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1927
Silver Birches
Hawley, Pennsylvania
205 Route 507, Hawley, Pennsylvania 18428
Original Property Opened in 1927
Historic Hotels of America member since 2016
Silver Birches is one of the rare, vintage four-season Pocono Lake resorts that has been in operation since the 1920s. The cornerstone of the property, recently restored, is this historic hotel in Pennsylvania that features a sunroom, library with stone fireplace, and expansive front porch. This Pocono lake resort offers a wide variety of accommodations, from luxurious rooms in the inn and a bunkhouse to cozy cottages and expansive homes, each featuring beautiful views of Lake Wallenpaupack. Guests are able to relax on the resort’s rambling porches while enjoying the scenic views, partake in a variety of lakefront activities, or enjoy lakeside dining at The Dock restaurant.
Discover
- Discover the origin story of Silver Birches, which started as a humble homestead in 1904 for George and Rachel Singer. In the early 1920s, however, the couple was faced with a difficult decision. The Pennsylvania Power & Light Company wanted to buy up the bulk of their farm to transform it and the surrounding land into a 13-mile-long lake fueled by the local watershed for hydroelectric power. After the creation of Lake Waullenpaupack, the Singers saw an opportunity in their newly created waterfront property and decided to turn what remained of their homestead into a quaint, 14-room inn. The inn was soon a roaring success and, today, is one of the the only luxury resorts in the Poconos.
- Uncover the resort's rich tradition of family-run hospitality. Silver Birches has been a family affair since it opened in 1929 as an intimate inn run by George and Rachel Singer. From their very first guests, the Singers sought to make the inn a true home-away-from-home, with generous room and board and three home-cooked meals a day. A little more than a decade later, the inn passed into the hands of the Ehrhardt family. The inn flourished under their stewardship, expanding considerably in size, and by 2015, three generations of Ehrhardts had contributed to its success. The Ehrhardts then teamed up with the local Genzlinger family, who have a passion for historic preservation, to carry on the resort's storied heritage of hospitality. It has remained in their care ever since.
- Admire the resort's Colonial Revival-style architecture and the efforts of its stewards to preserve Silver Birches' historic character. The resort is composed of 13 vintage structures that largely date to the 1920s, ranging from converted agricultural outbuildings to the original 1904 farmhouse of George and Rachel Singer. Considerable care and attention have been paid to protecting the heritage of Silver Birches, with a painstaking renovation undertaken in 2016 to restore the property's old-fashioned charm while breathing new life into resort offerings.
- Sit back, relax, and take in the views of beautiful Lake Wallenpaupack. With almost 700 feet of idyllic shoreline, Silver Birches offers no shortage of opportunities for wholesome fun and quiet contemplation. Outside, guests can enjoy some friendly competition over a match of shuffleboard or another lawn game or cozy up in an Adirondack chair around a crackling firepit, all within view of the lake. Meanwhile, those looking to make the most of Silver Birches' lakefront setting can throw in a line from the dock or get out on the water with one of the resort's kayaks or canoes. Most guest accommodations also boast sweeping views of Lake Waullenpaupack, with picture windows, rambling porches, or private decks.
Explore
- Explore the banks of the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers. The Lackawaxen River, a tributary of the mighty Delaware River, flows through Hawley, Pennsylvania, not far from Silver Birches, offering plenty of opportunities for quiet reflection and more active recreation without traveling too far from the hotel. Further afield, in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, around a 30-minute drive away, Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct stands as the oldest wire suspension bridge in existence in the United States. Also known as the Roebling Bridge, this suspension aqueduct is one of four on the Delaware and Hudson Canal and was built by John A. Roebling, who would go on to be the mastermind behind the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. During a visit to the bridge, travelers can trace the footsteps of the canalers and mules who once made the trip more than a century ago with a walk across the former aqueduct. Afterward, literature enthusiasts can take a detour to the neighboring Zane Grey Museum. Once the home of author Zane Grey, who was famed for adventurous Western novels about the American frontier, the museum now houses items like photographs, manuscripts, first editions, and memorabilia.
- Make a splash at Lake Wallenpaupack, the third-largest man-made lake in Pennsylvania. Located just outside the doors of the resort, this massive reservoir is a sprawling 5,700 acres in size, stretching 13 miles in length with 52 miles of uninterrupted shoreline. Just as vast as the lake itself is the range of activities it offers, from slower-paced recreational opportunities like kayaking, swimming, and fishing (anglers enjoy Lake Wallenpaupack for its hefty smallmouth bass) to high-adrenaline fun like jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding, and boating. Outdoor adventurers can take in Lake Wallenpaupack from dry land as well, with biking and hiking also available nearby. History buffs, meanwhile, can dive into the lake's rich heritage at the Wallenpaupack Historical Society.
- Wander through the Lacawac Sanctuary, a 550-acre nature preserve on the shore of Lake Wallenpaupack. Along with more than nine miles of hiking trails, the Lacawac Sanctuary is also home to a collection of historic buildings and a pristine glacial lake. The location is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is a registered U.S. National Natural Landmark. Constructed in 1903 in the Adirondack Great Camp style, the building complex was once the summer estate of William Connell, 6 of the site's 8 original buildings remain. Visitors today can see the main house, barn, spring house, pump house, coachman’s house, and ice house. Equally notable is Lake Lacawac, a pristine body of water at the heart of both the Lacawac Sanctuary and the field station's overall mission. Considered the "southernmost unpolluted glacial lake in North America," the lake's minimal human disturbance and the sanctuary's range of ecosystems make it a living laboratory for scientists and students from across the country.
- Enjoy some fresh air at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Located a little over 30 minutes from the hotel, this natural area preserves the land surrounding the Delaware River that cuts through the Appalachian Mountains between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Considered the Eastern Gateway to the Poconos, this distinctive geological notch is the inspiration behind the region's name, as the Native American word "Pocono" roughly translates to "stream between two mountains." Biking and boating are both popular activities here, thanks to the area's stunning wilderness views, as is hiking, with 28 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail winding through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. During a visit, be sure to stop by the three-tiered Raymondskill Falls and Dingsmans Falls, Pennsylvania's first- and second-tallest waterfalls.
Experience
- Experience the beauty of Mother Nature at Grey Towers National Historic Site. Once the summer home of Gifford Pinchot, two-time governor of Pennsylvania and the first chief of the United States Forest Service, this French château-inspired house boasts beautiful views of the Delaware River from its hillside perch in the Pennsylvania town of Milford. In addition to visiting this U.S. National Historic Landmark, guests can also learn about woodland ecosystems during a walk along the Forest Discovery Trail, see a recreation of a Yale School of Forestry tent site, take in a complimentary ranger talk, and explore the Milford Experimental Forest. Throughout the year, Grey Towers National Historic Site also puts on special events like guided hikes, seasonal tours of the house and grounds, live musical performances, and more.
- Stroll through a piece of Poconos history with a visit to D&H Canal Park at Lock 31. Conveniently located just over five miles from Silver Birches, this 16-acre park offers a snapshot into life on the Delaware & Hudson Canal. From 1828 to 1899, the canal was used to transport coal from the mines of Northeastern Pennsylvania to the Hudson River and, eventually, to market in New York City. Today, this former canal lock remains mostly intact, the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania. Along with a replica canal boat, guests can also explore the Daniels Farmhouse, an 1820s-era homestead that, through the years, has served as a private home, an inn, and a canal store.
- Take a day trip to the nearby village of White Mills, Pennsylvania, which produced some of the finest crystal in the United States between the 1850s to around 1910 courtesy of the Dorflinger Glass Works, which created pieces for U.S. presidents and influential families of the Gilded Age. Today, the hamlet is home to two museums dedicated to the craft: the Dorflinger Glass Museum and the Dorflinger Factory Museum. Located inside the former house of founder Christian Dorflinger, the Dorflinger Glass Museum boasts over 1,000 pieces of cut, etched, engraved, gilded, and enameled Dorflinger crystal and glass, one of the largest collections of its kind in the country. Guests can also appreciate the craftsmanship of the Dorflinger Glass Works at the Dorflinger Factory Museum. Housed in what was once the factory's cutting shop and factory office (circa 1883 and 1888, respectively), this fascinating museum details the history and production process of the signature cut lead crystal, which adorned some of the most prestigious tables in America.
- Cross the state line into New York for a visit to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Situated roughly 50 minutes from the hotel, this remarkable cultural institution is located on the site of the historic 1969 Woodstock festival. Through interactive displays, treasured artifacts like a hippie bus, and media like films and music, the Museum at Bethel Woods brings the storied festival to life and shares the ideals that made it an enduring cultural phenomenon. Appropriately, Bethel Woods also carries on Woodstock's legacy by offering access to the arts, encouraging peace through music by hosting a free summer concert series for families, musical performances by world-class artists throughout the year, seasonal festivals and markets, live theater, creative workshops, and more.
Taste
- Savor spectacular lakefront views and updated twists on comfort food classics at The Dock on Wallenpaupack. Housed in what was once the Marine Terrace, a favorite roadhouse of the Wallenpaupack cottage community during the 1940s, Silver Birches' onsite restaurant offers a laidback spin on surf and turf, from handhelds like crab cake sandwiches, salmon BLTs, and cheesesteaks to seasonal fish dishes, steaks, and chicken. Picky eaters will also enjoy the brick-oven pizzas. Outdoor dining on the deck is a must when the weather is warm, especially on Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day to Columbus Day when local artists stop by for some live music lakeside.
- Toast to good times with family and friends and the beauty of the Pocono Mountains at the nearby Three Hammers Winery. Located only 15 minutes down the road from Ledges Hotel, Three Hammers Winery is the perfect place to while away an afternoon following more active outdoors adventures. The winery itself is brimming with regional history. The grounds, known locally as Whitehall Corners, are home to the township's oldest known building still in existence, a white clapboard farmhouse dating back to 1820. The structure was built by brothers Abraham, Eli, and Israel Hammer, members of the Society of Friends of Philadelphia and the inspiration behind the name Three Hammers Winery. Wines on offer are small-batched and handcrafted, infusing care and thoughtfulness into every bottle. After enjoying a glass, visitors can take a stroll down the nature trail or relax by the pond from the comfort of an Adirondack chair. Those looking for more can also book their weekly vine-to-rind experience, which features a spread of wine and cheese pairings.
- Greet the morning in true Pennsylvania fashion with a slice of scrapple for breakfast. A Pennsylvania Dutch spin on paté, scrapple is the head-to-tail philosophy of butchery in breakfast-meat form. As the name suggests, the dish is crafted out of cooked pork scraps (think loins, rib tips, and organs like heart and liver), cornmeal, and spices, including sage, bay leaves, thyme, peppercorns, and garlic. The entire concoction is then typically shaped into a loaf, cut into slices, pan-fried, and served alongside breakfast classics like pancakes and eggs with a drizzle of maple syrup.
- Round out a meal just like many Pennsylvanians: with a wedge of shoofly pie. Similar to scrapple, shoofly pie's roots trace back to the state's Pennsylvania Dutch community. The filling for this traditional dessert is made with sticky-sweet molasses and brown sugar and is crowned with a crumb of flour and more brown sugar. Naturally, these sugary ingredients are as popular with flies as they are with people, inspiring the name "shoofly pie," as the baker would inevitably need to shoo the flies away from the pie as it cooled on the sill. (In fact, knowing this, the Amish will often bake up some spare shoofly pies for outdoor gatherings and then place them far away from diners, drawing flies to the decoy pies instead of those being eaten.) Shoofly pie is available with either a "dry bottom," offering a cake-like texture throughout, or the more popular "wet bottom," which features a gooey layer near the crust. So, be sure to sample a slice of both.
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