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Carbon County in the
Southwest region of the Pocono Mountains offers
the odd juxtaposition of two distinct elements
of Americana -- love of leisure time and the
outdoors and our industrial heritage.
Delaware &
Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
information is available at www.delawareandlehigh.org.
Situated in a region filled
with clear lakes, wide-open countryside and
rugged mountains, Carbon County offers
year-round, outdoor activity. With three ski
resorts to choose from -- Blue Mountain in
Palmerton and Big Boulder and Jack Frost in
Blakeslee -- winter visitors
can find abundant skiing, snowboarding,
snowtubing and snowmobiling, plus organized
activities and baby-sitting for children.
Carbon County is home to
three state parks and two recreation
areas -- Mauch Chunk Lake Park in Jim
Thorpe, Francis E. Walter Dam and Recreation
Area between White Haven and Bear Creek,
Beltzville State Park in Beltzville, Lehigh
Gorge State Park which spans both Carbon and
Luzerne Counties and Hickory Run State Park --
which provide prime fall foliage viewing.
During spring and summer, visitors enjoy
whitewater rafting, hiking, picnicking,
sailing, swimming, fishing and mountain
biking.
Carbon County's Jim Thorpe
(formerly Mauch Chunk) is rich with history.
This unusual Victorian town was named for the
controversial Native American athlete who was
forced to relinquish his Olympic gold medals
when it was discovered that he had played one
season of professional baseball. The town of
Jim Thorpe was home to the first railroad in
the United States and the men who made their
millions from the railroads. One of Jim
Thorpe's premier attractions is the Asa Packer
Mansion, home of the most famous and most
wealthy of the railroad tycoons, and the
founder of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the
Lehigh University. This Victorian mansion,
built in 1860, still holds its original
furnishings.
Visitors may want to plan
their time in the Pocono Mountains around one
of Carbon County's annual festivals. October's
Fall Foliage Festival offers arts and crafts,
food and entertainment right in the center of
Jim Thorpe. The Olde Time Christmas Celebration
provides festive, old-fashioned fun for all
ages.
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