Groundhog Day puts Punxsutawney on the national stage
In the Pennsylvania borough of Punxsutawney, the most famous resident is a groundhog named Phil. The immortal mammal has an important job to do every February 2nd — if he sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring will come early. The annual tradition dates back to 1887 but is perhaps best known from the 1993 movie "Groundhog Day." The holiday is a major attraction for the town with several events and activities.
But groundhogs are a year-round fascination for Punxsutawney, affectionately known as Punxsy. “Visitors enjoy walking through our town to find all the groundhog statues scattered throughout,” says Tara Runk, a realtor with Realty One Group Landmark who grew up in the area. While the event brings droves of tourists, the borough otherwise has a small-town sensibility. “We have an active community that supports each other and our town,” Runk says. “If you are looking for a slower-paced life, Punxsutawney is it.”
Punxsutawney offers both rural and in-town housing options
“Whether you are looking for in-town living or rural Punxsy, we have it all and everything in between, from new builds to 1900s Craftsman homes,” Runk says. Older homes under 2,000 square feet from the late 1800s up to the ‘60s range from $27,000 to $250,000. Homes over 2,000 square feet are often newer, built in the 2000s and onwards. They sell for between $260,000 and around $600,000. Homes stay on the market for around 100 days, double the national average of about 50. The median lot size is just over a quarter of an acre. Some properties have driveways, while others utilize street parking.
Top-hatted Inner Circle members host the big annual celebration
The town goes all out for Groundhog Day. Festivities include a banquet, a ball and an all-night party. “It’s a whole week of events and entertainment,” Runk says. The Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle is a group of community members who don formal clothes, including top hats, and have weather-related nicknames. They plan the celebration and take care of Phil. Punxsutawney has other non-groundhog-related events throughout the year. “We have a festival in the town park every week of the Fourth of July and Music in the Park throughout the summer on Thursday evenings,” Runk says.
A trail connects to parks, playgrounds and Punxsutawney Phil’s burrow
From neighborhood playgrounds to miles of trails, Punxsutawney has opportunities for outdoor recreation. Barclay Square Memorial Park is a downtown green space next to Punxsutawney Memorial Library, where Phil and his family currently live in a manmade burrow with a window for visitors to look through. There will soon be a tunnel allowing the groundhogs to travel between the library and a new zoo at Gobbler’s Knob, where Phil makes his prediction each year. Harmon Field is next to the community pool and has a playground and basketball court. Mahoning Shadow Trail is 15 miles of trails along former railroad lines. For indoor fun, Groundhog Lanes is a bowling alley with mini golf.
Private and vocational options expand local education choices
Punxsutawney Area Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade and earns a C-plus rating from Niche. Students can continue to Punxsutawney Area High, which gets a C grade, for seventh through 12th grade. The high school’s sports teams are called the Punxsy Chucks, as woodchuck is another name for a groundhog. Jefferson County-DuBois Area Vocational-School, also known as Jeff Tech, has a C rating and has programs like automotive technology and digital media arts. Punxsutawney Christian School is a B-plus-rated private option for preschool through 12th grade. Indiana University of Pennsylvania has a campus in Punxsutawney that houses the culinary arts and baking and pastry arts programs. The school has a B-minus rating.
The weather museum and local businesses reflect the town's identity
Runk says that many of the shops and restaurants in Punxsutawney are locally owned. Downtown has boutiques, gift shops and souvenir stores. Neko's Restaurant & Lounge has an expansive menu and daily specials. Sandfly Brewing Company is the area’s first craft beer brewing company. “On the weekends, they have food trucks and live entertainment to enjoy,” Runk says. Hometown Market and Aldi are two grocery stores in town. Punxsy Plaza has Marshalls and Tractor Supply. Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center educates people of all ages on the science behind weather. The town identifies as the weather capital of the world.
Public transit includes a local bus route with key stops
There is some walkability around downtown. Area Transportation Authority has multiple bus stops in Punxsutawney on the Punxsy Shadow route, including a stop at Punxsutawney Area Hospital. U.S. 119 and State Route 36 intersect in town, and Pittsburgh is around an 80-mile drive. Pittsburgh International Airport is closer to 100 miles away. Punxsutawney Area Hospital is a few miles from the center of town.
