Community Profile: Snow Shoe

SNOW SHOE — Snow Shoe Borough was born from Snow Shoe Township in 1907, and contrary to what the name suggests, it really is not at all correlated with the amount of snow that falls in that area of the county each winter.

However, some historical sites indicate that the name originated with Snow Shoe Camp. There is a thought that the name Snow Shoe could have come to be when a group of hunters were overtaken by a snow storm, and had to make snow shoes to hike into the Bald Eagle Valley. It also is believed that where Snow Shoe now stands, there was once a village where some discarded snow shoes were discovered.

But, regardless of the history of the name, Snow Shoe today is a quaint and scenic community sitting just north of I-80. Snow Shoe is located in an area of the county called Mountain Top.

The community has a rich history in coal mining and lumber. In addition to these two trades, the local brickyard has also been an important of the borough’s history. What is now known as Snow Shoe Refractories was once known as J.H. France Refractories, and is a fired brick manufacturer that has nearly 50 employees.

Other businesses found in Snow Shoe Borough today include a bank, a hardware store, an archery business, a restaurant, a beer distributor, a construction company, a funeral home, a dentist, a fire company, a post office and a few churches. In addition to these businesses and the homes that make up the heart of Snow Shoe, visitors will find a FedEx Freight terminal that is a big employer in the community, along with a medical center and a couple of repair shops.

Outside the center of town are a truck stop, a sandwich shop, a restaurant and a few other small businesses and residences. There are more than 750 residents in the borough.

With its beautiful rural setting and fresh “mountaintop” air, Snow Shoe offers an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities, such as hiking, hunting and fishing. For those who enjoy the outdoors, there is Snow Shoe Park and Campground, which is a campground and RV Park, and ample green space to enjoy any type of outdoor recreation. At the park, visitors will find an outdoor swimming pool, playground, tennis courts, picnic area and space for 90 campers, in addition to two Little League baseball fields.

For visitors who want to learn more about the history of the area, there is a museum to explore in Lions David House Heritage Museum, a late-19th century house with a preserved parlor and furnishings, local history materials, a maps and sports room, youth and Scouts room, and historical photographs.

And of course, there are festivals to celebrate the community — an Independence Day carnival and a fall festival and car show. There is also a Rails-to-Trails program that provides miles of abandoned railroad bed to hikers, bikers, ATV riders and snowmobiles, which lends to the many outdoor recreational activities that visitors to Snow Shoe can experience.