128-page pictorial chronicles resort’s history since opening in 1928
A lot has changed since that June day in 1928 when Skytop Lodge opened its doors for its first guests. History buffs can now get a peek into how the iconic resort came to be, through a 128-page book that just released in time for the resort’s 87th birthday.
Available on Amazon ($17.97 for paperback and $9.99 for Kindle) and at the resort’s gift shop, Images of America: Skytop Lodge was penned by Claire Gierwatowski and is filled with rich stories and photos from Skytop’s history.
Through the detailed stories of the resort’s founders and financiers, as well as the property’s unique location “high in the Poconos,” readers will be transported to a dynamic period in America’s history that at times was ripe with friction and resistance. “The story goes that Skytop came about because some patrons of the Quaker resort Buck Hill Falls wanted a resort that was less restrictive,” one passage reads. “Philadelphia Quakers had founded Buck Hill in 1901 and practiced behavior and decorum that followed Quaker philosophies. Card playing and dancing, for example, were prohibited… Two decades later, the Jazz Age was in full swing. When Skytop opened in 1928, three miles north of Buck Hill, music and dancing were featured activities and two card rooms were built to accommodate bridge players.”
Gierwatowski was able to paint a complete picture of Skytop’s history by combining stories and photos from Skytop guests and members of the local community with historical information in the resort’s own archive.
“Reading about the obstacles and hardships that Skytop’s founders had to overcome in order to make their dream a reality, it is remarkable that Skytop Lodge not only exists today but is flourishing,” said Douglas Hustad, Skytop Lodge president and general manager. “The stories from Skytop’s past are so rich and full of life that we would be remiss not to chronicle it for generations to come.”
About Skytop Lodge
Since opening its doors in 1928, the iconic Skytop Lodge has become the ultimate destination for time-honored traditions and memory-making excursions. The 5,500-acre playground nestled in the Pocono Mountains provides plentiful amenities for guests of all ages.
With 192 guest rooms, suites and cottages, accommodations are comfortable yet refined. There are a variety of dining options sure to please any palate. Guests can unwind in the resort’s spa or play on the championship-level, 18-hole golf course designed to challenge both the experienced and novice golfer. Skytop Lodge boasts both an indoor and outdoor pool, as well as a beach with a swimming lake for guests to enjoy. Adventurers can rediscover nature along myriad hiking trails that lead to waterfalls, pristine lakes, mountain vistas and clear streams.
Located in the Pocono Mountains, Skytop Lodge is a short drive away from New York City, Philadelphia and other parts of New England. Nearby airports include Avoca and Lehigh Valley.
Skytop Lodgeis one of the winners of the Best Family Resort category in “10 Best Readers’ Choice” travel award contest sponsored by USA TODAY.
For more information, visit www.skytop.com or call (855) 345-7759. You can also like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
