1. Pizza is a religion.
Revello's, Salerno's, Rinaldi's, Ghigiarelli’s... the list goes on. We aren't called the Pizza Capital of the World for no reason, it is impossible to step outside your door and not see a family owned pizza shop. Old Forge is the undisputed champion of pizza; no one can beat it. The unique square shape and the signature taste make eating Old Forge pizza quite the religious experience. Don’t lie, you have all the pizza places on speed dial. One last thing… it’s a cut not a slice, and a tray not a pie. (And don’t order out on a Friday unless you want to wait two hours)
2. You bleed blue and gold.
Once you enter the devil’s den there’s no way out. Blue Devil fans are die hard in every sport. Whether it’s football, basketball, or baseball, the energy behind the fans and players in undeniable. You are raised since birth to fear the fork, it’s ingrained in the Old Forge culture. The hometown pride is beyond compare because, odds are, you and your whole family can trace your roots to Old Forge High and the Blue Devil spirit.
3. You’re Italian.
… or your family is Italian, or your neighbors are Italian, or your friends are Italian, or your half cousin twice removed is Italian, or your mail man in Italian. Old Forge is the little Italy of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and it’s a little quirk that makes it so much better.
4. You know everyone and everyone knows you.
In Old Forge, everyone knows everyone. You know friends, friends of friends, and all their nicknames. The community is close-knit and a friend is never far away. You’re probably close with all your neighbors and you have family friends who go way back to when your grandparents were little. An Old Forge bond is seldom broken.
5. Sunday dinners are an every week event.
Nothing beats a home-cooked dinner, especially if it’s made by Grandma on a Sunday. It’s easily 4 courses, with all the staples. All types of pasta, bread, homemade desserts, you name it, it’s on the dining room table.
6. Jitty Joes.
Before there was Picc’s, there was Jitty Joes. The ultimate icecream hot spot, anyone who was anyone made many an appearance there. Whether it was after a baseball game or swim in pool, Jitty Joes was the place to go in the summer.
7. The Old Forge Park.
Any and all free time from toddler-age to teenage was spent here. Chances are you took part in wall-ball competitions and waited in line for what seemed like an eternity to have a spin on the tire swing. Also, you probably earned a bruised knee or scraped elbow from the jungle gym and wore it like a badge of honor after you successfully crossed the monkey bars. Summer wasn’t summer if you didn’t spend it at the park.
8. All of your relatives live within one square block of each other.
Self-explanatory. Your aunt lives around the corner, your cousins live down the street, and your grandparents are right next-door.
9. Everyone always comes back.
You may go off to college, you may go and got a job in a far off land like New York, but your heart is tied to the little town of your childhood. It’s like a force that pulls you back no matter what. Maybe it’s your family roots… or maybe it’s just the pizza.
10. It feels like family.
The great thing about Old Forge is that it feels like an old-timey town out of a story. You have your greatest memories here and can never forget the fun you had in the little pizza capital. No matter what anyone says you know Old Forge is the not only the best place for pizza, but the best town in the world.
