Senior citizens who are residents of Jackson, Tennessee, or are visiting the area, can find a variety of activities to enjoy in the city. Among these are special recreation programs meant to keep seniors fit and active. Others are social groups that encourage friendship and provide the opportunity for outings. Some Jackson area attractions also offer discounted admission rates for seniors over a certain age.
Casey Jones Home and Rail Road Museum
One of the area's well-known attractions, the Casey Jones Home and Rail Road Museum offers discounted admission prices for seniors aged 55 and older. The museum is dedicated to the life of John Luther "Casey" Jones, a train engineer from the 19th century who sacrificed his own life to save passengers aboard his train.
Seniors can tour the home of Casey Jones, which has displays about the engineer's family life and personal history. Then, visitors can walk next door to the train station addition, which has exhibits dedicated to railroad history. Among the items on display is a 130-ton locomotive engine that resembles the one operated by Jones.
The Casey Jones Home and Rail Road Museum is open daily year-round with extended hours during the summer months. As of October 2010, seniors admission was $5.50. On-site parking is available.
Joy Mixers
The Joy Mixers is a social organization for senior citizens sponsored through a cooperation between the Northside Lions Club and the City of Jackson Department of Recreation and Parks. The organization is open to people 50 or older. The group meets twice weekly for five or five and one-half hours. Meetings include a meal and a guest speaker. The rest of the time is devoted to a variety of activities, including card games, dominoes and billiards. During warm weather shuffleboard and horseshoes are also featured. The group also offers special educational courses and health screenings for participants several times per year.
The Joy Mixers meets at the Northside Lions Club Community Center and the South Jackson Community Center. The cost to attend, as of 2010, is $3.00 to have lunch; those who do not wish to eat the meal can join in for free. On-site parking is available at both centers.
Senior Games
The City of Jackson Parks and Recreation Department organizes the annual Senior Games, a competitive event that occurs every April at local parks in Jackson, the Pinson's Woodland Hills Golf and Country Club and the University of Jackson. The event is open to area seniors aged 50 and older. Individuals can compete in 18 sports and events, including golf, track and field, badminton, table tennis, shuffleboard, horseshoes and bowling. The top four finishers in each event have the opportunity to compete in the Tennessee Senior Games and winners from that state-level event can go on to compete nationally.
In order to help seniors train and prepare, the Parks and Recreation Department holds special practice sessions for each of the events throughout the year. These events help seniors stay active and also allow them to socialize with others that share an interest in a recreational activity. The schedule and locations for the practice sessions vary. Interested seniors should contact the Parks and Recreation Department.
Tags: Casey Jones, Casey Jones Home, Home Rail, Home Rail Road, Jones Home, Jones Home Rail, Parks Recreation