the Lehigh River. While there are a variety of excursions you can take, the most popular options are their daily sightseeing tours, which are either 45 minutes or 70 minutes in length depending on the season. Parking, on the other hand, can be difficult to come by, especially on weekends in October (when it’s a great spot to see fall foliage in PA) and during the holiday season.
Event Performers
Still, in an attempt to revive the area’s tourism, the community reached an agreement with Thrope’s wife to bury him in town if it was renamed after him. Tours take you through the solitary confinement area, the main cell block, the warden’s quarters, and more. The train ride offers a great way to explore the banks of the Lehigh River upstream of town. Today, there are many fantastic things to do in Jim Thrope, PA ranging from peaceful shopping to historical sights and adrenaline-pumping adventures.
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Today, the revitalized Mauch Chunk Opera House has grown into one of the region’s top music venues and one of Jim Thorpe’s biggest attractions, drawing hundreds of fans into town every weekend. The former New York City to Buffalo Lehigh Valley Railroad across the river is a present-day very active freight hauling railroad operated by Norfolk Southern. By selecting these seats, I acknowledge that I have accessibility needs, or am accompanying someone who has accessibility needs.
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The opera house, built in 1881, needed constant restoration and renovation. Hugos spearheaded multiple capital improvement projects through the years. After receiving a grant from Senator Santorum’s office, they replaced the original 128-year-old standing seam metal roof, which leaked like a sieve. “In the early days, we had to tape off seats, so people didn’t sit and get a wet behind after it rained,” Hugos said.
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
River trips last several hours, and depending on the route taken and the river conditions can range from Class 1-3 rapids. Some trips are even tame enough that younger kids can take the trip as well. Interestingly, I think this might be the only brewery I’ve visited in the state that offers their beers in liters instead of ounces.
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Construction began in August of 1881 and amazingly, the hall was formally opened on the evening of February 4, 1882. Soon, the Opera House became a regular stop on the old Vaudeville Circuit. Al Jolsen, May West, performed here regularly as well as John Philip Sousa, who delighted audiences with an annual show. The front tower was also removed, the victim of steady weakening by the floods that raged down Broadway from the Mauch Chunk River, before the dam at Mauch Chunk Lake was built in 1972. During the next three decades the Opera House became known as the Capitol Theater, a movie house.However, it officially closed on April 27, 1959.
I’ve enjoyed great food from Stone Row Pub and Eatery, Molly Maguire’s Irish Pub, Woods Ice Cream, and Donerds Donuts, but there are many more great options spread throughout town. O’Brien’s side project, Ecospheres, will open the night, hitting the stage at 8 p.m. For nearly 20 years, the opera house has truly been Hugos’ baby – he gave birth to the idea, fed it, nurtured it, and watched it grow. Last month, the opera house volunteers and the Mauch Chunk Historical Society threw a big surprise retirement for Hugos last month at Memorial Park.
After many fits and starts, a program of regular performance - rock music, singer-songwriter, jazz, contemporary dance, theater and classical music – began to fill the room beginning in June 6th of 2003. Further upgrade projects were undertaken with the generous help of members donating their time and money at all levels.In 2008, the original tin roof was replaced with a new steel version. Backstage, the facilities were greatly enhanced by the addition of dressing rooms, and a bathroom. Stage lighting, sound, and electrical service into the building were all replaced, and refurbished seats were installed on both the floor and balcony. The ridgelines, which run east-northeast to west-southwest, are (from north to south) Broad, Nesquehoning, Pisgah, and Mauch Chunk ridges (or Mountains)—each of which runs over 15 miles (24.1 km) west to the gaps cut by the Schuylkill River. Whether you're a novice mountain biker or an experienced pro looking to test your abilities, Jim Thorpe can teach you a thing or two.
Tickets are $15 for adults in advance and $5 for children age 12 and under. Day-of-show tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children age 12 and under. And like previous years, there will be slideshow elements incorporated on the backdrop of the stage. The Mauch Chunk Opera House will host the seventh annual Harvest Jam with Free Range Folk at 7 p.m. We will play all the hits plus some surprise songs and special arrangements to make this show as much fun as our Valentine’s shows yet unique as well.
Film entertainment at the Capitol Theater had been dying a slow death. ”In 1960 the building was purchased by Berkeley Bags Company, a pocketbook manufacturer, and used for years as a warehouse.In 1974 it was obtained by the Mauch Chunk Historical Society for $1. They began a restoration project by building the current lobby and restrooms, adding a new stage, and starting the long process of returning the venue to its rightful place in the community as a performance venue.
10 Most Scenic the Poconos Towns - WorldAtlas - Worldatlas.com
10 Most Scenic the Poconos Towns - WorldAtlas.
Posted: Sat, 16 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The band’s music includes elements of Americana, bluegrass and acoustic rock. As the opera house concerts expanded, Hugos continued to travel from NYC on weekends while managing the business. In 2005, he took the leap and moved to Jim Thorpe full time, keeping things afloat financially by working as a database programmer for PA companies like Air Products, PPL, Carpenter Steel, CompAid, and DEKA Battery. “I was working full-time, non-stop, 7 days a week, but it was the only way to keep the opera house going,” he said. Jim Thorpe is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania approximately 29 miles (47 km) northwest of Allentown, 83 miles (134 km) northwest of Philadelphia, and 117 miles (188 km) west of New York City.

It features both national and local performers, and often offers free shows to spotlight upcoming artists. Located downtown, the opera house is surrounded by restaurants and artisan shops that visitors can enjoy while waiting for a show. Eager to get involved promoting the venue and the town, Hugos became the president of the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency. He also managed the JimThorpe.org web site and partnered with WDIY to promote Jim Thorpe at Bethlehem’s MusikFest. In a poll conducted in 2009 by Budget Travel magazine, Jim Thorpe was awarded a top 10 spot on America's Coolest Small Towns.
The Stabin Museum is located on the outskirts of town, but it’s worth the distance to check out one of my favorite things to do in Jim Thorpe, PA. The Lehigh River in Carbon County is one of the most popular spots to go white water rafting in Pennsylvania, and on a busy weekend, you’ll see many people rafting down the river, especially if you head into Lehigh Gorge State Park. Regardless, if you stay the night in town, things calm down significantly in the evening and early morning, meaning you can really experience the quaintness of the town quite easily. The bottom of this article has a few suggestions for places to stay the night.