Woodloch Pines

Woodloch Pines (also known as Woodloch) is an all-inclusive resort located in Lackawaxen Township (near Hawley, Pennsylvania), on Lake Teedyuskung in the northeast Pocono Mountains Lake Region. The resort has been owned by the Kiesendahl Family since 1958 and is open all year round. In recent years, Woodloch Pines has expanded to include Woodloch Springs, a championship golf course and housing community, and The Lodge at Woodloch, a destination spa.

History

Mary Mould had been vacationing at Lake Teedyuskung for years when she married Harry Kiesendahl in 1944. They settled on Long Island where they raised their 3 children, John, Nancy, and Steve. Harry saw an ad in the New York Times for a small boarding house for sale on Lake Teedyuskung. Soon after, The Kiesendahls purchased the resort. In 1958, Mary and the children moved to the resort while Harry commuted from Long Island on the weekends. Its original 12 acres (49,000 m2) consisted of a main lodge, an annex, and two cottages, which could accommodate 40 guests. There was no running water and only one year-round employee.

In 1959, Marry and Harry Kiesendahl were joined by friends Don and Marge Kranich. After a few years of building, Woodloch Pines had doubled in size. By 1983, the resort covered 150 acres (0.61 km2), 1-mile (1.6 km) of shoreline on Lake Teedyuskung, and had 135 guest rooms. Woodloch currently sits on 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) and can accommodate over 900 guests. Woodloch is still run by the Kiesendahl family, with son John as the current president and CEO.[1]

Woodloch and the Boy Scouts of America

Daniel Carter Beard, one of the original founders of the Boy Scouts of America, once owned three parcels of land on Lake Teedyuskung and built the original cabin home of the Boy Scouts there. "Wild Lands" was the mess hall for the Boy Scouts and stood on what eventually became Woodloch property for over eighty years. In 2011, Woodloch donated "Wild Lands" back to the Boy Scouts. The cabin was disassembled and transported to the Goose Pond Boy Scout Reservation on Lake Wallenpaupack, where the ongoing project of reassembling the cabin in its original form is taking place.

Additions

Woodloch Springs, opened in 1991, is a community and golf course with over 400 homes of varying sizes that can be purchased or rented by Woodloch Pines’ guests. The Springs has become a destination for many corporate retreats as well.[2]

The Lodge at Woodloch is a destination spa that opened in 2006. The Lodge is a separate facility from the Woodloch Pines resort. It is five minutes away from The Pines, across the street from Woodloch Springs, on Little Lake Teedyuskung. The spa resort is operated by the Kiesendahl family. [3]

The Reserve at Woodloch is a real estate project that is currently in development. Homeowners at The Reserve have access to some facilities at Woodloch Springs and limited access to the Main Resort.[4]

Activities and entertainment

Woodloch offers a very diverse set of activities for all ages, including tennis courts, a nature trail, a go kart course, arcades, and many more facilities that are open all year. In 2010, Woodloch opened an outdoor climbing wall, which allows guests to climb a 30 foot tower. Their newest addition is a zip line! Guests can also swim, boat, and water ski on Lake Teedyuskung. In the winter, Woodloch opens a snow tube run and a snow mobile course. Woodloch’s Social Staff runs organized activities, some of which are based on board games, various trivia games, and scavenger hunts around the grounds. Athletic competitions include basketball, beach volleyball, indoor wallyball, and softball. Other traditional activities include horse racing, trapshoot, arts and crafts, and Olympics.[5]

The Woodloch staff puts on a Broadway-style theme show twice a week. Many of the staff perform in the Staff Show which is usually held every Friday evening. The resort also features a variety of acts the other nights of the week including comedians, swing bands, and magicians. Popular evening activities also include comedy, mock horseracing, karaoke, and Woodloch’s game show contests.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "General Information: History". Retrieved 2009-10-10.
  2. ↑ "Woodloch Real Estate". Retrieved 2009-10-10.
  3. ↑ "The Lodge at Woodloch". Retrieved 2011-03-19.
  4. ↑ "The Reserve at Woodloch". Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  5. ↑ "Activities". Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  6. ↑ "Dining and Entertainment". Retrieved 2009-10-15.

Coordinates: 41°31′10″N 75°05′21″W / 41.51944°N 75.08917°W