Built in 1861, this Victorian Italianate architecture-style home was constructed over a span of two…read moreyears at a total cost of $14,000 dollars. The Asa Packer Mansion listed as a National Historic Landmark was the home of philanthropist, railroad magnate, and founder of Lehigh University, Asa Packer, from Oct. 16, 1861, to Oct. 29, 1912. Located in Jim Thorpe, this building is recognized by a red-ribbed tin roof and a central cupola proudly atop Packer Hill with the commanding stunning views of the surrounding Pocono Mountains, where my partner, his aunt and I came for a tour today. Tickets were easily available and reasonably priced for the 1pm tour, which covered the entirety of the first and second floors. Our tour guide was a young lady (she mentioned she is a senior in high school) who obviously loves her job and is personally interested in the history of the mansion and family. From the furniture, woodwork, and stained glass to the artwork, she spoke about the history or significance. The mansion is not a restoration where pictures and video are prohibited inside. An amazing walk back in time, for which we can recommend this place.

This was absolutely the highlight of our day in Jim Thorpe! Such a stunning home with amazing…read morehistory and it's incredibly well preserved. Our tour guide was very passionate about the subject and brought the story of the home to life. We learned so much about Asa Packer and his family as well as his contributions to the town itself. I highly recommend visiting the mansion. It's very affordable and you won't regret it. The setting is very scenic as it's set atop a gorgeous hill overlooking the region. Bonus points if you have the opportunity to visit during the fall season. You'll be surrounded by the most beautiful foliage. But very important to note, accessing the museum means walking up the hill and some stairs. It's a short walk but could be taxing for some. Very much worth your efforts though!

Very interesting tour of this formidable fortress-like old jail. History of the place quite grim,…read moretreatment of people just horrible, especially the Irish back in the day. But history is important, and they gave a good history of the cruel overlords of the coal mining industry, and the resistance put forward by the Molly Maguires, who fought for fair wages, treatment and justice. Jail operational until 1975. Worth a visit. Correction: Jail operational until 1995.

I still cannot believe that this was an active jail until 1995 and they shut down the dungeon…read more(solitary confinement) in the 1970s. The conditions were truly not extremely modern to any standard of today and I guess this is what was expected when the jail was built over several decades earlier. The opening video which seems like a high school AV club production did explain about the Molly Maguires and the hangings at this jail. We then toured the cells, dungeon, and had free reign to check out the Warden's quarters and kitchen. Didn't take long and you could be in and out in less than an hour or so. Very interesting history. There is one bathroom for public use. The kitchen is supposedly the next major restoration project going to be started. A lot of the displays and signage needs some TLC, too. If you're in law enforcement or into this kind of history, I'd recommend it. They also have a gift shop. $13 each for us today, 8/7/2026.

This was on the list for best places to visit for Jim Thorpe. The area it self was scenic with the…read moreLehigh Gorge Scenic Railway in proximity, different trails scattered throughout the park. The disappointment was Flagstaff Mountain overlook closed as well as the Turn Hole Tunnel, that was permanently closed and gated off. The picnic area near the boat lunch was clean, and there was even a bridge you went over that was unique. Sadly, would have been a better rating if the attractions wanted to check out were open.

Awesome hiking trail for something not as intense. For working out you can really play around with…read morethe different trails and get a good sweat. For leisure any of which will do fine. Views are great, but definitely not a great amount of elevation.

Three and one half stars but rounding up because of the nice nature views and decent narration…read more A lot of the covered sections of the 3pm last train of the day were already sold out so we went with the open air car. I'll let you know that if it rains on your trip and you're in the open air car, you'll be getting wet and we did in both directions. Not butt wet, but your lap if uncovered will be pretty soaked. The hour long ride was nice and leisurely and although the narrator hyped up a waterfall, it didn't live up to it. He also gave some history and talked about an old hotel that used to be along the line before being burned down. There was an old oil line that now holds fiber optic lines, the rock "tunnel" and some other named curves along the way. The diesel locomotive pulled one direction and pushed the other the way back. On the open air cars, you sit sideways family style on comfortable wooden benches. The car needed some TLC if you looked hard enough but was fine. We did not walk through the standard or first class cars, the snack car, or the caboose. The bars across where the windows would have been were almost reminiscent of jail cells. In the short sections of the ride when it wasn't raining the fresh breeze was quite refreshing. This ride would have been awesome at the right time of the Fall during the changing of the leaves. I bet they raise the prices then. The train offers numerous different themed rides so the experience can a bit different each time if you want to ride more often. For our open air car today, $25 each. So, $100. First Class was $54 each which also got you a "free" drink and snack. I'm sure those seats were more comfortable than the wooden benches. Something fun to do while in Jim Thorpe for the experience.

I spent most of time on the train talking to my family, the view was good, but nothing…read morebreathtaking. It's something to do with others, I presume going in the fall when the leaves are changing colors would be spectacular. They say it's similar to the Swiss Alps, I am not sure since I have never been there. It reminded me of traveling through the mountainous countryside in Japan. As for which train car, if the weather is good I recommend the open air ones without glass windows. The views are the best and you are not pounded with sunlight since there is a top and plenty of trees to protect you.

Named after an iconic Native American sports legend renowned for his victories at the 1912…read moreStockholm Olympics, his wife sought a fitting tribute to her husband by relocating his remains to Mauch Chunk, originally founded in 1818. In honor of his legacy, the town was renamed Jim Thorpe, where my partner, his aunt and I came for a day trip last Saturday. Located in the picturesque southern edge of the Pocono Mountains, just a two-hour drive from New York City, this place appeared as though it's sprung from the pages of a fictional fairytale. We arrived around noontime via a shuttle bus from Mauch Chunk Lake Park when their Fall Foliage Festival, held every weekend in October, was in full swing. It was alive with the people enjoying live music, charming local shops and boutiques showcasing the work of talented artisans, and a delectable array of food options. We meandered through a busy Broadway and Race Street in the "historic district" as it has maintained its old-timey, somewhat Victorian charm of years past. We enjoyed the tour inside the Asa Packer Mansion. Purchasing a ticket for the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway on the spot would have been impossible given the crowd size. It's a place that instantly feels like home, yet transports one back in time to an era of simplicity and serenity. It was a fairytale escape in the Pocono Mountains, which we can recommend.

The city of Jim Thorpe is a must see. Not only is it a must visit, but I suggest visiting…read morethroughout every season. The town's feel, decorations, tours, and even menus will change, which will give you different and unique experiences. Walking around this hilly town is so impressive. You'll see many different businesses, pretty Victorian homes, and plenty of historic sites. Coming here has always been pleasurable, relaxing, and I'll happily return, many more times.

We loved this sample room right at the edge of Jim Thorpe. I have to give a huge thanks to Heather,…read moreshe made the experience wonderful and made recommendations for other places to visit. I really give 5 stars because of the service, the chill and open space/atmosphere. We tried a flight of wine and a few cocktails. Some of the wines I didn't really care for but some were great. The spiced apple wine hands down was the winner. We took home 2 bottles of it. The prices were very reasonable, I think we paid $15 for a bottle. We came back after walking around and trying a few other places. We will absolutely back if/when we come back to Jim Thorpe!

Fun place to hang out near the train station in Jim Thorpe. The staff were super friendly and the…read moreoverall environment was very welcoming. The wine selection was decent. My husband and I tried the two reds they had and enjoyed them both. I really liked the local art work on display and the layout is good for couples up to medium sized groups. The lady who served us was so easy going, it is worth mentioning again how great the staff is. Their tasting bar area can get packed; so we found an opening and she served us right away and said we could go ahead an find an empty table, that she trusted we would come back to settle our bill when we were ready to leave. We were pleasantly surprised and purchased a bottle of red not only because we enjoyed it, but because we wanted to repay the kindness and trust extended. Thanks for a great experience!