The History of Pocono Lake Preserve

 

Pocono Lake Preserve was started in 1904, by a group of Quaker families from the Philadelphia area looking to spend their summers by Pocono Lake and escape from the city for a few months. These original families began a strong Quaker heritage at the lake, exemplified by the Preserve’s motto of Simplicity, Sincerity and Service. Today, there are many more people at Pocono Lake than a few families, but much of the original character of the Preserve remains intact. There is Quaker Meeting in the Worship Grove on Sunday mornings, and Friday night is square dance night. There are no paved roads, motorboat engines can’t exceed 7 horsepower, cell phones aren’t allowed in the center area, and many houses lack internet and television (including Liza's).

 

PLP Now

 

While the original Preserve families camped out in tents, now there are 140 permanent houses around the lake — though they are still referred to as “camps”! Each of the camps at the Preserve are owned by a particular family, and many have been passed from one generation to another over the last century. The summer season runs from late June through Labor Day, but many families come and enjoy the Preserve during the rest of the year. Summer activities are run by the high school and college aged children of Preserve families.

 

A Very Special Place

 

Liza's paternal grandparents first came to the Preserve in the 1940’s. Liza first came to PLP when she was just a couple weeks old. Growing up, Liza's family spent nearly every summer at PLP, where they learned everything from tennis and fishing, to beer baseball and driving a pontoon boat. Andrew first visited Pocono Lake in the summer of 2015, and now enjoys the Saturday Men’s softball games and having a few beers on the party boat.

We’re both so excited to have you at PLP. There’s no other place we (especially Liza) can imagine celebrating this special time with those who are closest to us. Take time to enjoy the Preserve and everything that it has to offer...it’s a very special place that is tucked away from the public eye.