The Poconos Mountains are home to resorts that live up to their romantic reputations! Situated in Eastern Pennsylvania, the Poconos garners a reputation for being the "Honeymoon Capital of the World." Throughout the decades, these majestic mountains were a prime vacation destination for romance-seeking couples. A handful of couple-centered retreats popped up in the Poconos, which especially attracted the attention of couples after the Second World War. City-dwellers loved vacationing in the Poconos due to its easy accessibility from busy cities like Philadelphia and New York City!
Unfortunately, there came a time when these romantic resorts started to struggle in the later half of the 20th century, whether it be due to the rising upkeep costs or competition with neighboring states for romance-seeking tourists. The result was that these love-centric resorts were forced to shut down, with some properties left tarnished by the elements.
Though many of these properties are now private and decrepit, these vintage resorts are far from romantic!
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NOTE: Though some of these properties were demolished, the property they stood on belongs to private parties. Be mindful and avoid trespassing on private property! |
8 Unity House Resort
Also known as the White Pines Resort to some, this unique Poconos resort was owned by the International Ladies Garment Worker's Union. The Unity House Resort was a vacation stay for union workers, complete with a disco, a bar overlooking the lake, a cozy theater, and private cabins. Operating for 70 years, this resort finally closed its doors in the 1990s.
7 Pocono Gardens Lodge
The Poconos Gardens Lodge was built in 1940 and stood tall for nearly 60 years. This cozy resort wasn't as popular as its other resort counterparts, yet it was still a site for honeymooning couples. The resort finally closed in 2000, and the hotel was demolished to make room for the Mount Airy Casino Resort.
6 Fernwood Resort
Doubling as a conference center and massive hotel, the Fernwood Resort stood idle for decades, slowly crumbling into feeble wooden ruins. However, much of the property was destroyed by a massive fire in July 2018. Today, the site that once housed this hotel is home to the Jinyin Temple of Sino Esoteric Buddhism, functioning as a retreat center and dormitory for on-site workers.
5 The Buck Hill Falls Inn
This private resort was a venture built in 1901 by a group of friends. Originally functioning as a Quaker retreat, the Buck Hill Falls Inn soon transformed into a 400-room inn, complete with a 27-hole golf course, an amphitheater, tunnels, and tons of stone walls. The abandoned resort and its property were set to be redeveloped in 2017. Today, the hotel is nothing more than a grassy field and is a simple memorial to the historic hotel.
4 Summit Resort
Situated in Tannersville, the Summit Resort enjoyed a good tenure from the late 1960s to the early 2000s. After they closed its doors, many urban explorers came to explore what was left of this Poconos romantic resort, which included a red-leather bar, heart-shaped tubs, and discarded furniture everywhere.
3 Caesar's Brookdale Resort On The Lake
Opposite the top-rated resorts in the Poconos, Caesar's Brookdale Resort on the Lake appealed to families more than couples. Owned by Caesar Entertainment, this world-class resort included buffets, sundae bars, archery, tennis, paddle-boating, kid's playgrounds, poolside movie nights, and a camp for kids. Sprawling for over 200 acres, the Brookdale Resort closed its doors in 2008 to make way for a private inpatient rehabilitation facility, the Brookdale Treatment Resort.
2 Birchwood Resort
Constructed in the 1950s, the Birchwood Resort boasted private cabins, pools, a bowling alley, miniature golf ranges, and even a shooting range. The resort even built the Birchwood-Pocono Airpark, so couples could fly in directly to the resort! Sadly, the resort closed its doors in early 2002 but still had its fair share of action. Aside from housing a fugitive, the Birchwood Resort also caught on fire in 2021, further demolishing its decrepit ruins.
1 Penn Hills Resort
The Penn Hills Resort remains one of Pocono's well-known abandoned resorts. Operating since 1944, this Poconos resort shut its doors in 2009 after its owner, Frances Poalillo, passed away at the age of 102. During its heyday, the Penn Hills Resort was a romantic stay brimming with shag carpeting, expansive mirrors, and heart-shaped tubs. Sadly, the resort couldn't keep up with the times, leaving much of its decor outdated. Today, though the vintage ruins are under private property, its retro sign can still be visible from the thicket of trees.