Jail House Hostel in Palmerton, PA.

[soilman]

This is a shame since Palmerton is such a great stop. The people there that I talked to really liked the hikers and business were trying to attract them. This will certainly dampen their efforts. When I stayed there the place was full with people sleeping on the floor or in hammocks. People need to wise up or we will see more of this in the future.

[BillyGr]

This is a shame since Palmerton is such a great stop. The people there that I talked to really liked the hikers and business were trying to attract them. This will certainly dampen their efforts. When I stayed there the place was full with people sleeping on the floor or in hammocks. People need to wise up or we will see more of this in the future.

Seems the businesses can still attract people by providing what the town no longer wants to offer.

[Starchild]

Seems the businesses can still attract people by providing what the town no longer wants to offer.

Perhaps but I doubt it. there are 3 towns to chose from here, one of the best things is the Jailhouse, because of reputation and it being free, was the attracting feature to this town. This cause a good deal of community and bringing together of the hikers.

[JumpMaster Blaster]

Perhaps but I doubt it. there are 3 towns to chose from here, one of the best things is the Jailhouse, because of reputation and it being free, was the attracting feature to this town. This cause a good deal of community and bringing together of the hikers.

Maybe "free" was the thing that attracted the bad behavior and the undesireables. Just a hunch.

[Wolf - 23000]

Each year there are some bad apples that cause trouble up and down the trail. I'm talking about hikers who don't believe the law applies to them. What most hikers don't see is the people that live in trail towns have to deal with this crap year after year. If the community gives hikers a place to spend the night, the community is on the hook for any damage, clean up, or misconduct cause by hikers. It sad when a place that has been a part of the hiking community for so long, closes its doors forever.

Wolf

[Donde]

Maybe "free" was the thing that attracted the bad behavior and the undesireables. Just a hunch.

My thoughts exactly! Get rid of all the free food, odging, shuttles, shelters, and privies, and then see who shows up.

[Traveler]

My thoughts exactly! Get rid of all the free food, odging, shuttles, shelters, and privies, and then see who shows up.

This dovetails with the "hiker feed" issue. Well intentioned perhaps, but the unintended consequences are felt down the trail.

[Don H]

My thoughts exactly! Get rid of all the free food, odging, shuttles, shelters, and privies, and then see who shows up.

Says someone using a fee website

[Donde]

Says someone using a fee website

That is relevant how?? A website and the AT are very different things.

[BillyGr]

Perhaps but I doubt it. there are 3 towns to chose from here, one of the best things is the Jailhouse, because of reputation and it being free, was the attracting feature to this town. This cause a good deal of community and bringing together of the hikers.

But nothing stops one of the business owners from offering free place to sleep in their basement to replace the town's basement. And if one did, they'd likely get more business, offsetting any cost for the sleeping area.

[Coffee]

But nothing stops one of the business owners from offering free place to sleep in their basement to replace the town's basement. And if one did, they'd likely get more business, offsetting any cost for the sleeping area.

Better to start a hostel and charge at least some fee to filter out the real troublemakers. I think that $25-30 would repel almost all the problem hikers and maybe make it worthwhile to the business, maybe...

[Lone Wolf]

hikers need babysitters. it's why hostels without a caretaker and with an honor system most times fail

[Bucketfoot]

Mature adults do not need babysitters. Unfortunately not all hikers are mature adults!

[Starchild]

hikers need babysitters. it's why hostels without a caretaker and with an honor system most times fail

I think you really hit upon something here. Many of the hostels do tend to take hikers (of all ages) as their children (some are empty nesters), and the hikers are in the position of children when they arrive. I remember walking into one where the first thing is I was given a set of clothes and given a place to remove all of mine and my hiking laundry and place it in a basket (to be washed and returned)- this is what you would do for a child.

The Jailhouse hostel may have been too much the other way, no one to watch over the children.

[fiddlehead]

Give stuff away for free and the riff raff will take advantage.
Gotta charge and have some kind of overseer.
I'm surprised the free stay 2 days south of here is still open after all these years (Port Clinton pavillion, NOT Eckville shelter which was held up with AK-47 a few months ago)
Of course Eckville is owned by the govt and has a caretaker, hence it's long term existence.

[Lyle]

I think you really hit upon something here. Many of the hostels do tend to take hikers (of all ages) as their children (some are empty nesters), and the hikers are in the position of children when they arrive. I remember walking into one where the first thing is I was given a set of clothes and given a place to remove all of mine and my hiking laundry and place it in a basket (to be washed and returned)- this is what you would do for a child.
.

It is also a good thing to do if you want to keep most of the hiker grime, ticks, and mud off of the hostel's furniture and carpet. If I ran a hostel, the rule would be, boots off, shower, clean clothes, then sit down inside, eat and relax. Self preservation.

[Jeff]

hikers need babysitters. it's why hostels without a caretaker and with an honor system most times fail

Lone Wolf nailed this one. Hostels with full time caretakers, always on hand when guests are in the buiilding will NOT have the problems that shut down those with little or no management.

[Lone Wolf]

Lone Wolf nailed this one. Hostels with full time caretakers, always on hand when guests are in the buiilding will NOT have the problems that shut down those with little or no management.

when crazy larry and i were helping with The Place it was an almost daily thing to kick hikers out for drinking alcohol, smokin' dope, sneaking in dogs, etc. especially late at night when i would make surprise visits. i called the cops most times. most didn't donate to the honor box either. the caretaker would tell us this when he retreived cash from the box

[wornoutboots]

Perhaps but I doubt it. there are 3 towns to chose from here, one of the best things is the Jailhouse, because of reputation and it being free, was the attracting feature to this town. This cause a good deal of community and bringing together of the hikers.

They could do what Glasgow, Va. did & what other small towns could do, build a shelter in town? Glasgow keeps it very clean & offers hot propane showers & an abundance of split firewood.

[bobp]

They could do what Glasgow, Va. did & what other small towns could do, build a shelter in town? Glasgow keeps it very clean & offers hot propane showers & an abundance of split firewood.

Why would they do that? From reading this thread, it would seem that hiker traffic is a mixed blessing at best. It isn't as if hikers drop a boatload of cash in trail towns (compare the funds expended by a hiker on a stay in a trail town with the cost of a day in Orlando at Disney World). Don't kid yourself. Places that accommodate hikers (shout out to Unionville, NY from personal experience) do so out of a spirit of generosity. There are easier and more plentiful tourist dollars to be had for many towns.