Things to do in Punxsutawney, PA

Small Town Series – Pennsylvania

There are many unique small towns across the United States. Many times we just drive right through them on our way to somewhere else. In this series, I will highlight small towns in each state. If you take the time to stop, shop, and eat in these towns, I think you will be pleasantly surprised! Small towns are “hidden gems” among the big, bustling cities!

Punxsutawney

Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is a small town located 84 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Their claim to fame is the Groundhog day Celebration held there every February 2nd. The most recent census shows the population is about 6000.

Have you heard of Punxsutawney Phil? He’s a famous Groundhog! He lives in Punxsutawney, PA. On February 2nd, he becomes very popular because he can predict the weather! Although, sometimes we don’t like his predictions!

History

The first settlement was in 1772 when Rev. John Ettwein, a Moravian church missionary, arrived with 241 Delaware Native Americans. Swarms of gnats plagued the early settlers and their livestock. The name, Punxsutawney, comes from the Native language and translates to “town of the sandflies”. These gnats eventually drove the Native Americans away.

Punxsutawney is situated halfway between the Allegheny and Susquehanna rivers.

Settlers were drawn to the town by lumbering and mining opportunities. To make this land more inhabitable, they drained the swamps in the area and exterminated the insects. The Borough of Punxsutawney was incorporated in 1850. When the mines were active, the Town was bustling, with a population of over 10,000 people, but eventually, the coal mines closed down and the people left.

Today, it’s a quiet little tourist town except for once a year, on Groundhog Day, when as many as 40,000 people make the trek to Gobbler’s Knob to see what Phil has to say!

Things to do in Punxsutawney, PA

• Mahoning Shadow Trail
• Gobbler’s Knob & Trail
• Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center
• Phantastic Phils
• Phil’s Burrow
• Punxsutawney Historical & Genealogical Society
• The GHC Headquarters
• Groundhog Festival

Mahoning Shadow Trail

The Mahoning Shadow Trail is 15-miles long and is made of a reclaimed railroad bed. The wooded trail follows the Mahoning creek and runs through Punxsutawney. It’s open to walkers, joggers, and non-motorized vehicles.

Gobbler’s Knob & Trail

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Located at 1548 Woodland Ave Ext., Punxsy, PA, Gobbler’s Knob is one of the most recognized landmarks in Western PA. This is the site of the famous Groundhog day celebrations and where Punxsutawney Phil makes his annual predictions. Thousands of visitors come to this site each year. The visitor center is open Thursday through Sunday from 10:00-4:00. The trail is 1/2 mile in length and displays some local metal art.

Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center

Located at 201 N. Findley St, Punxsy, PA in a 100-year-old historic, former, Post Office. This interactive Weather Discovery Center has hands-on exhibits to help children(and adults) learn more about tornadoes and thunderstorms. It’s open 10:00-4:00 each day and admission is $6.

Phantastic Phil’s

Stop by the Chamber of Commerce to pick up your map and begin your search! You will find 32 larger-than-life Groundhog Statues hidden throughout the town. They are more commonly known as Phantastic Phil’s! Each one is a work of art!

Phil’s Burrow

Punxsutawney Phil and his wife Phyllis live in a climate-controlled environment. Viewing windows will give you a glimpse into the life of Groundhogs.

Punxsutawney Historical & Genealogical society

Located at 400 and 401 W. Mahoning St. are 2 historical buildings for you to explore. One is the Lattimer House, which houses a historic groundhog day exhibit, a childhood display, and galleries. The other building is the Bennis House, which has exhibits showing the history of Punxsutawney from the Native Americans through the Boomtown Era.

The GHC Headquarters

Located at 200 W. Mahoning St., here you will find displays of historical information pertaining to the Groundhog Club as well as Phil’s personal items.

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club

The Inner Circle is comprised of 15 members whose task is to protect and preserve the traditions of Groundhog Day and take care of Punxsutawney Phil. The club was formed in the 1880s. Today the inner circle is comprised of a group of local dignitaries. The first time Groundhog day was recorded in the local newspaper was 1886. The following year was the first time an official trek was made to Gobbler’s Knob. The celebration has increased every year since!

Punxsutawney Groundhog Festival

The Groundhog Festival takes place every summer in Punxsutawney. It is held the week of the Fourth of July. It features live entertainment, craft vendors, food vendors, and lots of family fun!

If the idea of standing in the freezing cold in February to see Phil doesn’t appeal to you, maybe the warmth of a summer day and the Groundhog festival would be a better fit.

The Legend & Lore of Groundhog Day

It is widely thought that the Christian religious holiday of Candlemas Day is where Groundhog Day began, but its roots are actually older than that. The celebration started in Christianity on the day(February 2nd) when Christians would take their candles to the church to have them blessed. The belief was that this would bring blessings to their household for the rest of the winter. This evolved into more of a weather predictor as you can see from the lyrics to this English Folk song;

  If Candlemas be fair and bright,
 Come, Winter, have another flight;
 If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
 Go Winter, and come not again.

As you can see there is no mention of a Groundhog or any other animal. It was in German folklore that an animal was introduced into the lore. According to German lore, if the hedgehog saw his shadow on Candlemas Day(February 2nd) there would be 6 more weeks of bad weather(winter). As German settlers came to what is now the United States, so too came their traditions and folklore. With the absence of hedgehogs in the United States, a similar hibernating animal was chosen. That animal was the Groundhog, or Punxsutawney Phil!

Where to stay – Lodging

Hotels

• Cobblestone Hotel and Suites – 188 Alliance Dr., Punxsutawney, PA
• Homewood Suites by Hilton – 15 Industrial Dr., DuBois, PA
• Hampton Inn – 1582 Bee Line Hwy, DuBois, PA
• Best Western Inn and Conference Center – 82 N. Park Pl., DuBois, PA
• Comfort Suites – 10 Lakeside Ave., DuBois, PA

B&Bs

• Barclay B&B – 201 E. Union St., Punxsutawney, PA
• The Inn at Narrows Creek – 44 Narrows Creek Ln., DuBois, PA

Campgrounds

• Willow Farm Campground – Marion Center, PA
• Laurel Lake Camp – Rossiter, PA
• Silver Canoe Campground – Rural Valley, PA

Pennsylvania Wilds

If you feel like venturing out of the town of Punxsutawney, you can check out all that nature has to offer. This section of Pennsylvania is known as the Pennsylvania Wilds. It includes millions of acres of unspoiled forests and mountains, just right for fishing, hiking, kayaking, and much more! Gobbler’s Knob is located in the Pennsylvania Wilds. Here are just a few things you might enjoy;

• Bear Mountain Lodge – Wellsboro, PA
• In the Stocks Cabins – Benezette, PA
• Parker Dam State Park – Penfield, PA
• Pennsylvania Military Museum – Boalsburg, PA
• Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes – Tioga, PA
• Double Diamond Deer Ranch – Clarington, PA
• Mansfield – Mansfield, PA
• Cook Forest Cottages – Clarington, PA

**UPDATED 2/01/24**

This year’s Groundhog Day events will be live! If you are planning on attending, making the trek to Gobbler’s knob at sunrise is free, however, it is a 2-mile walk uphill from the parking lot. A Gobbler’s Knob Parking pass is $75.00 and very limited. February in Pennsylvania can be very cold, you may want to ride the bus(there’s a $5 charge to ride the bus). You can also watch the event from the comfort of your own home HERE

*Several other events will be held on Thursday, February 1, such as; Gobbler’s Knob Got Talent, Groundhog Club Members Reception, and the Annual Groundhog Banquet.

In Conclusion..

This region of Pennsylvania is a great travel destination. The town of Punxsutawney has been on my travel list for quite some time. Maybe next year I will be one of the thousands in attendance when Phil makes his annual prediction. I hope so! I will be continuing my series on Small Towns. I really feel that these towns are often overlooked.

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Do you have a favorite small town? Have you dreamed of seeing Punxsutawney Phil make his prediction? I would love to hear from you, please comment below or send me an email.

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