Poconos: Skytop Lodge (July 2017)




My spouse and I visited Skytop Lodge as day guests on a Saturday afternoon in mid-July 2017. Note that we did not stay overnight in the hotel, so this review only gives our initial impressions about the resort as we walked around and dined.

As we turned off the main road and began to wind our way through the property, we were bowled over by the gorgeous stone main lodge! On the way, we passed a lake and other lodging (luxury cottages); a second lake with a beach and water activities was beyond those accommodations. (Although the other parts of the resort are only a short walk from the main lodge, the property offers a shuttle bus if you prefer to ride.) From the parking lot, we could see the activities/adventure center, including tennis courts and bicycle rentals. The lobby of the main lodge is rustically elegant; it seemed that the walls, floor, and ceilings were all covered with wood, which provided a nice backdrop for the various small seating groupings that spanned the immense room. We walked past the large stone fireplace at the end of the room in order to enter the Library Bar, where we enjoyed a round of drinks. Joseph the bartender told us a bit about the resort’s offerings, and his most valuable piece of advice was to climb the stairs to the rooftop lookout/outdoor observatory in order to survey the whole property from a 360-degree perch. We glimpsed the spa entrance on our way up the stairs; we also used an antique elevator to travel part of the way. We understand that the Library Bar is a newer feature at Skytop, and we loved the classy surroundings in the main room (surrounded by book cases that offer books on loan) and the old framed photographs in the adjacent side room.
Next, we went in search of lunch. The elegant windowed Windsor Dining Room offered a buffet, so we continued to the basement “activities” level to dine in the less-formal Tap Room. The walk-out basement level also offers a game room for children (with ping-pong tables and other arcade games), an activities desk where guests can book tours, and the Tea Room (which offers a “milkshake happy hour” in addition to all-day light fare like sandwiches and salads). The basement Tap Room has recently been renovated with an English pub décor. We dined at the bar because most of the tables were occupied. (A few larger tables positioned near the windows offer nice views. The opposite side of the room contains a row of tables that share a wooden banquette on one wall, and still another area a step down from the main room offers additional seating.) We ordered the Brussel sprout/black-eyed pea appetizer (which we did not care for because of its heavy maple-syrupy seasoning and also because it was light on the sprouts and heavy on the peas), the fish and chips, and the roast beef sandwich. (Our main courses were better than our starter.) Overall, we enjoyed our casual lunch at the Tap Room, and we would return.

After lunch, we walked around the back of the property, peering into the open courtyard, trying out the rocking chairs on the semi-circular covered porch, enjoying the flower gardens, and walking the paved paths past the putting green and bocce court. You can also play golf, hike, fish, kayak, paddle board, ride horses, shoot, play paintball, zip line, and archery at Skytop. In the wintertime, you can ski, snowshoe, and dogsled. But you can also relax on a lounge chair by the pool or lakeside beach, or at the spa. (We only caught a peek of the indoor and outdoor swimming pools when up on the lookout, but they looked nice.) There were many family groups visiting; it seems like a popular place for reunions and vacations. As we departed the main lobby in the late afternoon, staff had set out a table with cookies and lemonade as a snack for the guests, which was a lovely way to end our visit.
We were thoroughly impressed with what we saw at Skytop Lodge; although it is somewhat geared towards active families (and we do not have children), we would gladly return for a weekend stay.


























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