People Always Talk About Salem. Jim Thorpe is Just Better.
Published in Nate’s Jim Thorpe Blog
Category: Small Towns That Are Cooler Than You Think
TL;DR:
- Salem, MA is famous for witches and history
- Jim Thorpe has ghosts, old buildings, weirder people, and better snacks
- Nate’s been to both
- He’s picking Jim Thorpe
What People Think
When you say you’re into old towns, spooky stuff, or fall vibes, people always go:
“Oh my god you have to go to Salem!”
And yeah, sure. Salem is fine. It’s got history, witches, museums, overpriced tarot readings, and a Dunkin’ on every block.
But Jim Thorpe? Jim Thorpe is all of that, minus the Dunkin’. Plus hills. Plus haunted jails. Plus train rides.
It’s the underdog, and it does more with less.
Jim Thorpe Has:
- A prison with an unremovable handprint
- A witch shop where you can actually get your future read
- Candle stores that smell like chaos in a good way
- A bookstore on every third corner
- Real ghosts. The quiet kind. Not the tourist-attraction kind
- More hills than you asked for
- A trolley
It’s like Salem but grittier, smaller, and weirder. Which makes it better.
What Nate Thinks
Salem’s good for one trip.
Jim Thorpe is good for ten.
If you like climbing steps, eating strange local foods, and being in a place where half the buildings used to be something illegal, you’ll like it here. No costumes required.
When to Come
Fall is the obvious choice, but honestly, Jim Thorpe looks haunted all year. Come in spring and you’ll still see fog rolling over a cemetery.
Come in July and you’ll probably sweat on your way to a ghost tour. Worth it.