The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Inc. is proud to announce the beginning of a capital campaign called: Destination: Gobbler’s Knob; Building onto a Legendary Past, Constructing an Innovative Future. The primary focus of this project is constructing a visitor center that will be an interactive learning environment, groundhog sanctuary, souvenir outlet, and historical memorabilia display. This visitor center will be the launching point for tourism in our area.
The Destination: Gobbler’s Knob Project also contains the following elements:
- The continuation and expansion of promoting and perpetuating the Legend of Punxsutawney Phil and Groundhog Day
- Expanding attendance to Groundhog Day
- Increasing Visitation throughout the year and time spent in our community
- Promoting outdoor recreation year round
- Event facility expansion and opportunities
- Road and current facility upgrades
- Enhancing tourism in Punxsutawney
Over the course of many years, the Groundhog Club has been internally evaluating what the next step should be. The Groundhog Club Headquarters has been operating as a mini museum and office location for over three years. The GHC has evaluated the traffic at Gobbler’s Knob and feels that it would be extremely beneficial the community at large to take on the project of creating Gobbler’s Knob to be an ultimate destination.
The reach of Groundhog Day far exceeds Punxsutawney and Jefferson County. Many of the visitor’s stay in the surrounding counties throughout the course of the year and add Punxsutawney to their ‘day trip’ itinerary. For the Groundhog Day celebration, thousands of visitors travel to Western PA for the holiday. By enhancing Gobbler’s Knob, the visitors experience will be positively affected. Gobbler’s Knob will be an ultimate destination but will also serve as a resource outlet for the other tourist attractions and businesses in the community.
As the economy of our community and the world changes, the GHC has what people are looking for and can fill this need of our own community. A destination, an experience, a piece of history, a national holiday, an economic boost, visual positive growth for Punxsutawney, and something that people cannot find anywhere else in the world. The Groundhog Club is excited to initiate this capital campaign to create Gobbler’s Knob into the ultimate destination and become a larger asset to the community.
Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Inc. as a 501 c3 Non-Profit Organization, has been perpetuating the Legend of Punxsutawney Phil since 1886. Throughout the course of time, advancements on different levels have been made to insure the sustainability and growth of this legend and national holiday known as Groundhog Day.
