THE HISTORY OF THE PUMP HOUSE INN
The Pump House Inn has been a part of the Poconos since before the Civil War. The main house was built as a farmhouse in 1842. The front entryway, front sitting room, and the bar were all a part of the original farmhouse. The unique stone floors are still a featured part of the property. The first reference to the house being used as an Inn comes from the book Mountain and Lake Resorts, which was published in 1904. In those days, the Inn was known as ‘The Levis Falls House,” named after the Levis waterfall, which is located close to the house. In the early 1900s, post cards were sold with a picture of the Levis Falls House on them. A promotional pamphlet from 1915 boasts of the most modern conveniences to include electricity, baths with hot and cold water, and a radio. At the time, there was still a farm on the property and all the food that was served at the Inn was grown or raised on the property. As the years past the Inn changed hands and the name was changed. It has been known as The Dawn Hill House, The Sky Run Lodge, and the Pump House Inn. Through the years there have been several major renovation projects to the property. In the 1920s, the upper two floors were renovated and so was the bar. The light fixtures that hang in the bar to this day are from the work done in the 1920s. A three bedroom cottage was added to the property adding a “1960s Pocono Cabin” charm. In 2003, the last of the major additions was completed. A third building that consists of four king sized suites. Whatever the name or make up, this house has been a favored haven for weary travelers.
The house and its restaurant have hosted many notables including two Presidents as well as actors of the stage and screen, like John Travolta, while they were starring in productions at the old Pocono Playhouse. From the 1970s to the early 2000s, The Pump House Inn’s restaurant, which catered to tourists as well as the local community, began to build a solid reputation. The restaurant earned rave reviews from publications such as Country Inns and Back Roads and inns of the Mid-Atlantic and the South. The highest praise came from newspapers like The New York Times, which said, “For food and ambiance, this Inn near Canadensis outranks any other restaurant or resort dining rooms that I have tried in the Poconos,” and the Philadelphia Inquirer who gushed, “The best restaurant in the Poconos and one of the best anywhere in America.”
Following a period where the house was used as a private residence, the Inn was purchased by the current owners, who are determined to return The Pump House Inn to its former glory.
Concierge
