The Settlers Inn- Hawley, PA

I love The Settlers Inn. It just does everything right. First, it is unbelievable quaint, which is absolutely required in an inn. Second, it also has a large fireplace in the lobby, along with a cozy bar tucked away in a corner. Third, the grounds are magnificent, with a lush garden, hammocks, firepits, and an outdoor dining pavilion. Wrap that all up in an Arts and Crafts package, and you have perfection.

Built in 1927 to capitalize on the region’s new attraction, Lake Wallenpaupack, construction of the Hawley Community Hotel was funded by local residents. Designed in the English Arts and Crafts style by architect Louis Edgar Welsh, the Tudor style building featured a steeply pitched roof, grand gables, leaded casement windows, a large bluestone fireplace and chestnut beams throughout.

Timing, however, proved to be unfortunate, and the Great Depression prevented the hotel from opening as planned. The hotel would remained shuttered through World War II, finally opening in 1948 as the Tudor Manor. Coinciding with the heyday of the Poconos popularity, the inn was an absolute success. Sadly, the original investors never saw any returns.

Known by several names over the years, including White Deer Inn and Tudor Lodge, the property cycled through several incarnations, even functioning as a boys group home for a short while. In 1978, it was sold to a group of six singing sisters, regular fixtures on the Lawrence Welk show, who operated it as the Semonski Sister’s Country Lodge, which despite the name, offered only dining, no lodging. In 1980, the current owners purchased the property.

The new owners then renovated and modernized the property, decreasing the number of guest rooms from 50 to 21. After securing the original blueprints, they were able to restore the public areas to the architect’s original vision. More recently, a large outdoor dining complex was added to the rear of the property, a perfect amenity during the current COVID situation.

The rustic rooms at The Settlers Inn are furnished with Mission style furniture and Arts and Crafts fixtures, and are quite lovely. Frank Lloyd Wright would definitely approve of the décor. My only complaint is the room’s advertised “fireplace” is in fact an electric space heater placed in a decorative mantle, which produces no actual fire at all. Why bother.

Regardless, despite that shortcoming, the property is fantastic, and the food fabulous. I will definitely return when I can safely sit in front of that fabulous bluestone fireplace, with a drink from The Chestnut Bar. I can taste that Old Fashioned already.