Talk:Mountain Lake House

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I have removed some snapshots- however this is a business that has since closed and is in danger of fading away- This was a historic property- I'm waiting contact from the Huffman's (original owners) for more information and history. I do not, nor have I ever worked for the black banana or the huffmans. This acrticle is also references the Traffic/Road project that is happening in that area- as of the time of this righting- another business in operation for 182 continuous years has just shut it's doors, I will be adding that information to the article as well. I can understand why it seems like an advert but it isn't- there is no contact information - nor is it trying to sell you anything. I'm requesting that the article not be deleted so that many others can find information and add to this article. if anyone can suggest improvements I'd appreciate it. Thank you Natasha Penn —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.92.235.82 (talk • contribs) 14:20, 4 September 2006.

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[edit] Mountain lake house,Marshalls Creek,pa

My wife and I first found this place in February of 2006 and it instantly caught my interest. We were staying at another nearby resort in Anolmink (Penn hills was the resort we stayed in) when I saw the old Mountain Lake house while driving down 209. Our curiosity got the best of us and we drove up to the closed down resort. We were in the Poconos for the week and visited MLH just about every day. We did some "exploring" in all the old buildings and was just really amazed by this place. We took some pictures inside and out of the resort. Somehow the MLH is related to a place called THE HIDEOUT because we saw a lot of stuff with that name and some old shirts in the MLH gift shop that had the hideout printed on them. We returned to the Poconos again in the beginning of July 2006 only to find the whole place was leveled. Nothing left but green grass and trees. The 100 acre property is now up for sale for around 2.5 million. Man was that a let down. As far as I can tell MLH opened around May 1939 and I am not 100 percent sure of the closing date but I did see a calendar hanging on the wall in the dance hall that was from 1996 so I am guessing around then. We met another couple there who said they had been coming here for about 10 years so it a pretty good guess. Going to visit the Poconos is just not the same for my wife and I since the leveled this landmark resort. We will still visit there because its a great place to see for its landscape and mountains but will sure miss MLH. Mountain Lake house was our TOURIST ATTRACTION. Anyone out there with any info on MLH or who has maybe stayed there we would love to here from you. It seems almost impossible to find anything on the Internet but any tips to a web site would also be appreciated. Thank you, Mike & Lisa —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70memories (talk • contribs) 04:02, 28 November 2006.

[edit] So Very Sad To Hear

Completely Leveled? Every Building? Would love to see the photos that you took when you were there- have you uploaded them anywhere? (flickr?) It saddens me to think that I could have take a trip up there and gone exploring like you did- You mentioned a calendar in the rec hall and the gift shop, were you just peering through the windows? I'll check back from time to time- WikiPedia almost didn't let me add this page, calling it and advertisement... Natasha Penn —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.92.235.82 (talk • contribs) 05:54, 2 January 2007.

[edit] Reply about pictures taken

Hi, These pictures were taken from interior and exterior not just trough windows. I have all pics in my computor but not real sure how to post or where to. I would love to share them with you natasha but not sure how. I also have some 6x9 post cards (very neat).I am NOT SELLING anything here just trying to help someone with a common interest. Maybe we could email or something?? Take care, 70memories —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.44.153.84 (talk) 05:16, 5 January 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Fear of loosing this WikiPage

Everytime I check in, (to see if the Huffman's or anyone else) has added- there are alerts for this page. I'm afraid that is me and you, 70smemories, that have to keep this memory alive... (so dramatic) anyway... about the photos- if you created an account with wiki you can upload relevant photos- however with the nature of this page and it's undocumented references, I don't suggest that. Could you email some of them to me? I can create a webpage contain the photos and then this wiki page will have an external link reference. my email address is tash515@hotmail.com, please include any dates, I'm sure I'll be able to figure location and any photo credits. I can't wait to hear back from you, thanks so much. Natasha 66.92.235.82 17:26, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Mountain Lake House pics sent

Hope everthing went ok with the email. I sent them to you first chance I had. This is a very fond memory for me and very well worth keepin alive. Thanks again for your help. Believe it or not I have a postcard of MLH over my station in work that keeps it fresh in my mind. I think that post card you have on here is accually earlier that 1983. I have a photo of that same postcard that is dated May 1938 by the post office when in was mailed out. I also have one of a dinner spread, a side building with a guy waving from the lawn, and some old time bikers (bicycle)in the driveway to the resort, A couple out in the lake in a boat, Also once saw a bumper sticker. OK, Hope to hear from you soon. Take care, Mike —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.44.153.84 (talk) 04:32, 6 January 2007 (UTC).

[edit] It is all gone now

It is all gone now except the motel unit by the pools. i took some pictures of what was. it was a very sad day. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Rocco p (talk • contribs) 04:51, 21 February 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Additional history on the resort

My mother was a Huffman, and it was her father, Jay Huffman, who started the resort in 1918. I can add some historical information on the resort, beginning with a list of Huffman family members.

Jay Huffman - Started resort

Edith Bush Huffman - his wife

Jay and Edith had 8 children as follows:

Elwood (Managed Mt. Lake House for many years)

Norman (Managed the Village Inn. Also managed Mt. Lake after Elwood’s death)

Dorothy (Managed the kitchen at Mt. Lake)

Vivian (Managed the dining room & kitchen at the Village Inn)

Carlyle (Eventually bought hotel from the rest of the family)

Harvey (Not involved with hotel)

Miriam (Not involved with hotel)

Lawton (Not involved with hotel)


A chronology of important events in the history of the resort follows:

1918 - Jay Huffman buys Mountain Lake House, then a 12-room boarding house.

? - Mountain Lake House incorporates the Marshalls Falls House, located across the street from the General Store, into its business.

? - Marshalls Falls House changes its name to the Village Inn.

1940 - Jay Huffman dies. Elwood Huffman takes over management of Mountain Lake House.

1953 - Edith Bush Huffman dies.

1961 - Elwood Huffman dies. Norman Huffman takes over management of Mountain Lake House.

1970 - Norman Huffman dies.

1972 - Mountain Lake House is sold to Carlyle Huffman. His son, Bob Huffman, manages the resort.

? - Carlyle sells the Cottage Colony, a part of Mountain Lake House, to Mountain Manor.

1982 - Carlyle sells Mountain Lake House to Joe Farda.

? - Mr. Farda changes the name of Mountain Lake House to Mountain Lake Resort.

2004 - Mr. Farda sells Mountain Lake House to Richard Blewitt who intends to make the complex into a "resort for families serving our country." He names the place "Rich’s Promise." Things do not go as planned, however, and the resort falls into disrepair and is severely vandalized. Vandals burn down the dance hall.

2006 - The remainder of Mt. Lake House buildings are burned down in a series of controlled burns by the Marshalls Creek Fire Company.

Note that during its peak years, the resort could accommodate some 350 guests between the main complex, the Village Inn and the Cottage Colony.

I myself only worked at the resort as a young man during the 1950s, and it was that period that I remember best of all. There were, of course, many people associated with the resort in various capacities. I will throw out just a few names of people linked with the hotel with the hopes that some readers may recognize them.

First, there are the Huffman family members mentioned earlier. A few more are:

Tom Blewitt: Assistant manager

Marie Huffman: Wife of Norman. Ran gift shop at Village Inn.

Harold Treible: Handyman at the resort for 74 years.(!) Harold always operated the beer kegs at the beer parties on the outdoor dance pavilion.

Johnny Lambert: Worked as desk clerk and in snack bar. (Eventually became superintendent of the East Stroudsburg School District)

Tom "Trigger" Tregalis: Managed snack bar.

Jane Gordon: Head waitress.

Ray Gordon: Head chef

Kenny Fritz: Social director

Bob Dreisbach: Social Director 207.172.235.44 13:13, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] 1918 WOW!!!

Thank you for taking the time and adding all the info on the history of MLH and the families involved. It is really amazing the history behind this once great resort.I would love any furter info anyone has.I am returning to the poconos the week of april 23rd and will do a drive by but its just not the same anymore. Well, Happy easter to all and take care. Mike, 70memories —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 208.39.144.50 (talk) 16:44, 5 April 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Thank you for helping make this memory last longer...

If anyone has photos scanned please post them... I have uploaded a few family memories 1979-1983 menus, rates, postcards and photos. enjoy: Mountain Lake House photos 66.92.235.82 20:39, 8 April 2007 (UTC)


a few notable personalities that I can recall were Kerby, he seemed to be an event coordinator and Bob Seip, Social Director