name conjures up images of one man’s spectacular
accomplishments in the world of sports. Jim Thorpe was the
American Indian athlete who won the pentathlon and
decathlon in the 1912 Olympics, excelled in not only track &
field but also in baseball and football, was honored with the
title “Greatest Athlete in the World” by King Gustav of
Sweden at those 1912 Olympics, and was named ABC’s
Wide World of Sports “Athlete of the Century.”
But more and more often, the name “Jim Thorpe” doesn’t
cause people to think of events of the past, rather, the name
brings to mind fresh present-day images — images of a town
that bears the name of the great athlete. From antique
collectors to train enthusiasts to mountain bikers to day-
tripers, a wide variety of people are discovering Jim Thorpe.
Jim Thorpe, a charming town at the foot of the Pennsylvania
Poconos, has much to offer in its small package. A town of
just under 6,000 people, Jim Thorpe has a thriving downtown
with over 65 unique shops and galleries, nine restaurants, six
antique stores, two museums and a theater. Visitors can take
a leisurely stroll through the restored downtown district,
admire the turn-of-the-century-architecture, browse through
the many gift shops, learn about the Molly Maguires at The
Old Jail Museum, tour the Asa Packer Mansion, study local
history at the Mauch Chunk Museum, visit the mausoleum
where Jim Thorpe is buried, take a ride on a restored train,
or rent a mountain bike and explore the serene mountains
surrounding the valley.
Jim Thorpe is beautiful to visit and holds many activities no
matter what time of the year. Two especially enjoyable times
to visit are during the Fall Foliage Festival, held around the
second weekend of October and Old Time Christmas
Festival, usually the first weekend of December. These
special events bring with them unique and entertaining
events for visitors. And don’t miss our St. Patrick’s Day
Parade, which last year drew 10,000 Irish & Irish-for-a-day
onlookers.
For more information about our town, or to get exact dates
for the above-mentioned events, please call the Jim Thorpe
Area Chamber of Commerce at 1-570-325-5810 or visit
http://www.JimThorpe.org.
