| The Poconos | |
|---|---|
Tank Hollow Overlook,Lehigh Gorge,Penn Forest Township | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Big Pine Hill |
| Elevation | 2,260–2,280 ft (690–690 m) |
| Coordinates | 41°13′44″N75°22′24″W / 41.2290°N 75.3734°W /41.2290; -75.3734 |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | Lenape term for "stream between two mountains". |
| Geography | |
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ThePocono Mountains, commonly referred to asthe Poconos (/ˈpoʊkənoʊz/), are a geographical, geological, and cultural region inNortheastern Pennsylvania. They overlook theDelaware River andDelaware Water Gap to the east,Lake Wallenpaupack to the north,Wyoming Valley and theCoal Region to the west and theLehigh Valley to the south. The name Pocono is derived from theMunsee word Pokawachne, which means "Creek Between Two Hills".[1][2]
Much of the Poconos region lies within theGreater New York–Newark, NY–NJ–CT–PA Combined Statistical Area. The wooded hills and valleys have long been a popular recreation area, accessible within a two-hour drive to millions of metropolitan area residents, with many Pocono communities having resort hotels with fishing, hunting, skiing, and other sports facilities.
Although referred to usually as a mountain range, the area is actually an approximately 2,400-square-mile (6,200 km2)plateau. It is considered a sub-section of the largerAllegheny Plateau, and like most plateaus, is bordered by a notableescarpment. Despite these technicalities, it is considered asubrange of theAppalachian Mountains.

The Pocono Mountains are a popular recreational destination. While the area has long been a popular tourist destination, many communities have seen a rise in population, especially communities within Monroe County and Pike County. The region has a population of about 340,300, which is growing at a rapid pace. The Poconos now serve as acommuter community forNew York City andNorth Jersey.[3] The commute to workplaces often takes as much as two hours each way due to traffic.
The region includes three major municipalities:Stroudsburg,East Stroudsburg, andMount Pocono, all located inMonroe County, Pennsylvania.

The Pocono Mountains ofNortheastern Pennsylvania are divided into six regions: the Mountain Region, the Lake Region, the Delaware River Region, the Upper Delaware River Region, the Wyoming Valley, and the Lehigh River Gorge Region.[4][failed verification]

The Poconos are served by many state highways. The most used of these highways includePA 115,PA 715,PA 903 (designated in some areas as the "Highway to Adventure" because of the numerous venues and resorts along the highway),Pennsylvania Route 33,Pennsylvania Route 940, andPA 611.PA 309, a major north-south route connectingNortheastern Pennsylvania with theDelaware Valley Region, passes through the western end of the region.
There are two U.S. highways in the Pocono Mountains Region. The more used isUS 209, which goes fromUlster, New York, toMillersburg, Pennsylvania nearHarrisburg. The route's midpoint is in the region north of Stroudsburg. The other main U.S. Highway in the region isUS 6, which is a transcontinental highway that starts nearBishop, California, and runs for over 3,000 miles (4,800 km) to its eastern terminus inProvincetown, Massachusetts. It is designated a scenic route in Pennsylvania.US 11,US 22, andUS 46 are also not far from the region and serve it indirectly.
The main east-west interstate highway in the region isI-80, off which branchesI-380, which connects the Poconos toScranton. The other interstate highways in the region inI-476, the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension, which has interchanges near Lehighton (Mahoning Valley), Albrightsville (Route 903), and White Haven (Pocono), andI-81, which serves as an alternate route for the much busierI-87 andI-95, particularly for travelers fromToronto,Syracuse,Binghamton andMontreal toPhiladelphia,Baltimore, andWashington, D.C. Other interstates that serve the region areI-84, which begins in Scranton and goes east toNew England, andI-78, by way ofRoute 33 orRoute 309.
NJ Transit is rebuilding trackage on theLackawanna Cut-Off route fromScranton through the Poconos toHoboken, New Jersey. There is no estimated target year when theLackawanna Cut-Off Restoration Project will be completed for the Poconos. The service would consist of nine trains per day in each direction. In April 2022, the NJ Transit board approved a $32.5 million contract for improving atunnel and restoring track to part of the line betweenBlairstown, New Jersey andPort Morris Junction, New Jersey,[5] a segment in which trackage had been removed in the 1980s.
Until 1970, theErie Lackawanna Railway operated long-distance trains through the Poconos toBuffalo andChicago to the west, andHoboken to the east; the last Erie Lackawanna train to run this route wasLake Cities, which operated from 1939 to 1970.
Two airports are located just outside the region:Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport andLehigh Valley International Airport.

The Pocono Mountains is a defined area encompassing portions ofCarbon,Monroe,Pike, and southernWayne counties in Pennsylvania.[6] In total, the Poconos encompasses over 2,500 square miles (6,500 km2).[7] Some definitions also extend the Poconos toLackawanna,Luzerne, easternSchuylkill, andSusquehanna counties. The Poconos are geologically part of theAllegheny Plateau, like the nearbyCatskills. The Poconos' highest summit, Big Pine Hill, reaches 2,280 feet (690 m), while its lowest elevation is 350 feet (110 m) in Pike County.[7]
TheDelaware River flows through the Pocono Mountains and gives the region its name, from aNative American term roughly translating to "stream between two mountains". TheLehigh andLackawaxen Rivers also flow through the region, totaling about 170 miles (270 km) of waterways.[4]
According to theTrewartha climate classification system, the Glaciated Low Plateau region of the northern and eastern Poconos has a TemperateContinental climate (Dc) with warm summers (b), cold winters (o) and year-around precipitation (Dcbo).Dcbo climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), all months with an average mean temperature < 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are comfortably humid on the Low Plateau, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur withheat index values > 93 °F (34 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 94.1 °F (34.5 °C) on 08/06/2001, and the highest daily average meandew point was 70.8 °F (21.6 °C) on 08/01/2006. July is the peak month forthunderstorm activity which correlates with the average warmest month of the year. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 5.83 inches (148 mm) on 09/17/2004. During the winter months, theplant hardiness zone is 5b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −13.1 °F (−25.1 °C).[8] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −27.9 °F (−33.3 °C) on 01/21/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur withwind chill values less than −26 °F (−32 °C). The average snowiest month is January which correlates with the average coldest month of the year.Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow occur nearly every year, particularly duringnor’easters from December through March.
| Climate data forLake Wallenpaupack, Elevation 1,188 ft (362 m), 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2018 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 63.2 (17.3) | 72.2 (22.3) | 82.5 (28.1) | 87.8 (31.0) | 91.0 (32.8) | 90.7 (32.6) | 93.9 (34.4) | 94.1 (34.5) | 91.0 (32.8) | 83.1 (28.4) | 79.0 (26.1) | 67.5 (19.7) | 94.1 (34.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32.2 (0.1) | 35.3 (1.8) | 43.6 (6.4) | 56.0 (13.3) | 67.1 (19.5) | 75.1 (23.9) | 78.7 (25.9) | 78.1 (25.6) | 71.0 (21.7) | 59.8 (15.4) | 48.2 (9.0) | 36.4 (2.4) | 56.9 (13.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 22.5 (−5.3) | 25.0 (−3.9) | 32.9 (0.5) | 44.6 (7.0) | 55.2 (12.9) | 64.0 (17.8) | 67.9 (19.9) | 66.9 (19.4) | 59.4 (15.2) | 48.0 (8.9) | 38.6 (3.7) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 46.2 (7.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 12.9 (−10.6) | 14.8 (−9.6) | 22.1 (−5.5) | 33.2 (0.7) | 43.4 (6.3) | 53.0 (11.7) | 57.1 (13.9) | 55.7 (13.2) | 47.7 (8.7) | 36.3 (2.4) | 29.0 (−1.7) | 18.9 (−7.3) | 35.4 (1.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −27.9 (−33.3) | −17.3 (−27.4) | −10.0 (−23.3) | 9.9 (−12.3) | 25.1 (−3.8) | 31.4 (−0.3) | 40.4 (4.7) | 35.9 (2.2) | 26.6 (−3.0) | 16.3 (−8.7) | −1.9 (−18.8) | −17.2 (−27.3) | −27.9 (−33.3) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.82 (72) | 2.55 (65) | 3.18 (81) | 3.62 (92) | 3.99 (101) | 4.46 (113) | 3.89 (99) | 3.77 (96) | 4.21 (107) | 4.18 (106) | 3.37 (86) | 3.32 (84) | 43.36 (1,101) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 15.7 (40) | 11.2 (28) | 11.7 (30) | 2.8 (7.1) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 3.0 (7.6) | 9.4 (24) | 53.8 (137) |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 73.5 | 68.8 | 63.6 | 60.3 | 62.9 | 72.5 | 72.7 | 74.4 | 75.1 | 71.4 | 71.3 | 73.7 | 70.0 |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 15.3 (−9.3) | 16.2 (−8.8) | 21.9 (−5.6) | 31.7 (−0.2) | 42.8 (6.0) | 55.0 (12.8) | 58.8 (14.9) | 58.5 (14.7) | 51.5 (10.8) | 39.2 (4.0) | 30.1 (−1.1) | 20.4 (−6.4) | 36.9 (2.7) |
| Source: PRISM[9] | |||||||||||||
According to theTrewartha climate classification system, the Glaciated Pocono Plateau region of the central and western Poconos has a TemperateContinental climate (Dc) with warm summers (b), cold winters (o) and year-around precipitation (Dcbo).Dcbo climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), all months with an average mean temperature < 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are comfortably humid on the Pocono Plateau, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur withheat index values > 93 °F (34 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 94.0 °F (34.4 °C) on 07/22/2011, and the highest daily average meandew point was 70.7 °F (21.5 °C) on 08/01/2006. July is the peak month forthunderstorm activity which correlates with the average warmest month of the year. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.81 inches (173 mm) on 09/30/2010. During the winter months, theplant hardiness zone is 5b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −10.1 °F (−23.4 °C).[8] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −21.6 °F (−29.8 °C) on 01/21/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur withwind chill values < −22 °F (−30 °C). The average snowiest month is January which correlates with the average coldest month of the year.Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow occur nearly every year, particularly duringnor’easters from December through March.
| Climate data forMount Pocono, Elevation 1,808 ft (551 m), 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2018 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 61.7 (16.5) | 72.1 (22.3) | 81.2 (27.3) | 87.3 (30.7) | 89.6 (32.0) | 89.9 (32.2) | 94.0 (34.4) | 92.2 (33.4) | 90.3 (32.4) | 82.3 (27.9) | 74.7 (23.7) | 66.1 (18.9) | 94.0 (34.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.1 (−0.5) | 34.4 (1.3) | 42.6 (5.9) | 55.4 (13.0) | 66.4 (19.1) | 74.1 (23.4) | 78.3 (25.7) | 76.8 (24.9) | 69.8 (21.0) | 58.2 (14.6) | 47.0 (8.3) | 35.2 (1.8) | 55.9 (13.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 23.0 (−5.0) | 25.7 (−3.5) | 33.3 (0.7) | 44.8 (7.1) | 55.3 (12.9) | 63.6 (17.6) | 68.0 (20.0) | 66.7 (19.3) | 59.7 (15.4) | 48.4 (9.1) | 38.8 (3.8) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 46.3 (7.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 15.0 (−9.4) | 16.9 (−8.4) | 24.0 (−4.4) | 34.3 (1.3) | 44.3 (6.8) | 53.2 (11.8) | 57.7 (14.3) | 56.7 (13.7) | 49.6 (9.8) | 38.5 (3.6) | 30.5 (−0.8) | 20.2 (−6.6) | 36.8 (2.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21.6 (−29.8) | −13.6 (−25.3) | −6.6 (−21.4) | 10.6 (−11.9) | 27.0 (−2.8) | 32.9 (0.5) | 37.6 (3.1) | 33.8 (1.0) | 27.8 (−2.3) | 17.2 (−8.2) | −0.7 (−18.2) | −14.8 (−26.0) | −21.6 (−29.8) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.73 (95) | 3.37 (86) | 4.54 (115) | 4.55 (116) | 4.71 (120) | 4.86 (123) | 4.71 (120) | 4.43 (113) | 5.21 (132) | 5.79 (147) | 4.45 (113) | 4.49 (114) | 54.84 (1,393) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 19.3 (49) | 13.8 (35) | 14.3 (36) | 3.4 (8.6) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 3.6 (9.1) | 11.6 (29) | 66.2 (168) |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 75.5 | 69.2 | 66.4 | 61.6 | 63.4 | 73.8 | 72.9 | 76.3 | 77.1 | 73.4 | 72.7 | 76.9 | 71.6 |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 16.4 (−8.7) | 17.0 (−8.3) | 23.3 (−4.8) | 32.4 (0.2) | 43.1 (6.2) | 55.1 (12.8) | 59.0 (15.0) | 59.0 (15.0) | 52.5 (11.4) | 40.3 (4.6) | 30.8 (−0.7) | 21.4 (−5.9) | 37.6 (3.1) |
| Source: PRISM[9] | |||||||||||||
According to theTrewartha climate classification system, theRidge and Valley section of the southern Poconos has a TemperateContinental climate (Dc) with hot summers (a), cold winters (o) and year-round precipitation (Dcao).Dcao climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid in the Ridge and Valley, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur withheat index values > 102 °F (39 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 100.3 °F (37.9 °C) on 07/22/2011, and the highest daily average meandew point was 72.7 °F (22.6 °C) on 08/01/2006. July is the peak month forthunderstorm activity which correlates with the average warmest month of the year. The average wettest month is September which correlates with tropical storm remnants during the peak of theAtlantic hurricane season. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.36 inches (162 mm) on 10/08/2005. During the winter months, theplant hardiness zone is 6a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −5.4 °F (−20.8 °C).[8] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −18.0 °F (−27.8 °C) on 01/21/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur withwind chill values < −17 °F (−27 °C). The average snowiest month is January which correlates with the average coldest month of the year.Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) of snow occur once every couple of years, particularly duringnor’easters from December through March.
| Climate data forEast Stroudsburg, Elevation 531 ft (162 m), 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2018 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 68.6 (20.3) | 77.0 (25.0) | 86.3 (30.2) | 94.4 (34.7) | 94.5 (34.7) | 95.3 (35.2) | 100.3 (37.9) | 98.7 (37.1) | 96.3 (35.7) | 87.9 (31.1) | 79.5 (26.4) | 71.1 (21.7) | 100.3 (37.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 36.1 (2.3) | 39.8 (4.3) | 48.8 (9.3) | 61.6 (16.4) | 71.9 (22.2) | 79.9 (26.6) | 83.9 (28.8) | 82.3 (27.9) | 75.1 (23.9) | 63.6 (17.6) | 52.3 (11.3) | 40.4 (4.7) | 61.4 (16.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.0 (−2.8) | 29.9 (−1.2) | 37.9 (3.3) | 49.2 (9.6) | 59.3 (15.2) | 68.0 (20.0) | 72.4 (22.4) | 70.9 (21.6) | 63.5 (17.5) | 51.9 (11.1) | 42.3 (5.7) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 50.4 (10.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.9 (−7.8) | 20.1 (−6.6) | 27.0 (−2.8) | 36.9 (2.7) | 46.7 (8.2) | 56.1 (13.4) | 60.9 (16.1) | 59.5 (15.3) | 51.9 (11.1) | 40.3 (4.6) | 32.3 (0.2) | 23.4 (−4.8) | 39.5 (4.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −18.0 (−27.8) | −8.6 (−22.6) | −0.5 (−18.1) | 14.3 (−9.8) | 27.1 (−2.7) | 36.4 (2.4) | 42.6 (5.9) | 38.0 (3.3) | 29.8 (−1.2) | 19.8 (−6.8) | 6.1 (−14.4) | −7.1 (−21.7) | −18.0 (−27.8) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.40 (86) | 2.97 (75) | 3.64 (92) | 4.11 (104) | 4.43 (113) | 4.48 (114) | 4.52 (115) | 4.41 (112) | 4.97 (126) | 4.77 (121) | 4.02 (102) | 4.09 (104) | 49.81 (1,265) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 11.8 (30) | 8.5 (22) | 8.8 (22) | 2.1 (5.3) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 2.2 (5.6) | 7.1 (18) | 40.6 (103) |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 69.1 | 64.3 | 59.6 | 57.4 | 61.8 | 68.9 | 68.9 | 71.7 | 72.8 | 71.0 | 69.4 | 70.5 | 67.1 |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 18.2 (−7.7) | 19.3 (−7.1) | 25.1 (−3.8) | 34.8 (1.6) | 46.2 (7.9) | 57.4 (14.1) | 61.6 (16.4) | 61.3 (16.3) | 54.6 (12.6) | 42.8 (6.0) | 33.0 (0.6) | 23.4 (−4.8) | 39.9 (4.4) |
| Source: PRISM[9] | |||||||||||||
The Pocono Mountains and theAllegheny Mountains inPennsylvania also is an island oftemperate rainforest with some areas averaging just over 55 inches of precipitation annually.[10][11] Atemperate rainforest is defined as a forest that has an average of at least 55 inches of precipitation annually and an average annual temperature between 4 and 12 degrees Celsius (39 and 54 degrees Fahrenheit).[12][13][14] Some sources however claim even at least 50 inches of average annual precipitation qualifies an area to be arainforest.[15] Alaback also adds some additional criteria to the definition of atemperate rainforest as having at least 10% of its average annual precipitation during the summer months, cool and frequently overcast summers with an average July temperature of less than 16 degrees Celsius (60.8 degrees Fahrenheit), and forest fires or wildfires are rare and do not play an important role in the forest ecosystem.[16] It must also be dense and lush with a rich understory and epiphytes.[17]
According to theA. W. Kuchler U.S.potential natural vegetation types, the Glaciated Low Plateau region of the northern and eastern Poconos would have a dominant vegetation type of NorthernHardwood (106) with a dominant vegetation form ofNorthern hardwood forest (26) north and west of Lake Wallenpaupack, and a dominant vegetation type of AppalachianOak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of EasternHardwood Forest (25) south and east of Wallenpaupack.[18] The peak spring bloom typically occurs in early May and peak fall color usually occurs in early October. Theplant hardiness zone is 5b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −13.1 °F (−25.1 °C).[8]
According to theA. W. Kuchler U.S.potential natural vegetation types, the Glaciated Pocono Plateau region of the central and western Poconos would have a dominant vegetation type of NorthernHardwood (106) with a dominant vegetation form ofNorthern hardwood forest (26).[18] The peak spring bloom typically occurs in early May and peak fall color usually occurs in early October. Theplant hardiness zone is 5b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −10.1 °F (−23.4 °C).[8]
According to theA. W. Kuchler U.S.potential natural vegetation types, theRidge and Valley region of the southern Poconos would have a dominant vegetation type of AppalachianOak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of EasternHardwood Forest (25).[18] The peak spring bloom typically occurs in late April and peak fall color usually occurs in mid October. Theplant hardiness zone is 6a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −5.4 °F (−20.8 °C).[8]
During theRevolutionary War in 1779,General John Sullivan marched his troops through the Pocono Mountains (Monroe and Luzerne counties) on theirexpedition to fight theIroquois tribe inNew York State.[19][20] Sergeant Moses Fellows of theThird New Hampshire Regiment described the area as "...very poor & Barren and I think as never will Be Settled."[21]
The Poconos are a well-known outdoor recreation destination for residents around the northeast, especially fromNew York City andPhiladelphia. The region encompasses theDelaware State Forest, including six designated natural areas, seven state parks, and seventeen state game lands.[22] TheDelaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is on the eastern edge of the Poconos and includes 70,000 acres (280 km2) of wilderness.[23]


Two of the earliest Pocono resorts were founded by rival factions of thePhiladelphiaQuaker community, Inn at Buck Hill Falls (1901) and Pocono Manor (1902).[24][25] These resorts did not allow liquor or dancing, and evening dress was discouraged.[26] The Quakers "brought a quiet, unostentatious style to the region,"[26] but their hotels later developed from religious retreats into "luxurious mountain resorts."[27] Buck Hill's stone facade became a model for close to 300 stately stone-and-shingle homes in the region.[26]
Pocono Manor offered sweeping vistas of the eastern and western Pocono region and had been referred to as the "Grand Lady of the Mountains".[28] Buck Hill closed in 1990 and the Inn at Pocono Manor was mostly destroyed by fire in 2019.[26][29]
Skytop Lodge, built in 1928, is described as a "Dutch Colonial–stylemanor house".[30] Designed in reaction to the Quaker resorts, it had a dance floor and served liquor in a basement bar.[26] Skytop offers 30 miles (48 km) of hiking trails, and the main building "is surrounded by 5,000 acres (20 km2) of wood, glacial bogs, hemlock gorges, beaver marshes, and cascading waterfalls."[28] NovelistFaith Baldwin wrote about her 1932 visit to Skytop, "Here are friendly mountains, round-breasted, smiling in the clear, rosy light of dawn."[31]
The Buckwood Inn opened in 1911 and included the first golf course to be designed by renowned golf architectA. W. Tillinghast.[32][33] BandleaderFred Waring purchased the resort in 1943, renamed it theShawnee Inn, and broadcast his radio shows from there.[34] The Shawnee Inn is aSpanish colonial revival building with white-Moorish architecture and Spanish tiled roofs,[26] and it was identified in the 1990s as the only resort on the banks of the Delaware River.[35][36]
Tamiment was a popular resort among Jewish singles from the working and emerging middle class[37] and has been described as "a progressive version of theCatskills..."[38] The 2,200 acres (8.9 km2) facility opened in 1921 to generate income for theRand School of Social Science, a Socialist school in New York.[37][39][40] Tamiment Playhouse entertained resort guests with an original revue every Saturday night during the 10-week summer season, and many prominent Broadway and TV figures gained experience there.[41] The playhouse was referred to as the "Poconos boot camp for Broadway writers and performers."[42] The revues were discontinued in 1960 and the resort closed down in 2005.[40][43]
Unity House, a 655-acre (265 ha) Pocono retreat, offered affordable vacations for factory workers. The resort was owned for seventy years by theInternational Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, and it served as a staging ground for union activities.[44][45] Ron Devlin ofThe Morning Call referred to Unity House as a "blue-collar 'Hilton.'"[44]Eleanor Roosevelt visited Unity House many times and wrote, "...you could not put children in a more favorable environment..."[46] The resort closed down in 1990, falling victim to changing times and declining union membership.[44][45]
In 1945 retired New York executive Rudolf Van Hoevenberg established the first honeymoon resort in the Pocono Mountains, Farm on the Hill.[47][48] Sally Moore ofSnow Country wrote, "Far from today's sybaritic accommodations, back then the rustic cabins required new brides to make the beds and tidy up while grooms helped with the dishes and did the heavy work."[48]
By 1960, the Pocono Mountains rivaledNiagara Falls as a honeymoon destination, attracting 100,000 couples a year.[49]Morris Wilkins, co-owner of Cove Haven, invented the heart-shaped bathtub in 1963 as a way to lure honeymoon customers.[50][51][52]
The tub would appear in other couples' resorts and became a symbol of the Pocono resort business.[50][53][54] Author Lawrence Squeri wrote in 2002, "If Americans today are asked to name the image that best represents the Poconos, chances are that many will cite couples resorts and heart-shaped bathtubs..."[50]
Mount Airy Lodge expanded from an eight-room inn into the largest Pocono resort.[55] It is heavily advertised in the New York media market with the catchy jingle, "Beautiful Mount Airy Lodge."[56] Headliners, such asBob Hope,Milton Berle, andConnie Francis, performed in the Crystal Room, Mount Airy's 2,000-seat theater. ComedianMickey Freeman said, "The food was lousy, but it was a legalized orgy." The 1,200-acre (490 ha) resort's heyday was in the 1960s and 1970s before closing in 2001.[55]
In the 1950s, the Kiesendahl family purchased a 12-bedroom boarding house alongLake Teedyuskung. It became the Woodloch Resort and, as of 2014, it encompassed 1,000 acres (400 ha) and accommodated 900 guests in a variety of lodgings.Travel + Leisure identified the Lodge at Woodloch (founded in 2006) as the number 3 destination spa in the world.[23]
As of July 2015, there were four Pocono resorts with indoor water parks:Great Wolf Lodge, H20ooohh! at Split Rock Resort, Aquatopia atCamelback Mountain Resort, andKalahari Resort.[57] In 2014 Jayne Clark ofUSA Today wrote, "The former Honeymoon Capital of the World, the Poconos – rebranded in 2007 as the Pocono Mountains – continues to fine-tune its image as a family-friendly outdoor adventureland, health spa getaway and emerging waterpark capital."[23]
In November 2006 the Pocono Downs (nowMohegan Pennsylvania) harness-racing complex opened the first slot-machine parlor in the state of Pennsylvania. It was owned by theMohegan Indian Tribe ofConnecticut and included two gambling floors with nearly 1,100 machines.[58] TheMount Airy Casino Resort opened in October 2007 (on the site of the former Mount Airy Lodge) with about 2,500 slot machines. The owner,Louis DeNaples, was later charged with perjury due to suspected ties with organized crime figures. He turned the resort over to his daughter and avoided prosecution.[59]
The Poconos are home to severalScout camps.Camp Minsi, owned bythe Boy Scouts'Minsi Trails Council, is centrally located in the Poconos on a property of 1,200 acres (490 ha) inPocono Summit.Camp Mosey Wood, owned bythe Girl ScoutsEastern Pennsylvania council, is located on a property of 425 acres (170 ha) inWhite Haven, Pennsylvania. Other Scout camps located in the Poconos includethe Goose Pond Scout Reservation (Lake Ariel), theResica Falls Scout Reservation (Marshalls Creek), and theTrexler Scout Reservation (Jonas).
The Poconos are also home to severalJewish summer camps, includingCamp Massad,Camp Ramah, andPinemere Camp.[60] Other non-denominational season summer camps includeCamp Lohikan,Camp Watonka, and Pocono Springs Camp.

Pocono Raceway, a major automobile race track, is home to aNASCAR Cup Series race, thePocono 400, in July. The track formerly hosted a second NASCAR Cup Series race, thePocono 325, and anIndyCar race, thePocono 500. It also serves as a racing school, motorcycle track, and hosts club events. The two NASCAR weekends at Pocono are vital to the region for the tourism money it brings to the local economy. Pocono Raceway is the closest major professional race track to Philadelphia and the major metropolitan areas of New York and New Jersey.

Skiing was a $230 million per year industry in the Poconos and in 1987 accounted for one-quarter of the region's tourist business. Pennsylvania native John Guresh, a Big Boulder Ski Resort employee, is credited for bringing the ski industry to the Poconos.[61][62][63] In the winter of 1956–57, he invented a machine "resembling a lawn sprinkler atop a sled" to generate artificial snow. Joyce Gemperlein ofThe Philadelphia Inquirer wrote, "Until Guresh perfected snowmaking at Big Boulder, skiing in the Poconos was a relatively minor sport." Ski resorts in the region could not rely on natural snow and, according to Big Boulder manager Ken Knize, there were times when conditions were right for skiing only two weeks a year. Cal Conniff, president of the National Ski Areas Association, regarded Guresh as "one of the pioneers" of the U.S. ski industry.[61]
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The Pocono Record is the newspaper for the Poconos. Its coverage area centers on Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg and covers parts of Monroe, Pike, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne and Carbon counties as well as areas of westernNew Jersey.
The Times News, ofLehighton, covers Carbon, Schuylkill, and Monroe counties, and also portions of northern Lehigh and Northampton counties.
West End Happenings covers events in the West End of Monroe County.
The Morning Call, ofAllentown, is distributed to a sizeable portion of the region, especially southern Carbon, southern Monroe, and southeastern Schuylkill counties, though its coverage is mostly centered on the neighboring Lehigh Valley. A similar situation occurs with the Times-Tribune of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and northern Monroe, northern Carbon, and Luzerne counties.
The Standard-Speaker, of Hazleton, covers parts of Luzerne, Carbon, Monroe, and Schuylkill counties.
Blue Mountain Moments is a monthly publication covering theRoute 903 corridor from Blakeslee to Jim Thorpe.