Sitting gracefully on Packer Hill directly adjacent to the Asa Packer Mansion, the Harry Packer Mansion stands as one of Pennsylvania’s most famous and architecturally striking Victorian estates.
Built in 1874 as a wedding gift from industrialist Asa Packer to his youngest son, Harry, this Second Empire masterpiece features an imposing mansard roof, intricate wrought-iron cresting, red brickwork, and hand-carved brownstone trim overlooking downtown Jim Thorpe.
“The dramatic Second Empire facade of the Harry Packer Mansion served as the direct architectural inspiration for Walt Disney World’s iconic Haunted Mansion attraction.”
The Disney Haunted Mansion Connection
If the silhouette of the Harry Packer Mansion feels hauntingly familiar, there is a legendary pop-culture reason.
In the 1960s, as Walt Disney Imagineering was designing the Haunted Mansion attraction for Magic Kingdom in Florida, lead Imagineer Ken Anderson traveled the country researching authentic 19th-century Victorian architecture.
Captivated by the striking mansard roof, arched windows, and eerie elegance of the Harry Packer Mansion in Jim Thorpe, Anderson photographed and sketched the building extensively. Disney architects incorporated its distinct Second Empire proportions directly into the exterior facade of Walt Disney World’s Haunted Mansion.
1874 Second Empire Architecture & Gilded Luxury
Designed by Philadelphia architect Addison Hutton, the mansion reflects the height of Gilded Age opulence:
- Exterior Design: Double-tiered verandas, hand-carved brownstone arches, red pressed brick, and a central tower offering views of the Lehigh River gorge.
- Interior Craftsmanship: 15-foot ceilings, solid mahogany pocket doors, original brass chandeliers, hand-carved marble fireplaces, and gilded mirrors.
- The Veranda: A sweeping covered porch where guests have gathered for evening cocktails for over 150 years.
Interactive Murder Mystery Weekends
Today, the mansion operates as an upscale bed and breakfast and historic lounge, world-renowned for its immersive Murder Mystery Weekends.
During these popular event weekends, guests step back into the Victorian era. Each participant receives a detailed character profile, dresses in period attire, and spends the weekend interacting across the mansion’s parlor, library, and dining rooms to solve a complex, multi-stage murder mystery.
The Libations Lounge
Even if you aren’t staying overnight or participating in a mystery weekend, the mansion’s Libations Lounge on the first floor is open to the public.
Visitors can sip craft cocktails, fine wines, and single-malt whiskies in a mahogany-paneled lounge or relax on the grand veranda overlooking the rooftops of historic Mauch Chunk.
Planning Your Visit
- Location: Packer Hill Road, directly beside the Asa Packer Mansion in downtown Jim Thorpe.
- Libations Lounge Hours: Open to the public on Friday and Saturday evenings; check seasonal schedules for special events.
- Explore Nearby: After visiting Packer Hill, take a short stroll down Broadway to tour The Old Jail Museum or experience the annual Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival.