The Poconos

The Pocono Mountains region is a mountainous region of about 2,400 square miles (6,200 km²) located in northeastern Pennsylvania.

The Pocono Mountains is a popular recreational destination for local and regional visitors. The region has a population of about 300,000, which is growing at a rapid pace, largely attributable to vacationers from the New York City region who are turning vacation homes into permanent residences.fact|date=September 2008 The region lacks a major population center, although there are small municipalities which are scattered throughout the area. The Poconos now serves as a commuter community for the Northern New Jersey metropolitan areas, even though the commute often takes as much as 2 hours each way due to distance and traffic. Because the region lacks a population center, it has been difficult to establish transit infrastructure to feed (future) commuter rail and bus lines.

Geography

The Pocono Mountains is a vaguely defined area encompassing Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne Counties of Pennsylvania [ [http://www.800poconos.com/static/index.cfm?contentID=113 About Pocono counties including Carbon Monroe Pike and Wayne ] ] , as well as portions of neighboring counties such as Susquehanna, Luzerne, and Lackawanna. The region of Northampton County from the Slate Belt northwards is also sometimes included [ [http://www.insiders.com/poconos/main-overview.htm Overview | Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains ] ] . In total, the Poconos encompasses over 2,500 square miles. The Poconos are mountainous, geologically a southwestern extension of the Catskills. The Poconos' highest summit, Elk Hill’s North Knob, reaches 2,693 feet (821 m), while its lowest elevation is 350 feet (107 m) in Pike County.

The Delaware River flows through the Pocono Mountains and gives the region its name, from a Native American term roughly translating to "stream between two mountains." The Lehigh and Lackawaxen Rivers also flow through the region, totaling about 170 miles (270 km) of waterways. The Pocono Mountains are also home to some 150 lakes and many waterfalls, such as those in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area of Monroe County and Ricketts Glen State Park in northwestern Luzerne County.

Recreation

The popularity of the Pocono Mountains as a summer retreat began at the dawn of the 20th century when Philadelphia Quakers started the resorts of Buck Hill Falls and Pocono Manor, and later in the 1920s, Skytop.

The Poconos is a well-known outdoor recreation destination for visitors around the northeast, especially from New York City and Philadelphia. Primary attractions are centered around the region's diverse natural offerings. The Poconos encompasses the Delaware State Forest [ [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/delaware.aspx Delaware State Forest ] ] , including six designated natural areas [ [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/delawarenatural.aspx Delaware State Forest Natural Areas ] ] , seven state parks [ [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/delawareparks.aspx State Parks near the Delaware State Forest ] ] , seventeen state game lands [ [http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=463&q=151266 Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency ] ] , and one national park: The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. There are extensive opportunities for water sports, with many of the lakes and rivers stocked for fishing. Hunters pursue white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, and other wildlife. More American black bear are killed here than anywhere else in the state, and likely the contiguous 48 states. This is largely due to acidic pine barren creek valleys teeming with trout and berries. Toward the southern margin of the Poconos, the Blue Mountain ridge is the site of the Appalachian Trail and a major flyway for the autumn raptor migration, including the nationally renowned Hawk Mountain sanctuary.

The Poconos is also home to Summer Camps, such as Camp Pocono Ridge [ [http://www.poconoridge.com Camp Pocono Ridge - Home ] ] and Goose Pond Scout Reservation near Lake Ariel.

The Poconos is and has been Pennsylvania's most popular tourist destination. The region contains over 80% of the state's resorts. These resorts earn 1.5 billion in gross revenues and employ 18,000 workers. The region is also a popular winter destination. [ [http://www.poconovacations.com Overview | Pennsylvania's Poconos Mountains ] ] State parks offer snowmobile trails, snowshoeing, and eagle watching [http://www.800poconos.com/release_winter_fun.html] .

Popular summer activities include whitewater rafting and canoeing down the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers, camping and hiking, waterparks, and smaller attractions such as Claws N Paws Wild Animal Park [ [http://www.clawsnpaws.com Claws 'N' Paws Animal Park ] ] , Kittatinny Rafting & Paintball [ [http://www.kittatinny.com Kitattinny Canoes - Paddle the Delaware River ] ] , Houdini Museum [ [http://www.houdini.org Houdini Harry Houdini Museum Scranton Poconos Pocono mountains magic show seance biography School Assembly Programs shows Children's Museum Halloween Houdini uri geller ] ] and others. Another popular recreation activity growing around the Poconos is disc golf. Currently there are several disc golf courses located around the Poconos. Other outdoor activities, particularly golf, are also popular options.

Another attraction is Pocono Raceway, a major automobile racetrack, which is home to two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, the Pocono 500 in June, and the Pennsylvania 500 in August. It also serves as a racing school and motorcycle track.

The Poconos is a major resort destination with new additions such as Great Wolf Lodge for families, a resurrection of Mount Airy as a gaming (slots) and golf resort, the famous Ceasars Pocono Resorts with heart-shaped and champagne whirlpool baths for two (couples only) and a retreat known as Woodloch Pines that has added a spa facility.

Gaming

A highly controversial proposal to license a gambling casino with slot machines in Monroe County was approved in 2007 and the casino at Mount Airy Lodge is now open to the public. Adding to the controversy is the reported connection between the casino's owner and organized crime which has placed Mount Airy under the supervision of a gaming commission appointee.

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area is another site for slots and OTB, and a proposed facility in the Allentown area is scheduled to open in the near future.

Skiing in the Poconos

Numerous ski resorts in and around the Poconos offer some of the closest and most accessible skiing to the major populated areas of Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC areas.

* Camelback Ski Area - the most ski runs in the Poconos
* Blue Mountain Ski Area [ [http://www.skibluemt.com Blue Mountain Ski Area | Welcome ] ] - the largest vertical drop in the Poconos (1,082 feet) and closest to Philadelphia
* Elk Mountain Ski Area - one of the larger areas with 30 trails, the highest ski peak at 2,600+ feet and a 1,000 foot vertical drop
* Sno Mountain Ski Area - just outside of Scranton, features the steepest terrain in the Poconos and a 1,000 foot vertical drop
* Shawnee Mountain Ski Area [ [http://www.shawneemt.com Shawnee Mountain Ski Area - The Poconos Favorite Ski Resort ] ] - closest to New York City, just across the Delaware from New Jersey, draws big city crowds
* Jack Frost Mountain and Big Boulder [ [http://www.jfbb.com Welcome to JF BB Ski Areas ] ] - two sister ski areas, family oriented skiing
* Ski Big Bear [ [http://www.ski-bigbear.com Ski Big Bear ] ]
* Tanglwood - closed for the 2007/2008 season due to economic reasons.
* Alpine Mountain [ [http://www.alpinemountain.com Index ] ]
* Eagle Rock Resort - the westernmost of the Pocono ski areas

Ski areas in the Poconos are not particularly large and do not have large vertical drops (Sno Mountain and Elk Mountain, with 1000' vertical drops are the largest), so runs tend to be on the shorter side. However, the Poconos do offer conveniently located skiing, and many areas also offer night skiing. Many Pocono ski resorts cater to both winter and transform themselves into waterparks for summer visitors.

Downhill skiing is also offered at resort-hotel properties (such as Skytop Lodge and Fernwood) where guests can use the facilities as part of their stay.

Rail Service

[
Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad mainline runs over the Pocono Mountains.]

Rail service is provided by the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority. One of its primary objectives is to establish rail passenger service with New Jersey Transit between Scranton, Pennsylvania and Hoboken, New Jersey with connecting service into Manhattan, New York. Designated operator of the line is NJ Transit. There is currently no passenger rail service from the Poconos to Hoboken, New Jersey

On January 23, 2007, NJ Transit was given an initial environmental 'OK' to re-establish a Hoboken-to-Scranton connection, estimated to be a 3-hour trip.

Rebuilding rails on the Lackawanna Cutoff, and subsequent resumption of passenger service is slated to be completed in 2011/2012. [ [http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070914/NEWS/709140342/-1/NEWS16 Gravy train rolls in for proposed Poconos-NYC rail line - poconorecord.com - The Pocono Record ] ]

Newspapers

A few newspapers covering local events and happenings include the daily paper, "The Pocono Record", a weekly paper, a shopper and " [http://www.bluemountainmoments.com Blue Mountain Moments] ", which is published monthly. To the north, additional regional publications covering Pike and Wayne Counties include the "News Eagle", "Pike County Dispatch", "Milford Magazine", "Pike County Courier", and "Wayne Independent".

References