Fall is a great time to take a road trip to the many businesses and attractions in the Northeast Pennsylvania region.
Shopkeepers in the area prepare early to welcome leaf
peepers, festival-goers, Halloween fans and more.
Celebrate Spooky Season
 |
| Horror Hall |
John Rinehimer, chairman of the Board of Directors of HorrorHall, has been watching the attraction grow. “When we started this in 1984, we
had between three and four thousand visitors. Today it’s grown to between
10,000 and 11,000,” he said.
The venue serves as a community center during the off
season. Proceeds not only help keep the lights on in the 35,000 square-foot
facility, but also benefit area charities like the Pennsylvania Wounded
Warriors, little leagues, school choirs and police units, to name a few.
The fun starts in the parking lot with food vendors, stilt
walkers, jugglers, fire eaters and other acts to captivate attendees.
Once inside, visitors are treated to a stage show to learn
the rules before continuing on to a 20-25-minute walk through which evokes
startled jumps, screams and laughs. “Guests are entertained from the minute
they arrive, to when they leave,” said Rinehimer.
Horror Hall is open weekends throughout October and
culminates with even more horror on November 1—one that is so horrific that it requires
a waiver, according to organizers.
Along those same lines is Reaper’s Revenge, which is located
just outside of Scranton. The attraction launched in 2009 and delivers a
spine-tingling, fright-filled experience with more than five attractions.
The Haunted Hayride, Lost Carnival, Delirium, Pitch Black and Sector 13 provide
thrills for thousands of haunt seekers every year. For the
less brave, Reaper's Revenge offers a day-time show "Lil' Grim's"
which includes the hay-ride and Delirium walk-through. The night show
runs weekends, through November 2. Lil' Grim's runs Saturdays and Sundays
in October.
Leaf Peeping Aplenty
 |
| Steamtown offers leaf-peeping excursions. |
For those seeking a calmer fall adventure, the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton offers scenic train rides that showcase the region’s changing foliage. According to Megan Stevens, Park Ranger, options range from 30-minute rides through the historic Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad to day-long excursions with layovers, live entertainment, food trucks and more.
Another event that celebrates fall is The Fall Foliage
Festival is held in the picturesque town of Jim Thorpe every October. This
year’s celebration kicks off on Oct. 4 and runs weekends through Oct. 19.
During this time, businesses and restaurants run specials and many offer
Halloween treats for the kids, while vendors will be on hand selling homemade
arts and crafts. Those who visit the town will also be able to experience the
beauty of the autumn colors on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. The Autumn Leaf
Train runs from October 1 through November 16 and takes passengers on a
45-minute roundtrip excursion for a scenic view of the Lehigh Gorge's fall
foliage, including views of the river, cliffs, and mountains.
At night, consider supporting a good cause by signing up for a ghost tour run by the Jim Thorpe Rotary. Proceeds benefit summer programs for children. The walk lasts about one hour and is recommended for ages 7 and up.
 |
| Ghost stories in Jim Thorpe. |
Explore Delaware Water Gap
 |
| Buttermilk Falls in Delaware Water Gap. |
The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area touts 150 miles of hiking and biking trails and offers stunning views to take in the breathtaking beauty of nature’s brilliance.
Those who venture into the borough of Delaware Water Gap, just
minutes away from Stroudsburg, will encounter historic places like the
Appalachian Trail’s oldest hiker hostel, the Deer Head Inn, known as the
longest continually running jazz club in the country.
 |
| The porch at the Deer Head Inn, the longest running jazz club in the country. |
 |
| The bar at the Deer Head Inn. |
 |
| A painting that hangs on the wall of the Deer Head Inn. |
 |
| The Castle Inn in Delaware Water Gap. |
Nearby there’s the Antoine Dutot Museum and Gallery, which is open weekends in October. The museum operates in an historic red school house, which dates to 1870 and tells the story of the town’s tourism heyday when Delaware Water Gap used to attract half a million tourists each year.
 |
| The Shawnee Inn at Delaware Water Gap. |
Businesses in the borough are also open for unique shopping experiences like those to be had at The Shoppes at Castle Inn. Located in an historic hotel that dates to 1906, the Inn features a toy shop, art gallery, ice cream, antiques and more. Is anyone old enough to remember Fred Waring (waring blender, Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians)? Fred was a native of Delaware Water Gap.
And for something a little different, consider popping into
Sango Kura, Pennsylvania’s first and only sake brewery. It operates as an
izakaya-style restaurant, serving handcrafted sake and Japanese pub fare.
Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to be.
From haunted thrills to historic train rides, Northeast Pennsylvania offers
many ways to celebrate autumn with activities that appeal to both visitors and
locals alike.
Interested in learning more? Visit the following websites
for additional information.
Reapers Revenge: https://reapersrevenge.com/
Horror Hall: https://www.horrorhall.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JimThorpeRotaryGhostWalks/
Steamtown: www.nps.gov/steamtown
Deer Head Inn: https://deerheadinn.com/
Antoine Dutot Museum and Gallery: https://dutotmuseum.org/
The Historic Castle Inn: https://www.castleinnpa.com/
Sango Kura: https://sangokurasake.com/
