Business abounds at Bear Creek, Jim Thorpe

Bear Creek Mountain Resort & Conference Center in Longswamp Township and historic Jim Thorpe, Carbon County, are known for their snowy winter scenes and charm in chillier months.

In 2016, each of these getaways has something new for visitors.

Called Bear Creek for short, the skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing hot spot nestled at the edge of Berks County near the border of Lehigh County is about 30 miles away and a 40- to 45-minute drive from Reading.

“We have approximately 175,000 visitors coming through Bear Creek in the winter,” said Jake Henschel, business development manager for the resort. “Our yearly total is close to 250,000 and includes wedding, corporate and special-event guests.”

Henschel noted that guests are often from Philadelphia and Harrisburg but also New Jersey, Maryland and Florida, among other states.

While its winter offerings are a major appeal, the resort operates year-round with hiking, biking, boating, disc golf and tennis as warm-season opportunities for guests.

Changes for season

Upgrades to the resort’s snow-making equipment, increased snow production and doubling the snow tubing capacity from five to 10 lanes are some changes for the 2016 winter season.

“We can cover the mountain in five business days,” Henschel said about snow production for the resort’s 22 slopes and trails.

“And snow tubing is one of those sports that anyone can do,” Henschel said. “It reaches out to a wider audience.”

Customized packages for snow sports instruction across different levels of experience are also available as schooling on the mountain.

The resort’s sports store sells winter apparel, including jackets, snow pants, hats, gloves, and scarves. The gift shop sells Bear Creek-branded apparel, something newcomers are often surprised but glad to see on-site.

Gift cards for the resort are usable across everything that’s offered, such as dining, the spa, skiing and shops.

A full sushi bar at the hands of two sushi chefs also joined the resort’s restaurant, The Grille at Bear Creek. Wednesday nights involve half-price sushi rolls at the restaurant, Henschel said.

The sipping factor also takes a seasonal shift at the resort in wintertime.

Warming up

“As the cold weather approaches, we see an increase in people warming up with beverages,” Henschel said. “Espresso and cappuccino tend to be more popular with overcaffeinated millennials, and the more conservative go for traditional cups of coffee, tea and hot chocolate.”

Irish coffee has quite a fan base, too, as baristas hear orders for it often in the after-skiing scene.

Coffee specials change throughout winter, as well, to mix up flavor options when guests are looking for something warm and caffeinated but a bit out of the norm.

“People want to get more creative than just beer and wine,” Henschel said.

Shops open

Jim Thorpe sits about 55 miles from Reading, roughly an hour and 15 minutes away by vehicle.

“Some people think the town rolls up and closes in winter, but some shops are open during the week,” said Randall Sellers, president of the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency. “It’s best to call ahead to check for open hours of the shops before visiting.”

Sellers is also the owner of Sellers Books & Fine Art in Jim Thorpe.

And while some shops are closed earlier in the week during winter months in the town, a good amount of its storefronts are open Thursdays through Sundays, when it’s snowy outside.

“Winter is when our reputation for being a romantic getaway comes in,” Sellers said.

Honeymoons, anniversaries and celebrating Valentine’s Day are a part of this.

Date nights may be in the works by midwinter.

And since Jim Thorpe is known nationwide, hundreds of visitors travel there on the weekends, even in wintertime.

Top pick

In 2012, Philadelphia Magazine named Jim Thorpe its top pick for best romantic getaway, as did Thrillist.com for the same theme but by state for 2015.

Something new that Sellers said went successfully a few months ago will join the winter lineup: sip and shop events at various storefronts, featuring samplings from Jim Thorpe’s winery businesses.

“The shops in Jim Thorpe host a monthlong red-hot January sale for the skiers and winter enthusiasts who venture out after the holidays are over and it’s a bit colder,” Sellers said. “We like to reward those who support us during the off-season. Jim Thorpe is a four-season town.”

Red lights and balloons will be a part of the town’s decor during the sale.

Train rides

Jim Thorpe’s WinterFest, which will be celebrated during the weekend of Feb. 13 and 14, will include 70-minute round-trip train rides to and from Carbon and Luzerne counties’ Lehigh Gorge State Park at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. through the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway.

Tusk, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, is playing at the Mauch Chunk Opera House on Feb. 12 and 13. Tickets are $26 each.

The opera house will offer free kids shows each day that weekend at 2 p.m., Sellers noted.

“One of the most popular WinterFest attractions is the ice- and wood-carving demonstration,” Sellers said. “These guys make really cool stuff with chain saws while you watch.”

Horse-drawn carriage rides are a part of the usual lineup, too.

“The Dimmick Memorial Library is planning a Love a Soldier charity campaign for that weekend,” Sellers said. “And the Civil War re-enactors are hugely popular. People are really interested in the Civil War and life in the 1800s, when Jim Thorpe and the U.S. were young and growing by leaps and bounds. The re-enactors have a particular passion for their history, and they really know their stuff, so it’s fun to watch them demonstrate their gear and answer questions.”

Contact Jennifer Hetrick: money@readingeagle.com.