An extraordinary experience awaits guests at The Lodge at Woodloch. Located in Hawley, Pennsylvania, it’s a place to refresh and rejuvenate bodies and minds. While there, you’ll feel like you traveled into a whole other world even though it’s a short two-hour car ride away.
“It's a beautiful area that is so close to major metropolitan areas but where you’re able to really enjoy true nature,” says Brooke Jennings, its director of marketing communications. “There are stunning waterfalls and lakes because of our location in the lake district of the Pocono Mountains.”
The Lodge at Woodloch is a sister property of Woodloch Family Resort, which opened over 60 years ago. There’s also Woodloch Springs, which has a golf course and guest homes. While the other properties are open to guests of all ages, The Lodge, which is just two miles down the road, is a destination spa that welcomes guests 16 and older.
“Many people often think of spas as being frilly, but because we are a destination spa, we really put a lot of thought into designing the building to appeal to everyone,” she says. “It features a lot of Pennsylvania bluestone, rocks and indigenous wood, and really blends in with the surroundings of our over 500 acres of woodlands. It feels really cozy and welcoming.”
Many luxurious treatments are offered at this 40,000-square-foot spa. “Our signature service is called the Rosemary Awakening body treatment, which is amazing and always the most popular,” says Brooke. “It features our signature scent, Rosemary Mint, and combines a body scrub and a massage. Another treatment that's really popular is our Blues Be Gone massage. This really helps the adrenal system by flushing out toxins. It's great after a long flight or to get rid of the doldrums to energize you.”
There are also Swedish massages, body wraps, facials, float therapy, romantic spa treatments for two, a hair and nail salon, and much more. “We also have our aqua garden, which is an indoor pool that features a Hydromassage Water Wall you can stand underneath,” she says. “When the water falls, that pressure relieves tension in your shoulders. We have an outdoor whirlpool as well, which has views of beautiful fern-carpeted woods.”
Last year the Lodge also unveiled its snow room. “This form of contrast therapy allows guests to spend time in the salt sauna, and then afterward they can cool down in the snow room. Cultures from around the world have done this for centuries and it's extremely good for your heart health and for reducing stress.” Fresh snow is blown in every evening, so it’s always pristine.
Spa treatments are available for people who aren't overnight guests as well (although guests do get priority scheduling). They are able to use the spa facility which includes the pool and Hydro massage, Water Walls and sauna. “It's so nice to get your hair done and also have a bit of a spa day,” says Brooke. There’s also a state-of-the-art fitness center and individualized fitness and wellness classes.
In warmer months, guests love kayaking, paddle boarding, and fishing on the lake, and bike riding and hikes. “We have over seven miles of nature trails around our property, in addition, we have outdoor adventures where a guide will take our guests off property to do longer hikes. In colder weather, we still do a lot of hikes, and if it snows, we’ll transition over to snowshoeing,” she says.
“We love that there's something different every season. People always ask when the best time is to come. I honestly couldn't say because there's something new and amazing each season.” Over 35 classes are also offered daily, and guests can choose from a variety of interests such as art, cooking, and wine. There are special presenters every weekend too. It may be a guest author, a wellness expert, an organizational expert, or a career expert.
Since The Lodge at Woodloch is all-inclusive, guests receive three meals per day at its Tree Restaurant. “Our spa cuisine is farm-to-table,” says Brooke. “Our chef team really highlights our own garden on property, and also partners very closely with local farmers to get hyperlocal ingredients because the flavor is just so much better. They'll also take some traditional favorites and, with a few slight ingredient tweaks, make them a lot healthier, while still tasting delicious.”
There are 59 guest rooms, all of which have been completely renovated in the past year. “There are very few properties that have such a small amount of guest rooms, so guests never feel like they’re on top of each other,” she says. “Each guest room has its own private veranda, which is also really unique.”
There are gorgeous views of either its five-acre lake, or the woodlands; there is also a waterfall on the front side of the building. There’s free Wi-Fi, but the public areas of the Lodge are cell phone free. Of course, guests can use them in their own rooms.
People typically stay for a long weekend, and most travel from the tri-state area, although some come from much farther away. “We were doing a photo shoot a few months ago and somebody had just flown in from the Bahamas,” says Brooke. “We also have a good number of people from California, Texas, Chicago, and Illinois.”
Guests at The Lodge at Woodloch can also take advantage of offerings at the Family Resort. “During the holidays, they have a beautiful horse-drawn carriage that takes people through the woods where there are holiday lights all throughout - it's so beautiful. Guests are welcome to go back and forth between resorts and enjoy the amenities.”
To book a stay, which is best booked in advance, go to thelodgeatwoodloch.com.
“Each guest room has its own private veranda, which is also really unique.”