The Poconos are a very popular vacation spot in Pennsylvania. It draws people from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and more. In the last several years, it has gone through a renaissance to attract even more travelers.
One of the newest additions to the Poconos is the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority. PNRRA signed a deal with Amtrak to begin passenger rail service between Scranton, Pennsylvania and New York City on this route there would be south and East Stroudsburg, Mount Pocono and Tobyhanna. These stops will bring even more visitors from New York City to the most popular locations in the Poconos.
Along with the addition of a passenger service between Scranton and New York City there will be the development of a new resort. Margaritaville Hotel and Resort announced the construction of a hotel, RV campsite, tiny homes, townhouses, and 1000 cottages. Margaritaville Hotel and Resorts is also donating the land for the new Amtrak Station, The resort complex should be finished by the middle of 2024.
According to Margaritaville officials, the new hotel will honor the original Pocono Manor Inn which was built by Quakers in 1902. The building was nearly destroyed by a fire in 2019. The Inn was built in 9 sections between 1902 and 1949 in several styles Eastlake, Shingle Style and American Craftsman. One of the elements that the company will be bringing to Margaritaville from The Pocono Manor Inn is had a cottage community that was within walking distance from the Inn. The Inn was placed on the Nation Register of Historic Places in 1997 (Wikipedia).
The Margaritaville site will have its ubiquitous LandShark Bar and Grill along with swimming pools which will include a 5 o’clock Somewhere swim up bar. Other amenities are a Margaritaville store, fitness center and a Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant. Some of the activities are the LandShark tube slide and a License to Chill Ice Pond.
This projects is long time coming. There has been no rail service from NYC to Scranton since 1970. Not only will this provide jobs and infuse ,ore travel dollars into the Poconos and other cities along the route but will allow better access to universities in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, like Rutgers, Penn State Scranton, Columbia, NYU, and St Johns. Project estimates that the Amtrak service will welcome 425,000 riders a year with an influx of $87 million dollars a year to the area. It looks like a Lovely Cruise in One Particular Harbour in on its way.
REFERENCES
An Amtrak Station is Coming to the Poconos!
Margaritaville bringing a $1.3B village resort and Amtrak station to the Poconos
Pocono Manor Historic District
Restoring passenger rail through Poconos no longer a pipe dream. It’s reality. | Opinion
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