The Jim Thorpe Lions Club received a two-year extension Thursday night to continue its caretaking and administrative duties at the Asa Packer Mansion.

Jim Thorpe Borough, in May, voted to keep the Lions Club in charge of the mansion through at least the end of 2023, when the relationship would be reevaluated.

“Financially, this is the best year ever reported, with over 15,000 guests visiting the mansion,” Asa Packer Mansion chairman Jay McElmoyle told council on Thursday.

He highlighted the seamless collaboration among tour guides, having promoted one of them to manager in late August.

“It would be ideal for us to have a professional curator, but we would need funding to make that happen,” he said.

McElmoyle also outlined plans for the upcoming years, including the possibility of establishing a custom gift shop to increase revenue. He also emphasized the Lions Club’s commitment to keeping admission prices affordable to make the mansion accessible to all.

“Too often, tourism attractions become unaffordable for the everyday person,” he said. “We hold the mindset that everyone should experience the mansion, especially locals.”

The Lions Club held a “residents night” last month, allowing any Jim Thorpe resident to tour the mansion free of charge. Just over 130 people attended the event, which featured a local choir director playing the recently tuned 1905 Steinway Piano.

The three-story, 18-room, 11,000-square-foot Italianate Villa style mansion was built in 1861 and home to Packer, a prominent philanthropist, politician, and founder of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and Lehigh University. His daughter, Mary Packer Cummings, willed the home to Jim Thorpe borough in 1912. In 1954, the borough struck an agreement with the organization now known as the Jim Thorpe Lions Club, who became caretakers of the property and opened it to the public for tours.

After the borough’s decision in May to leave management of the Asa Packer Mansion in the hands of the Jim Thorpe Lions Club, almost all of the tour guides resigned, saying they felt disrespected and concerned for their job.

The mansion temporarily closed and reopened prior to Memorial Day.

“I think the Lions have done a great job this year and should continue to maintain it,” Councilman Robert Schaninger, who made the motion for a two-year extension, said.

Councilman Michael Rivkin also commended the Lions Club’s efforts, acknowledging the challenges faced during the past year.

“It was a very challenging year, and really hats off for getting it back on track,” he said.

Council’s decision not only secures the Lions Club’s position for the next two years but also opens the door for updates to the caretaker agreement, which dates back around 20 years.

Both sides pledged to update the agreement within six months.

“A lot of things are just outdated,” McElmoyle said. “For example, it says the borough pays for half of the oil. It hasn’t had oil in the mansion in 16 years. We can easily take care of this in a couple months.”

Councilman Jay Miller expressed his intention to remain with the Lions Club in the long run.

“Our intention should be to always stay with the Lions Club running the mansion,” Miller said. We wouldn’t be where we are today (at the mansion) without the Lions Club. That mansion would be closed. I’m all for remaining with them. There is a 90-day clause in the agreement that allows either side to get out of it, but I hope we never have to use that.”