Woodloch Pines Resort is found in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains region. The resort is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from NYC, around three-and-a-half-hours from New Jersey, and close to five hours from Washington, D.C. Over 60 years old, Woodloch Pines preserves the rustic secluded setting it’s always had, but don’t let its location fool you! Once you’re inside, it’s filled with young families and quickly becomes your home away from home. Belonging to the Kiesendahl family since its inception, this all-American camp attracts many of the same families, year after year, who come for quality time together, and to experience the endless selection of indoor and outdoor activities that take place throughout 1,000 acres.
In order to understand the allure of Woodloch, you need to go back to 1944. That was the year that Mary Mould married Harry Kiesendahl the original founders of Woodloch. Growing up, Mary and her family vacationed off the serene shores of Lake Teedyuskung. Mary loved the area so much that she promised herself she’d return often. After Harry Kiesendahl, married Mary Mould, the two made it through Harry’s tour of duty in WWII and settled down to start a family. One fine day, fate intervened. Harry saw a for sale listing in the New York Times for a small resort on a private lake in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The small, unidentified lake in the ad turned out to be Lake Teedyuskung. Harry and Mary jumped on the opportunity to purchase the property and the rest is history.
Activities
A daily rotating roster of seasonal activities takes place on Woodloch’s sprawling grounds. Mornings are exciting as you get your activity sheet at breakfast. There are dozens of things to choose from ranging from jewelry making to extreme snowtubing to human bowling! In the summer, Lake Teedyuskung provides an idyllic setting for many of them, including kayaking, paddle boating, water skiing, fishing, and sailing. Plus there are surrounding nature trails to explore. Winter swings the program to ice skating and sledding, and the resort hosts a winter Olympics that pits teams of guests against each other in snowy athletic contests. Need something less competitive? Head over to another section of the resort and explore go-kart racetracks, mini-golfing, bumper boats, and several playgrounds. If you’ve got crafty little ones, there’s also a kids’ club with arts and crafts, a large video arcade, and an indoor jungle gym playhouse. Older kids and adults can go trap shooting or play paintball, and a climbing wall, archery, mini-bowling, tennis, and zip line are also available.
And new on the scene are Escape Rooms for teens and adults to dig into. Special activities can include anything from a petting zoo and pony rides, to scavenger hunts, to cupcake wars. Did somebody say pool?!! The outdoor (seasonal) pool is massive and overlooks the lake. But, fret not, winter visitors, there’s a year-round indoor pool, whirlpool, and mini water park with a small waterslide and splash zone for small kids.
Sports lovers rejoice as Woodloch has added a large sports center offering a range of indoor athletic courts, modern fitness center, plus Zumba, Pilates, and yoga classes. And because we all have a golf lover amongst us, there’s an 18-hole championship golf course resides on the neighboring sister property, Woodloch Springs Country Club.
Accommodation
Woodloch’s many room types extend across several buildings and come in a variety of sizes. All rooms have mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, and coffeemakers. Located in the pool and sports complex, Edgewater Suites have living rooms and cooking facilities, in spacious one- and two-bedroom layouts. Some have kitchenettes and balconies with lake views. Because many families come here for reunions, private lakeside houses with four to six bedrooms are available for groups at two locations. And they do have shuttle buses that come by regularly to take you back and forth wherever you need to go. The tri-level houses have gas fireplaces, and full kitchens with breakfast bars and dining rooms. They also have four- and-a-half or more bathrooms, with a mix of walk-in showers and shower/tub combos. Sun rooms, outdoor decks with gas grills, and attached garages are also on hand.
Tallwoods Guest Homes are the most recent addition to Woodloch. With modern townhouse-like interiors, they unfold over two levels with spacious living and dining areas, full gourmet kitchens, three bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and covered dining patios and open-air barbecue decks.
Noms
All-inclusive dining takes place in a massive dining hall, at the lodge, that can hold as many as 1,000 guests. Think cruise dining on land! You have the same table and same waitress (if you’re lucky, you’ll get charming Carol) throughout your entire stay! Rotating daily menus offer several hearty and also healthy options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. After dinner, live entertainment, karaoke nights, and comedy shows take place in the nightclub. These are not to be missed as they are super fun and and very family friendly. Several snack bars, a cafe, and a market are scattered across the property. Alternative a la carte options include The Overlook, the Clubhouse at Woodloch Springs, and Tree Restaurant, though a short drive is required to reach them and these amenities aren’t included in the rates.
The spa is located two miles away on sister property, The Lodge at Woodloch, (you must be over 16 to stay here) but its facilities are top notch. This is the perfect place to unwind after an active day with the kids.
So what’s the secret to Woodloch’s success? FAMILY! Since their earliest beginnings, they have remained committed to a number of traditions, but by far the most important one is the way they treat their guests. You truly feel like you are home when you go to Woodloch. Members of the Kiesendahl family are walking around the property and greeting guests all day long. The staff is friendly, accommodating and fun. It’s the ideal place to reconnect as a family unit. You play games together, share meals together, laugh together and just spend quality time with each other. With hectic schedules and busy lives, sometimes what families need is a simply time..Family…this is what sets Woodloch apart from other places.
