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The
Paradise Stream Resort in
Mt. Pocono
,
Pennsylvania
, is one of the last of its kind- an unabashedly
sentimental romance hotel for couples only. Rooms
have heart-shaped pools and some even have a
Champagne
glass whirlpool for two.
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MT. POCONO,
Pa.
— Some might call it dated.
But judging
from the grinning couples at
Paradise Stream Resort
, that old Poconos love vibe still shimmers.
"We
thought about going to
Jamaica
," says
Tiffany Jones
of
Cleveland
, "but then we thought, why not go to the Poconos?"
"The
room is a little, um, '70ish," says David, her
husband of three days. "Sort of like
Austin Powers
. All those mirrors."
Tiffany
beams. "It's romantic."
Yes, oddly,
it is.
While other
lodgings have morphed into bland timeshares, casinos or
family hotels, the remaining three
Caesars Pocono Resorts
have doggedly stuck with the goofy love theme made famous
50 years ago amid the rolling green
Pocono Mountains
of eastern
Pennsylvania
.
Cove Haven
in
Lakeville
was founded in 1958 — and owner
Morris Wilkins'
brilliant idea of a heart-shaped "Sweetheart"
pool was introduced in 1963.
Paradise Stream Resort
was added to the lineup in 1971;
Pocono Palace
in
Marshalls Creek
was added in 1976.
However,
the resorts are now up for sale. That means that at any
moment, these last Poconos honeymoon hotels could vanish
forever.
In the
meantime, guests keep coming. Dewy newlyweds. Anniversary
couples. Parents desperate for alone time. Weekend lovers.
"We've
been here 60 times," says Cathy, who didn't want her
last name used, from
Jersey Shore, Pa.
She and her
husband, Russell, complain that the food and entertainment
has gone downhill in the last few years, but they still
keep coming. "The rooms are decorated like cheesy
'70s porn," says Cathy. "But it kind of reminds
me of when we were dating."
The best
thing about these resorts? No children.
More than
65,000 couples visited last year, including 16,000
honeymooners. Cars in the parking lot show most visitors
are from
New Jersey
,
New York
and
Pennsylvania
. The resort clientele is multicultural, with ages from
the 20s to the 50s.
Jackie and Ray Peterson
from
Long Island
last visited
Caesars Pocono Resorts
20 years ago.
"At
that time they literally had red carpet on the walls and
paisley wallpaper," she says.
The
carpeted walls may be gone, but other than that, the
resorts haven't changed all that much, they say. And in a
constantly changing world, maybe that's a good thing.
Constant,
too, is the kinky summer camp atmosphere.
Archery.
Rowboats. Sex toys in the gift shop.
Rare among
resorts in
the United States
,
Caesars Pocono Resorts
are all-inclusive, which means that breakfast, dinner and
most activities are free.
You can
order breakfast in bed, go horseback riding next door
(costs extra, but do it), get photos taken, go fishing,
try a paddle boat, tennis, basketball — or just sit by
the pool sipping Passion Potion, the specialty of the
house.
For an
additional cost, couples can go whitewater rafting,
kayaking, canoeing or even stock car racing at the nearby
Pocono Raceway
.
One caveat:
These resorts are in the mountains, but they're not
exactly remote. They're just a couple hours' drive for 30
million people on the
East Coast
.
So it's not
the wilderness. It's more like a different dimension.
"You
are Entering the Land of Love," a big red sign
proclaims as you drive into the resort.
It should
say, "Welcome to the 1970s — Hurry Before the Time
Portal Closes."
———
IF YOU GO:
GETTING
THERE: The closest large airport is
Newark, N.J.
, about 90 miles away.
LODGING:
Paradise Stream, Cove Haven and
Pocono Palace
are couples-only resorts. They're about 45 minutes from
one another. Cove Haven has top entertainment and gears
itself to outdoor types. Paradise Stream bills itself as
"contemporary."
Pocono Palace
features golf. All-inclusive rates are
$240-$480
per night per couple, depending on room type, location,
season, day of the week, and whether you can hit a deal (www.cpresorts.com,
888-789-8379).
NEARBY
ATTRACTIONS:
Mt. Airy Casino
: Opened in 2007, 2,000 slot machines, a mile from
Paradise Stream. (www.mtairycasino.com,
877-682-4791)
Bushkill Falls
:
Pennsylvania's
answer to
Niagara Falls
, this 100-foot waterfall is truly impressive. You can
stroll for 15 minutes or hike up and down boardwalk trails
for hours. Near
Pocono Palace
. (www.visitbushkillfalls.com,
570-588-6682)
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