Shawnee
VillageShawnee
VillageLast updated: Please check the new Review Page for reviews submitted after June 1,2005
Per RCI resort description: Located alongside the scenic Delaware River, Shawnee Village offers the serenity of the PocCaudct@aol.com ono Mountains. Play the resort's 27 hole golf course--it's one of the finest in the East. Relax in the resort's indoor or outdoor pools or play some tennis at the outdoor courts, some of which are lighted. Also, you can play on the indoor courts at the nearby Shawnee Racquet Club, which also offers two racquetball courts, a Nautilus fitness center, a giant whirlpool, and saunas. Ski season in the Poconos runs from late November to March. Shawnee offers 23 trails with full snowmaking capabilities.
I would rate this a 7 because of the size of the unit, location and updated kitchen.
This year (1/15-1/21, 2005 ), we stayed in RV II #81, an upside-down townhouse at Shawnee that I had requested. By upside-down, I mean that you walked into the foyer and went downstairs instead of upstairs to the two bedrooms and two baths. One bedroom had a queen-sized bed and the other had two double beds. There was plenty of light downstairs because the unit was built on the side of a hill. The first floor had cathedral ceiling. It had a raised living room with a wood stove. There was also a dining room, a kitchen, and a screened-in porch. The unit was well-maintained and had about 1200 square feet or more of space with a well equipped kitchen (stove, refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher) and 2 cable TVs - one with a VCR. The laundry was in a small addition at the end of our U-shaped cluster of townhomes.
Check-in was at the recreation center, about a mile from River Village II. An imprint of our charge card was made. At checkout, it was returned to us. The staff was friendly and professional.
You do need a car for Shawnee. The nearest supermarket, movies, bowling alley, and most restaurants are about 4 or 5 miles away. There is a shuttle that takes you to and from Shawnee Mountain and the recreation center but we've never used it.
We've owned our MLK week unit at Shawnee since 1986 and, except for paying the developer's price, we've never regretted it. Our village has a pretty low maintenance fee. It was about $180 in 1986 and it's $350 this year. We've only had one assessment: $120 to build the recreation center and that was well worth it. The recreation center has a lap pool, an infinity pool, a hot tub, a sauna, meeting rooms, and a basketball court. There was a welcome party Monday night but we didn't attend it. There are plenty of family activities like finger painting and face painting for the kids and caravans to local wineries and champagne bingo for the adults but we didn't participate in these this time either.
We had lunch at the new Sam Snead's restaurant with our resident Shawnee expert and TUG advisor, Theresa, and another TUG member, Carol, and her husband, Bob.
I'll be putting this week's pictures of the resort, Sam Snead's, and Shawnee mountain in an online album this week and posting the link in the Eastern section of the TUG BBS.
When we bought our unit, we intended to use it every year. We actually let our membership in II lapse because we used it every year for the first five years and thought we always would. Then we found out that we could rent a ski week in January or February for a nominal fee so we joined RCI and started doing that and exchanging our Shawnee week every year. The trades have been good too - Orlando (GC many times), Vail, Beaver Creek, Las Vegas, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Williamsburg, and Cozumel.
There should be lots of inventory available for RCI "extra vacations" way into the future too. The day before the luncheon, we met one of the reps from Shawnee who told us that the company took back a lot of units in the older villages in exchange for new summer units at Ridgetop Summit. She said the minimum amount of cash needed to go with your old unit for the trade up is $8,000. BTW, the rep gives you two free ski passes or $25 towards a dinner.
This year we "rented" our Shawnee week from www.afvclub.com for $249 and everything went well with them. The price went up to approximately $268 on 1/1/05. We intend to use them again next year and get two units because everyone wants to stay the whole week. The only thing I'll do differently is not request an upside-down unit. There were 50 steps down to our unit and 7 more back up to the front door and we got a little too much exercise unloading and loading the car.
As far as rating the resort, I give it a 7.5. It doesn't have Disney World and Universal next door but it's a nice place to go to ski and we don't have to fly to get there.
We had 4 adults and 4 children staying in the unit for half the week. We enjoyed some of the activities at the recreation center - karaoke, bingo, dance band, swimming at night. Spent a day at Camelbeach, a rainy day at the movies, and a day shopping at the outlets in Tannersville and a day at the pool. Really enjoyed seeing Guys and Dolls at the Shawnee Playhouse (one night it was one child free)- a nice theatre and a very good production. There is not much more we wanted to do there - we bought the unit as a place to go and relax with another family. There were other activities we wish we had done but couldn't due to the weather but there's always next year. We also enjoyed an early evening walk to Shawnee Inn and was sorry we missed out on the concerts and activities there.
We do getaways alot into Shawnee for the winter skiing and have always found it to be a good value within a 2 hour drive from home. We also did two other timeshare weeks this summer - Oak 'n Spruce in the Berkshires and Powhatan Plantation in Williamsburg both of which we have stayed at before. We do like these 2 timeshares for the area activities and the interior of their units but they are both 5 - 6 hours away. I would give Shawnee's River Village II a 6 because of the rusticness of the units and area activities.
The unit had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an eat in kitchen, and a dining area/living room combo. We felt it was spacious and there was plenty of room for eight of us. The kitchen was well-equipped for cooking. There was a slight problem with ants in the kitchen, but it is the season for them and this was explained on a sheet of paper that was in the unit when we arrived. Until the season ends, they are a fact of life. Unless you are totally freaked out by insects, it should not be a problem. The dining room table was big and there were even two leaves to extend it's size. There were ten chairs between the kitchen table and the dining room table. The living room was nicely furnished with a couch, loveseat and chair. There was also a wood-burning fireplace. Wood could be purchased at the grocery store or at the Shawnee rec. center. The living room also had a TV and VCR in good working order. The kitchen also had a washer and dryer built into a cubby hole that was covered by double wooden doors. They looked fairly new and worked perfectly. The first floor master-bedroom contained two double beds and a dresser. There was no TV or VCR in this bedroom. This bedroom had a private bath and the utility closet was beyond the door to the master bedroom. It contained a broom, dustpan, vacuum and mop. On the second floor was another bedroom of good size with two double beds and a second bathroom. The upstairs bedroom did have a TV, but not a VCR. Except for the kitchen, dining area and the bathrooms, the floors were covered with carpeting which appeared clean and in good shape. Overall, the unit was very nice--not luxurious by any manner, but simply furnished, clean and well- maintained. If anything negative can be said about the unit and furnishings, it would be that they are somewhat outdated as far as fabrics, prints and styles. The only problems we encountered were the ants, some lady bugs on the second floor and a toilet (upstairs) that continued to run for a while after it was flushed.
The rec center was about 3/4 of a mile away and that is where check-in takes place. Check in was extremely fast and smooth. We were required to leave a $50 deposit on a credit card. It was not charged to our card and was returned when we checked out. The rec center had two pools, one zero depth entry that got to a depth of about 3 feet. The other pool was a little deeper, I believe. The pool was crowded (on Easter Sunday at about 6pm). Lot's of families and children at the pool. It was clean. The trash, however, was spilling over and the locker room and bathrooms had a lot of wet toilet paper on the floor. It looked like it was a very busy day. The pool water was cold, but as we all know, kids don't care. They had a blast. It was a little on the noisy side, but what pool filled with kids is not?? There were a good number of tables and chairs, but not enough for the large crowd. There was also a game and video room which was fun. A snack bar with all of the usual unhealthy junk and a large gym rounded off the bottom level of the rec room. On the main floor, there was a lending library of books, videos and games. Bingo and other games as well as a welcome party were held in this area. We did not participate in any of these activities. The Shawnee Inn had an Easter buffet brunch and the Easter Bunny greeted guests at the door to the dining room. You could have your picture taken with the Bunny for $3.00. The menu had a price for adults and one for children, so we assumed that they would have some kid- friendly food. Wrong! The menu was in no way kid friendly unless your kids like 7 bean salad, chicken with dijon cream sauce, leg of lamb in marsala wine sauce, etc. We were a little disappointed at the selections. To us, brunch suggests breakfast and lunch--there were absolutely no breakfast items on the buffet. The items they did have were good, though. The decor was old and tired and I don't think we would go there again, especially not with our kids.
The area seemed very family oriented. We visited a Snake and Animal Farm and except for the poor mountain lion and cheetah in small cages, it was a nice place to visit. Again, the kids loved it. The best thing about the property was the area around our villa-very natural, quiet and peaceful. We loved sitting out on the wraparound deck. Shawnee is a nice getaway for families and friends and we would go there again if the location were a good 1/2 way mark for us to meet our family again. Our kids loved it and that is a big plus with us--they could run around the unit without us having to worry much about them annoying anyone or getting into trouble.
I would rate the resort a 7.5 based upon everything being well-maintained and clean but lacking in luxury and atmosphere.
We didn't partake in the resort activities though there was an abundance of activities to choose from aside from the indoor swimming pools. We went to go skiing and Shawnee ski slopes were less than a 10 minute drive away. As an owner you get a discount on ski lift passes (we own in the summer at another section of Shawnee)so you can save some money. Bringing your own lunch to the cafeteria was also a savings. We went to the flea market on 209 prior to our days of skiing and purchased inexpensive gloves, goggles etc.
We also went to Fernwood to have lunch in their pub which was very good and we were entertained by an excellent female guitar player/singer. We brought up our snowboards and sleds and the children went snowboarding/sledding for free on the little hill across from the hotel (below the tubing area). I noticed people ice skating near there too but we didn't bring up our iceskates this time.
There is an inexpensive kennel less than 10 minutes away where we kept our dog - Gatehouse kennels $12 per night. There is another one for $9 per night but a little further away.
We've been going up to Shawnee for over 25 years and love the amenities there and nearby activities. There are so many things to do there for a week visit. We just recently bought a summer week timeshare there and can't wait to use it this year for the first time. The one thing the area lacks is good restaurants - in that department there is quantity but not quality. Then again, the benefits of staying in a timeshare means not having to go out for bad food. I would rate Depuy Village an 8 for location, amenities for families, and size of unit. It isn't Powhattan or Grande Ocean but it's better than staying at the Days Inn.
We arrived very late Saturday night (10:00pm) and check in was easy, but we took a wrong turn out of the parking lot and spent a long time looking for River Village II. There are 8 resorts in the Shawnee System that use the same check in, pool, gym, and activity center. I had been booked in 164 but after talking to someone on TUG I was moved to a refurbished room 142.
The setup of the unit was very comfortable. It has two floors and 2 ˝ baths. The one downstairs was very small but it beats running up stairs. Many Timeshares I've been to I felt a certain "Wow" factor. That I didn't feel here. But this one did feel more like home then any of the others. I could see myself owning a condo like this, whereas I would only own the Manhattan Club if I became a millionaire.
I had a discussion about whether it was like a Cabin, or Townhouse, and was told no...it's a Villa. I don't care for the word Villa, because it seems so generic. It reminds me of my Grandparent's Camp, in Maine. The wood is rustic, and there are a few framed pictures on the walls (one of the Shawnee-inn, one of a snowboarder, and one other one). Other then that the walls were white, but there were a lot of windows. The ceilings were high, and gave the impression that the rooms were bigger then they really are. The showers were a little small but I like the soaking tub. It's like a bucket that you sit in, but the water comes up to your neck (if you're short), it was different but I liked it almost as much as a Jacuzzi.
They don't look fancy, but they are comfortable. The kitchen and dining area are very nice, and useable. You could have a nice Thanksgiving dinner there. I feels like you are out in the middle of nowhere but 5 miles away is the biggest Wal*mart I've ever seen, near a reasonable grocery store, and big K. It's only about 12 miles to Bushkill falls, 5 or 6 to Cesar's Pocono resort. The big flee market on weekends is only a few miles away.
Even in the off season there were many activities going on. We went to the Champagne Bingo on Thursday night. We were impressed with how active the members are and if we go again we will do more of the activities. The pool and hot tub were big, and there was a lifeguard on duty, several actually. The pool was elegant like the one at Steele Hill West (NH) but it was very useable especially as a lap pool. You could swim from the sloped entry pool to the lap pool next to it.
The dishwasher didn't work very well, but it did work. The frying pans were bad, real bacon stuck to it, so we bought a Silverstone one at Wal*Mart. I was initially disappointed that our view was mostly of other timeshare units after we saw a bear and deer I was happy with our location.
While not fancy I would recommend this resort especially to families. It's a nice location we went to Hershey & Lancaster one day (long day) and the Crayola factory an other day, ONLY go there with kids. I was expecting it was a production facility it's more like a children's museum with a demonstration of how crayons are made. It was worth the price $9, but I felt a bit strange doing arts and crafts without kids.
All in all it was a good trip and I would recommend this resort. 7.5 out of 10.
We had a problem that was previously mentioned on the BBS - the downstairs of the unit got very cool but the upstairs stayed much warmer. My daughter slept downstairs so it was hard to find a comfortable temperature for everyone. Also, the piggy-back washer/dryer was at the top of the stairs between the two bedrooms, and it kept setting off the smoke detector. They told us at guest relations that the detector was heat-sensitive and will go off if the air gets too hot, which it did - every time I tried to use the dryer! They suggested to keep the bedroom doors open which did not help. They were going to have maintenance come to check the venting, but they did not come while I was there. I just set the dryer before we went out so we didn't have to hear it! The first time the alarm went off, though, we checked all around for the source of the trigger. We called up and the alarm was still sounding, and no one came for over 20 minutes until we figured out it was the dryer and called back. I hope they would be more prompt if they thought it really was a fire! One night I started the microwave and a circuit blew. I called and the clerk told us where to find the circuit breakers (behind the picture on the living room wall) and we re-set it with no problem. The shower stalls were small, a complaint I had read on the BBS but they were adequate. It was difficult to get out of the spray. The stall doors were brand new.
Almost every unit in Depuy was refurbished by our visit. Unfortunately, the unit next to ours was being done while we were there, and the construction began before 8am each morning. The hammering and sawing were enough, but the first day the workers were blasting music so loud we couldn't hear ourselves talk. We complained about the music and it stopped. The construction was to continue for the week. They offered us another unit at Fairway Villas but we declined, because we liked the new unit, and the private location. This construction shouldn't affect any future exchanges.
The rec center was very crowded. We used the less crowded and much closer Shawnee Inn pools. The mini-golf at the rec center was very nice. We kayaked the Delaware out of Shawnee Canoe on grounds, and we rode at Carsons Stables (18 miles away). We enjoyed the outlet shopping and took a day trip to Dorney Park, about an hour away. The park is half traditional rides/half water park and you can spend an entire day there.
We enjoyed our stay at Depuy Shawnee and would rate it a 7.5.
Although there are many activities going on each day, we didn't really take advantage of them. Enjoyed swimming in the indoor pool at the Rec center (can get very crowded) and the outdoor pool at the Inn. Tried the River Village II pool (usually less crowded) but it was filthy---hadn't been "skimmed" and bugs, leaves, etc. were all over the surface of the water. Rented canoes thru the Shawnee River Adventures and also went to see the children's show at the theatre. The AC was cranked up too high...very cold! I didn't like the fact that the show did not start on time (almost 25 minutes late). Spent much of our time touring the Poconos area---Camelbeach water park (great for families), Land of Make Believe (combination water/amusement park---geared for children under 10), mini-golfing (the new mini-golf at Shawnee is very expensive....even for resort guests), etc. Even though the resort was crowded, you could find secluded areas. I would rate the Fairway Village a 7.5 for location....but a 5 for comfort.
Bushkill Falls is a nice trip, and you should allow 1-2 hours to walk around - very pretty and very relaxing. We enjoyed two excellent dinners at the Stone Bar Inn (15 mins. away on the edge of Snydersville), but I would not take children. The small back rooms are non-smoking and weather permitting, there is an outdoor patio. The main room is smoking and can get a little noisy for conversation when the live music is playing. We are both pizza lovers, and did NOT enjoy Alfredo's Pizza, which is located a few miles from the resort. Too doughy and too cheesy. We enjoyed our Italian dinner at Peppe's and would recommend it for a nice evening out.
Check-in at Depuy was unremarkable, although they could never quite get the downstairs toliet working. Not to worry, we relied on the two upstairs bathrooms. Overall, we would rate the resort a 6. Very relaxing environment, okay accomodations, and okay resort ammenities
We stayed in a "Phase 2" unit. It was a 2 floor semi-attached unit, very nice, somewhat rustic.2 bedrooms upstairs, along with washer/dryer. Kitchen/dining room and living room are downstairs, 3 bathrooms. Large porch, didn't use due to weather. Not a luxurious unit, but appropriate for a mountain-cabin type of experience. Good climate control, full kitchen. Some minor maintenance problems were taken care of promptly. TV upstairs and downstairs, only one phone (downstairs) with no apparent messaging system. Nice big fireplace downstairs, you don't get much heat out of it unless you keep the screen off, which supposedly isn't safe. (Cheapest place for firewood is the Wal-Mart about 10 minutes away, only $2 per bundle). We turned down the sales presentation, luckily they were not persistent. Our limited contact with the registration staff was positive. The recreation staff is also nice.
The outlet mall in Tannersville is pretty good. A great experience was "Country Junction," billed as the world's largest general store, about 50-60 min. drive away- many unusual items and knick-knacks reasonably priced. The Pocono Indian Museum is also good, worth the admission fee. It's small, but the self-guided tape tour is excellent and very educational, great for kids (but our 6 year old daughter was too scared to go in to the museum exhibit because it was too dark for her).
This was overall a good exchange experience.
The living room furniture was in good shape and looked relatively new. When I was lying on the floor exercising, I noticed an imprint under the coffee table that the furniture was made in 1998, so it WAS relatively new. The carpets did not look new at all, but they were clean. The dining room and bedroom furniture looked a little older and just a bit more worn than the living room furniture, but they were still in fair condition. The dining table was large enough to comfortably accommodate six guests at one sitting.
I didn't care much for the color scheme used (purple/red/green/blue-- we called it "eclectic"), and the unit itself looked "lived in," but it was comfortable and clean, except for some stains in/on the kitchen and bathroom cabinets, some dusty heating vents (the ones high on the wall were very dusty), and some dust buildup on the carpet along the wall, where the vacuum cleaner just couldn't reach.
The unit had a wood-burning fireplace (we used the firewood-at- $7.50/bundle-with-2-bundle-minimum service described in another review and were pleased), full-size and fully equipped kitchen, lots of drawer space throughout, and a laundry room. You receive plenty of towels, extra sheets for the pullout, two rolls of toilet tissue, a "dish rag," two kitchen towels, and a "starter pack" containing dishwashing soap for one load, laundry soap for one load, two bars of soap, static-cling sheets, a large steel-wool pad that should last all week, and a roll of paper towels. Bring or buy extra as your needs dictate. Bring shampoo. Unlike other reviews have noted, we did have a clock/radio in our unit. There's a VCR but no CD player, and the only radio is the the clock/radio.
We had a flushing problem in the bathroom upon arriving, but maintenance came within minutes of our call and fixed it. Water pressure in the shower was fantastic, but you had to keep turning the faucet to hot to maintain the hot water (in other words, if you want a long hot shower, forget it, but if you want a comfortable shower, keep turning the knob and don't take too long). Thermostat control was available in both the living room and bedroom--the heat works great!
Fairway Village is located conveniently (within walking distance) to the amenities at Shawnee Inn (they were fixing the roof while we were there; also, the lower floor where the pool is located is still in need of some repair, but the main level looked nice). You will need a car to get to the new recreation center. Although it is not that far, the road to it just does not lend itself to walking (country, mountainous road with no/little shoulder and a fair amount of traffic). You will also need a car to drive to Shawnee Mountain for skiing or snowtubing, as it is about 2.5 miles from Fairway Village (road not walkable for same reasons as previously noted). You can walk to DePuy, River I, or River II from Fairway. The other villages are a short drive away.
Shawnee Resort: Shawnee is not one big resort property. The villages of Shawnee are spread out and located in separate areas on separate pieces of property. You will find private houses, public businesses, and public roads throughout the Shawnee resort area.
We were able to check in an hour early. Because activities are available earlier in the day, I would suggest showing up much earlier than check-in time (even if you cannot check in yet) to take advantage of the activities or to get to know your way around the resort (get a map at the check-in center). You will be required to leave a $50 deposit (on a credit card is OK) when you check in; it is returned upon check-out. Also, ask for your TV remote controls at check-in--we had to make a trip back to get ours. Check-in and check- out were both fast with no wait (we checked out about ten minutes before check-out time).
We were called on Tuesday and asked to take a tour, but because my husband was commuting to work each day, we did not go on the tour.
The pool at the new recreation center smelled more of chlorine than the pool at Shawnee Inn did, but it was big and popular. You will need to bring your own lock for the lockers (in the ladies room anyway; the Shawnee Inn ladies locker room was in much need of updating, but you only needed 2 quarters to lock your locker). You will need to deposit $20 to use the fitness facility, which includes one multi-station gym and a treadmill. Kids, teens, and kids-at-heart will probably enjoy the game rooms. There is a library of books available for readers.
We tried the Thai restaurant onsite. Service was great, appetizers were great, but entrees were just OK (we were guessing that the spice might have been toned down for the American palate).
Planned activities were numerous, and there was something for just about everyone. Family- and children-oriented activities dominated the listings, but of course the activities labeled as "family" welcomed adults without children.
Shawnee is not what I would call an upscale or fancy resort, but the amenities and activities are abundant, and the mountain/river area is pleasant. Skiing is very popular in the winter, and even though we are not skiers, we had a nice time. Even a simple walk along the river was enjoyable. Visitors, employees, and locals are all so friendly and nice. If your home resort typically pulls 5-stars or gold crowns, I would suggest that you look for a getaway or use a bonus week, not an exchange, to visit Shawnee. Our week there was a pleasant stay and we will return. Families with children will definitely enjoy Shawnee, but adults without kids can have some fun too.
We had a 2 bedroom unit, so it was big enough for us. However, the mattresses were completely uncomfortable. I'm like a princess and the pea, and I could feel the tiniest spring that is out of wack. We ended up moving the mattresses upstairs and sleeping in the living room area.
The recreation center was impressive, and the mini-golf course is not finished yet. My only other complaint about Shawnee is that there is not enough to do for adults -- every activity is for those with families. The live band they had on Monday was some rock band, and everyone looked rather bored. I think they need to make more of an effort to diversify the entertainment. If they had a band that played a variety of music, then the folks wouldn't have been so bored and left early.
Overall, I think the resort is good for those who have children. However, for those who don't, this might not be the place for you.
Shawnee's Fairway Village couldn't be in a better location! We are a stone's throw from the Delaware River and my four-year-old went wading in a little beach area with his teenage sister. We can walk to an older outside pool located right on the river. The Riverdance Grill restaurant is also right there, though we haven't eaten there. Nice view of the river though. The music was annoying in my opinion. Loud and rockish, not the best for eating! There is also an older mini golf course within walking distance. They are building a fantastic new mini golf course up by the rec center that should have been finished "2 months ago". Rafting, canoe rentals, and tubing are also within walking distance. My husband and teenagers did this and loved it. They saw a blue heron, an eagle, and some loons. For golf lovers, there is a fantastic course within walking distance. There was a PGA tour going Monday and Tuesday of our visit. My husband took 2 lessons with a pro while he was there and "learned a lot". My favorite spot is the old Shawnee Inn. Classy and well-kept. Several nice restaurants. The Inn's indoor pool was down for refurbishment during our stay. At least once a day we visited the Inn's Buckwood café for ice cream or coffee. My husband and I enjoyed sitting on the Inn's back porch in rocking chairs, sipping coffee and looking out over the river with the mountains beyond. One evening, we saw a family of 5 deer crossing the river to one of the islands. We also enjoyed having our coffee (or some fabulous strawberry cheesecake ice cream) inside the elegant Inn in one of the sitting areas. There is also an open-air theater down by the river. "The Taming of the Shrew" was performed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday while we were there. They also had various other concerts at night, such as a barbershop quartet. The Shawnee Playhouse (a real theater) is also nearby. While we were there they were putting on the musical "Carousel" and matinees of "Rumpelstiltskin" for children. Tickets were reasonable (about $10). This is a great place to ride bikes if you can bring them. Renting them is $2 per hour.
There is plenty to do in the area. There are a lot of horseback riding stables. I recommend Carson's for $28 per person. My family saw deer and wild turkey on their trail ride. We went to Camelbeach Water Park one day. http://www.camelbeach.com/ The kids loved it, but it wasn't a favorite with me! They have an all-day kids program which I may take advantage of next year. Two of my kids (ages 8 and 11) used Shawnee's all day (9:45 am to 4 pm) kids program at Shawnee Place Water Park. The price was only $20 per child. They used the water park, saw a magic show and a juggling act, ate lunch (choice of pizza or hot dog), and played games such as water balloon toss. Well worth the $20 cost, in my opinion. My husband and 4 year old son enjoyed the Snake Farm on 209 (yuck!). As far as dining goes, I highly recommend Peppe's Italian restaurant near the Eagle Valley Mall (off of route 447). Very upscale with homemade pasta. Another favorite of our is the Dansbury Depot in East Stroudsburg.
I want to give directions to the Super Walmart in East Stroudsburg. It is only 7 minutes from Shawnee and the best place to buy groceries. Take exit 308 (old exit 51) off of I 80. Make a LEFT off the exit ramp. Follow the road past the cemetery until you come to the shopping complex (Walmart, Kmart, and plenty of fast food restaurants).
I had wanted to go to Bushkill Falls during our stay, but didn't get to it. Guess we'll save it for next time! We are already looking forward to our next visit! This was one of our most relaxing and enjoyable vacations!
Shawnee is made up of several different resorts all with quite different personalities. They all have separate Homeowner's Associations but share the same management company as well as activities. All of the Shawnee resorts, with the exception of the Shawnee Inn, are houses. The Shawnee Inn is a grand old hotel. I have no experience with Northslope units, so I have not commented on them. The Shawnee Villages are ALL going through MAJOR upgrades, refurbishments, and improvements.
The resort offers a number of activities but the only one of which we took advantage was the raft trip down the Delaware. This was a very enjoyable afternoon family event which could have lasted a bit longer. There is a horse stable near the resort which is not affiliated with the resort. This is unfortunate since it would be nice to get a discount or perhaps special trail rides. Still there are many things to do in the Poconos: golfing, horseback riding, river activities. Our favorites were the raft trip, horse ride (even in a thunderstorm), and a stop at the Lackawanna Coal Mine in Scranton on the way home.
Since we didn't partake of the resort amenities other than the billiard tables in the community building, I can't comment on their quality. I know the pools were too crowded for my taste. There is a nice gymnasium in the center and they are building a miniature golf course in front of the center.
I would rate the resort a 7 or 8.
The Fairways Villas, where we own, have 2 bedrooms and 2 or 2 1/2 baths and are tastefully decorated. A remodeling campaign has been undertaken over the past several years and new keyless locks have been installed.
The units sleep 8 and there is a fold out queen sleeper in some units which accomodates an additional 2. The master bedroom has 2 queen sized beds and an attached full bath. The second bedroom has 2 queens. Both bedrooms are on the second floor of the unit.
The full kitchen is adequately equipped.
We have utilized our unit on several occasions and have always found resort staff to be helpful. It is especially geared towards family. The golfer in the family will love the 2 18 hole courses on site and other family members will enjoy the daily activities planned by resort staff.
The resort area itself boasts inumerable opportunities for family fun. From snow skiing/tubing in the winter to water sports and river rafting in the summer, Shawnee is truely a 4 season resort.
I would rate the resort an 8.
7/7/00 - Date of Visit: 6/00
(River Village I) We just go back from a wonderful vacation at River
Village I. We were lucky enough to have a room that was recently redone.
Tile floors in kitchen, tile countertops with oak edging and very nice
oak cabinets with wine rack, ceiling fan in kitchen. Although we were on
the top and had about 7 flights of stairs to our room, we loved it. The
view was beautiful. Golf course with mountains in the background. They
also just finished their new recreation center which is awesome. It has
an entire indoor basketball court, which also is used for volleyball and
floor hockey, and indoor wraparound pool with a mushroom fountain in it,
a library with a large screen TV, a game room, exercise room, pool tables
and ping pong tables, gift shop and snack bar. The doors open to an outdoor
pool. All of the pools have lifeguards. They have activities from morning
to night, and trips to NY City, Philadelphia, Amish Country and Atlantic
City. I did notice however that River Village II does not have a view of
the mountains, only trees. And the Northslope units look nice but they
are quite a far way from the recreation center.
2/15/00 - Date of Visit: 1/00
(River Village I) Check-in was painful. A 20 minute wait at
"Central Check-in," followed by a several-minute ride on a highway.
Staff were not particularly helpful. I felt a little like I was in
a Communist vacation mill.
Many, many stairs. Four flights to the top bedroom! OK for us, but tough for the very young or old, and impossible for handicapped. If you don't like stairs, try to get into the lower level (2 flights to top).
With those bumps behind us, we had a nice time. The unit was not luxurious, but was clean and very spacious. The view of the snow-covered golf course and hills (you can't honestly call them mountains in the Poconos) was terrific.
Our kids loved the area. In winter, you are close to skiing, tubing, snowmobiling, sledding, horse-drawn sleighs, etc. There is an ice-skating rink on the grounds, and roller-skating nearby. Be sure to call/write ahead for Poconos area info, though - the hotel staff are not helpful at all.
The Crayola factory (great for kids) is 30-40 minutes away. The on-site pool was nice, and the Monday night party was fun.
Our major disappointment was the activities. Several were cancelled. We drove for 30 minutes lookling for the Monday night bonfire (advertised from 8 to 10 pm). "Central Check-in" told us where to go. When we returned to them, they chuckled and told us it must have been cancelled due to low turn-out. Two other activities during the week that we wanted to do were scrapped, too.
Well, I'm not trying to kid anyone - the Poconos are not glamorous, and are a far cry from New England. They are close to the NY and PA metro areas, though, and are warmer than New England, with good beginner stuff for kids. We would definititely return - on an RCI getaway. I wouldn't trade a week, though.
Overall, I give the accommodations a 7.5, the area a 6.5, and
the staff/activities a 5.5, for a total score of 6.5 (slightly better than
average). Happy trails!
10/28/99 - Date of Visit: 9/4/99
Our unit was very nice and well kept on the inside. Two large
bedrooms, large kitchen and living/diningroom. The outside of the
units needed a lot of maintenance mostly from peeling paint. Unit
was walking distance to amenities which was nice. Nearest pool area
was very run down and neglected. Golf course was beautiful and well-kept.
Staff was very friendly and a lot of activities were offered. There
were several activities to do outside of the resort as well.
9/14/99 - Date of Visit: 7/31/99
The unit was well maintained although where we stayed was the older
section. The first night we had trouble with the air conditioner but maintenance
was prompt and helpful. Check in had rather long lines and was tiring after
our 6 hour drive so that may have caused us to be more irritable! Outside
of the unit was very nice and the grounds were pretty, inside was older
furniture, etc. but still very clean and neat. Kitchen was pretty well
stocked, was able to cook meals without any difficulty. Plenty to do in
the area, water parks, horseback riding, hiking, mountain bikes, mini golf,
outlet shopping, all within 25 min drive. I have three kids, ages 13, 8
and 9 and they had alot of fun. Unit was set up like a split level and
was roomy for us. The resort had a very comprehensive recreation department
also. We took a tour with them and were pleased. Over all, I think it was
a 6!
8/12/99 - Date of Visit: 7/31/99
(Deupy Village) We actually own the second week of August in River
Village I but, because my daughter had vacation the first week of August,
we exchanged for that week and went into a unit in Depuy Village. It is
not new but was well kept and clean.
Unit had two bedrooms upstairs - two double beds in one and a king in the other. Each had its own bathroom (with the tiniest stall shower we'd ever seen - my daughter turned around and turned the water off!) and a soaking tub in between. Downstairs was a living room with a pullout couch and a kitchen and dining area. Also a small powder room. A back porch was neat as it overlooked the grounds and was a quiet place to relax. Only one tv in the living room.
Checkin was a horror. Line was very long and took us almost an hour with only two people behind the counter in a very hot building. Someone said there had been eight people the previous week so don't know if this is the norm or that was.
My husband called on Saturday evening and said the air conditioning wasn't working. They told him to change it from "on" to "automatic" and wait a couple of hours. He did that and then called at 10 PM to say it was still very hot (temperature outside was 80 and it was 85 inside!) Gentleman said that there was now no one to send over and my husband said that was why he had called earlier! Gentleman did come over and concurred that it was hot and said he checked outside and the freon was low. He found us another unit a few steps away and we moved there to sleep. They fixed it early the following morning (it was a burned out contact) and we came back.
We had a twelve year old boy and five and three year old little girls with us and they had a wonderful time. The twelve year old remarked that it was a party every day!! The activites were really well planned - tie dying shirts (your own for free or purchased for $5), ice cream socials, roller skating, ice skating, a really excellent magic show, bingo, soccer, wiffle ball, softball, - there were activities to choose from every morning, afternoon, and evening. There are several pools - the outdoor one at the Inn, the indoor one at the Inn, a large one at RidgeTop open until 8 PM, and a smaller one at River Village II that we loved 'cause you didn't have to watch the girls every second and it was never very crowded.
We also went to Shawnee Place on Tuesday and it was a great day. Very reasonably priced (Tuesday is grandparents day so I was free and a Shawnee ID gets you $2 off each ticket). Cost $30 for all five of us!! Shawnee Place is a small water park - just the right size for a sunny day of fun. They loved the corkscrew slide and there was lots of really cute things to do.
Also made two visits to the Go Kart track. The twelve year old was in seventh heaven. Made a run to The Crossing, a neat outlet center.
It's a great family vacation - would highly recommend it.
05/25/99 - Date of Visit: 5/9/99
Arrived at check in 4pm, quickly processed as there were few there.
Were given welcome package, keys,directions. A $50.00 on the credit card
for TV remote/keys. Found unit without trouble. Lawns WERE NOT mowed, bad
first impression! Unit was neat and clean. Found the screen on deck down
and called at once. Getting the screen fixed took three calls and two days.
I found out the name of the maint. super. and spoke to him, crew arrived
in 10 min. and fixed the screen, and shortly after the mowing crew arrived.
The unit is on two floors. Two BR-2BTH. With a Jacc. in one bath. Kitchen
was well supplied with all that is needed. Livingroom had fireplace, TV
and VCR. One BR had TV. Big DR table and six chairs. The carpet "could"
have been replaced. Unfortunately we were too early in the season to have
to pools open and there was nowhere to lay and tan. Lots to do everyday
for all ages. We took a wine tour and were quite pleased. The Shawnee Inn
had an indoor pool, and there is a championship 27 hole golf course. The
area has many things that would be of family interest. Since we used a
bonus week from II all in all the exchange fee was well spent. We own in
a 5 star and find that most other exchanges just can't compare.
Our "2-BR + loft" townhouse (w/ 2 baths) was over 1,400 sq ft and very comfortable. This was an "accessible" unit. The 1st fl had a large eat-in kitchen (seats 4), dining area (seats 6) and spacious LR with woodburning fireplace, as well as a BR and a standard bath. The angled hallway to the first floor bathroom would be impossible to maneuver in a w/c but someone with a walker would do fine. The 2nd fl had a BR and a bath, and a small overlook to the LR. Both BR's were huge with a large closet, dresser, desk, 2 double beds and lots of floorspace in each. The furnishings are rustic and really need updating though everything was very clean.
We didn't participate in any resort activities. The list of them was impressive to say the least, with something for everyone. A car would be necessary to enjoy them, as Depuy shares amenities with several other area t/s's.
The set-up of this unit would be wonderful for a large group or family in any season. It has an enormous wraparound porch, nice views and a large utility/storage room inside, great for skis or pool toys. We'd enjoy a fun, relaxing, laidback vacation here, if we lived closer.
When we checked in (went smoothly, BTW), we bought some firewood
for $5/bundle at a shop near the check-in office. It turned out to be damp,
without enough kindling, and impossible to light without starter logs.
Later in the weekend, we called a firewood delivery service, from a flyer
in our check-in materials. It was $7.50/bundle with a 2 bundle minimum.
Now that was firewood! The bundles were each double the size of the other
place's and very dry. We were given starter sticks, but the wood caught
quickly and the delivery men said they guarantee it'll burn easily or they'll
return to get it going. It was just the relaxing end we needed for our
trying weekend.
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