Lansford Borough doesn’t want to miss out on a tourism boom in nearby communities, such as Jim Thorpe and Tamaqua, are realizing.

Enlisting the help and support of the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, the borough invited community members to brainstorm ideas to help develop a plan to bring in tourists already visiting other Carbon County sites.

Bruce Markovich, council president, welcomed everyone and encouraged everyone to participate in the discussion.

He introduced Marianne Rustad and Marlyn Kissner from the visitors bureau along with fellow council member Gwyneth Collevechio.

Looks to Tamaqua

Markovich explained that a couple of weeks ago he asked Chris Barrett, PMVB president, what the bureau can do for Lansford.

“I see Tamaqua with this developing tourism trade. You go to Tamaqua now, you’re bound to see someone with a backpack and a camera, which is something you never saw before,” he said.

“You go to Jim Thorpe, the streets are just lined with people,” Markovich said. “We have nothing. No one comes to Lansford for some reason, other than to go to the No. 9 (Coal Mine and Museum).”

A proposed connector trail linking Pottsville, Tamaqua and Jim Thorpe that would be part of the 1,500 mile 9/11 National Memorial Trail could come through the borough, bringing in visitors, he said.

The exact path through the Panther Valley hasn’t been determined, but should be announced in September. Markovich said the borough could become a trail-friendly town, creating an atmosphere welcoming to these guests.

A trail could bring 1,000 people through town each year, and the borough needs to capitalize on what those people and others visiting other nearby sites can do and see in Lansford.

Areas of interest

Those attending then listed some of the areas of interest, including the No. 9, the Lansford Historical Society Museum, the Old Jail House, which was the site of the largest prison break in state history; the old Welsh Church, the Lehigh and New England train station, the former St. Michael’s Church, homes and sites with links to the Molly Maguires and Dorsey Brothers.

Dale Freudenberger, who is involved in the No. 9 and local historical societies, pointed to brochures that were done in the past, such as a church brochure highlighting the ethnic diversity, and also a historical brochure.

Lansford’s history is the story of anthracite coal, he said, and all of its sites and attractions link back to that story, “Lansford: Built on Coal.”

Markovich and Chris Ondrus, president of Lansford Alive, talked about downtown revitalization and possible draws for tourists to bolster a declining business district.

Freudenberger pointed out developing the points of interests for tourists will automatically benefit the downtown, as it creates a need for places to eat and shop.

The community could identify long and short term goals, and developing some of these sites is doable, Kissner said.

“If we have a trail town, where can we send people to eat? Where can they get food? Where can they go to the restroom? Two of the biggest things people want to do when they come to see you,” she said.

They should focus on the attractions that they can easily develop, and build from there, Kissner said. They might consider working with additional eateries or bring in a food truck, she said.

The most important component, though, is making sure that all the different groups, sites and community are on the same page with the same message and working together to lift each other up, Kissner said.

“How can we work together to promote each other and to work as a team to make this happen?” she said. “What is the tagline? What could the message be? “Make sure that everybody that’s leading an organization that has to do with tourism is saying that same message.”

Resident, businessman and former councilman Bob Silver suggested that a separate, grassroots group should lead on tourism development, and not borough council, which has enough to do.

Markovich and Collevechio agreed.

Blueprint advantage

Summit Hill resident John Dowling, who serves on the Panther Valley Blueprint Community Team, said the area already has a valley-wide volunteer organization working on these goals in the Blueprint team.

“The goals we have for tourism, trails and history align perfectly with this,” he said, noting that the Blueprint team is working a similar plan for the entire Panther Valley.

Those in Lansford know the history of the community and may want to spearhead the borough’s part of an overall tourism plan that the team is working on, Dowling said.

“You obviously have more knowledge of the history of Lansford and things you have to offer,” he said. “I want to make sure that we’re all going to collaborate.”

Residents also discussed past efforts with historical signs or markers, and a plan for a trail which would connect with the D&L in Jim Thorpe. Both could be revived, and Freudenberger noted the trail plan only sat dormant waiting for funding.

With the push for the 9/11 Memorial Trail with the nation’s 250th birthday celebration next year, funding is available to make that a reality, Markovich said.

Kissner and Rustad also pointed out that PMVB has resources to help promote the community, including a website where community organizations can have listings posted of upcoming fundraisers, which would also draw people in.

An estimated 3.6 million visit Carbon County every year, Kissner said, and Pocono Television, which is on the air 24/7, reaches more than 8 million homes and the average viewing time is two and half hours.

The No. 9 Mine is one of the attractions that the visitors bureau is actively promoting, she said.