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“SHARING ALL THAT’S GOOD... UP HERE IN THE WOODS”
A Bi-Monthly Periodical featuring Woodloch, Entertainment & Advice
News
DETAILS ON PG. 4! FEB - MAR, 2022
The Show Goes ON!
Woodloch’s Famous Theme Show Returns After Almost 2 Year Hiatus HAWLEY, PA - The world has been collectively holding it’s breath since March of 2020. Both figuratively AND literally. Perhaps that is why all across the globe, there is a new appreciation for entertainment. Movie theaters are once again bustling for our favorite blockbusters. Concert goers are enjoying their favorite performers belting out their hits, and of course, the bright lights of Broadway are getting HOT.
HAWLEY, PA // USA
theme show came to a screeching hault as the resort was forced to close. After 18 months of rethinking, retooling and restarting all facets of business, rehearsals started once again in November 2021. With new cast members and renewed energy, “Islands of the World” returned to Woodloch’s Heritage Night Club stage for New Year’s 2022.
The Joey Cassella Production, which features professional performers, pyrotechnics and use of a 30 ft. LCD The cautious optimism has even trickled screen, is offered to resort guests on down to Woodloch. After a mere 9 weeks Saturday evenings year-round. of shows, the 2020 presentation of their
PLAN YOUR NEXT “ESCAPE” PG. 2 SPECIAL WOODLOCH WEEKEND P. 3 A “SCANDI-LOUS” RECIPE PG. 5 SNOWY “BLAST FROM THE PAST” PG. 7 A GUIDE TO PROPOSALS PG. 8
It’s
DÉJÀ
VU
all over again! Woodloch’s newest Escape Room set to open
MADE WITH
love
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OPEN DAILY MAIN LAWN
HAWLEY, PA - Woodloch is very pleased to announce the official opening of their newest escape room at the end of February The “Déjà Vu” Escape Room is the lastest brainbending challenge to find it’s way to the resort. Woodloch refreshes their 2 escape rooms (located in the former “Ripplecove” cottages) once per year and are excited to bring the latest labyringh to you. The latest spin on this fan-favorite amusement will have patrons blasting back in time to 1958 (Woodloch’s opening year), solving riddles and completing challenges associated with all of the decades in between- times near and dear to us! “We’ve upped our game, so to speak,” says Joey Ranner, Social Director. “As our guests learn the ins and outs of completing the rooms, it’s only fair to make them even more challenging and engaging.” This will be Woodloch’s 7th incarnation of the escape room, and it becomes the second available on campus. Rooms can be reserved only here at our main desk at a cost of $100. They are optimal for groups of 4 or more, aged 10 & up.
SOLE SURVIVOR
Season 39 champ Tom Sheehan and friends to visit Woodloch HAWLEY, PA - At first glance, you might think that the tropical shores of Fiji and the forested hills of Northeast Pennsylvania don’t have much in common. And for the most part, you’d be right. Look a little bit closer at the situation, though, and you might be surprised. Both are splendid travel destinations- just ask Tommy Sheehan. After months competing against castaways on CBS’s legendary “Survivor,” Tom endured both mental and physical challenges to be crowned Season 39’s champion.Woodloch guests and staff alike viewed the season with particular intrigue. After all, Tom and his family had visited our resort for 20 years. “I played Woodloch’s ‘Survivor’ Games on the lake when I was 8 years old, and now I got to play the real thing and take home the trophy. It’s a dream come true. I’ve watched the show since season one, and now I’m one of 38 winners.” Woodloch will host their first ever “Survival Weekend” on March 25th - 27th, 2022. In addition to season 39 champion Tommy, he will be joined by Jamal Shipman, Janet Carbin, Lauren Beck, and season 32 Champion Michele Fitzgerald in what promises to be a truly memorable event. “I’m excited. On that island, I was dreaming of that crumb cake and Scandanavian Pancakes. (Woodloch’s) where I trained, where I practiced all of those silly games. I’m coming back, and bringing some friends with me. Survival Weekend is going to be a BLAST.”
Planned events include meet & greet, “tribal council” bonfires, Q&A panels, and of course, a little bit of competition. Castmates will guest referee some our highlight events, and even compete in a few themselves! “All I need is crumb cake, and I’m IN for the weekend,” says Tommy. “No more starving on the island... I can’t wait.” Visit www.woodloch.com/survival-weekend for more information.
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CONTEST ALERT
“SNAP TO IT”
Woodloch kicks off 3rd Annual Winter Photography Contest Do you enjoy capturing great snapshots of your family as they enjoy their winter vacation experience? Good news if that’s the case- your photography skills can win you a 2-night stay at Woodloch or other great prizes! Woodloch kicks off another year of great competition with the #WoodlochColdSnaps online photo contest. Your best pictures can not only find their way to our social media channels (bringing instant internet fame!) but also earn a 2-night midweek visit for a family of 4 to one lucky winner. Get out there, and get snapping! SOME POINTERS FROM OUR JUDGES • Originals only. Stealing from others is wrong. • Get creative and stand out. Think variety- there’s lots of beauty and fun out there to be captured! • Submit your best work. We are a competitve resort, so only 3 entries per person can be considered. Choose wisely. Contest runs through March 31st- good luck! FULL CONTEST RULES: www.woodloch.com/cold-snaps
Word Search!
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AUNT MARY
NIGHTCLUB
BINGO
NORTH LODGE
CRUMB CAKE
OLYMPICS
DOUBLE DARE
PANCAKES
FRONT DESK
SAILBOAT
GIGI’S
SCAVENGER HUNT
GO CARTS
SNOWTUBING
GOLF
SPRINGBROOK
GREENBRIAR
TEEDYUSKUNG
MEDALS
THEME SHOW
MOUNTAIN LAUREL
UNCLE HARRY
MUD PIE
WATER SLIDE
NAME THAT TUNE
WEDDINGS
A TA S T E O F WOODLOCH WOODLOCH’S CLASSIC SCANDINAVIAN PANCAKES
Ingredients: - 11/2 cup milk - 4 large eggs - 11/2 tsp vanilla - 11/3 cups flour - 1/2 cup sugar - 1 tsp salt
Directions: In a mixing bowl, crack four eggs (be sure that there are no shells), and beat the eggs well. Next add sugar, salt, flour, and vanilla, and mix until smooth. Add milk slowly as you mix the batter. Set the mixture close to your griddle, and spray your griddle with Pam. Spread your batter onto your griddle with a small ladle into an oval shape. Cook on each side for 30 seconds. Woodloch puts butter in the middle and rolls them up. This recipe makes about 12 pancakes depending on the size! Proud of your dish? Send a pic our way! Tag it up with #TasteOfWoodloch! while; boardwalk snacks and arcades will do that to a man. While the trip itself was different this time around (a little more rest and relaxtion and quiet time, for sure), it was just as special. were ready for adventure, and a It was an incredible feeling sharing beautiful beach and plenty of sunshine something I loved with someone I for the rest of us who could appreciate loved even more. the value of a good nap. Seeing things in a new light made As kids grew up in my family and me appreciate the time spent with started to go their separate ways, our my family as a youth, as well as the trips grew shorter and less frequent new adventures I was experiencing until they were a distant memory. Flash with my NOW fiancée. Same place, forward a few years, I was looking new feelings. And one can’t help but for a nice peaceful spot to bring my wonder what sort of feelings there will girlfriend for a few days. Our spot at be in 10 years... the shore jumped right at me as the perfect destination for our first REAL getaway together.
editorial “Same place, whole new meaning.” Guests and staff… we’re not all that different. For instance, like so many of you fine folks, I start my countdown every year to the day when I am able to escape the clutches of responsibility, pack up my collection of Hawaiian shirts and head out on my vacation. There is something so wonderful to be said about tossing the phones, laptops and paperwork to the side to spend some time with people you really care about. Growing up in a family of six kids, we had our usual jaunts here and there. Hershey PA was our main goto for a while, and we even tried out a few different resorts. Our favorite destination, however, just happened to become that marvelous oasis known as THE JERSEY SHORE. It had a little something for everyone; excursions and amusements for those of us who
Upon arrival, wonderful memories rushed to my head. The hotel, the sights and smells of the beach, all of those fantastic restaurants and of course, the campiness of the boardwalk all resurrected memories of the past, but felt completely different now that I was an “adult.” I say that because I couldn’t help but let the kid in me out for a
Spring Lake, NJ - 2008 & 2021
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Critic’s Corner Our regular review of family classics for a new generation
FUNNY FARM (1988)
TIS’ THE “SKI”-SON
Starring Chevy Chase & Madolyn Smith
Big Bear primed for another great year
From acclaimed director George Roy Hill (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting) comes a “fish out of water” comedy starring Chevy Chase (Vacation, Caddyshack) as a tired New York journalist looking to settle down, raise a family and write the great American novel in picturesque rural Vermont.
It’s been said before- “with great powder comes great responsibility.”
Alongside his wife Elizabeth (Madolyn Smith), Andy Farmer sets out to embrace small town America while penning his book, and of course, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Struggling to fit in with locals and a case of writer’s block puts a strain on their marriage, and pushes the couple to question whether or not they are truly happier than they were before.
Snow has finally found its way to our corner of Pennsylvania. If you listen hard enough, you can probably here the collective jubilation of skiers and snowboarders alike. This is a moment that the team at Ski Big Bear in Masthope (about a 15 minute drive from Woodloch) has been waiting for. Ski Big Bear offers 18 trails of freshly groomed snow, ripe for the shredding. Skiiers, snowboarders and tubers of all experience levels will find the perfectly suited hill. Big Bear is an especially excellent mountain to bring youngsters- they even offer group and private lessons!
Chase, somewhat removed from the more adultoriented comedies he’s accustomed to, manages to excel at what I feel he does best- slapstick comedy chased with one-liners. Despite the small and relatively unknown supporting cast, the movie provides plenty of memorable scenes that will feel all-too familiar with those who have taken the “Green Acres” path in life or anyone already assimilated with the quirks of country residency. Despite the movie being 34 years old, it has aged remarkably well. Incidents with the townsfolk, as well as some eclectic characters, keep this film fun and relatable. The movie doesn’t do anything revolutionary as far as comedy goes, but stands well as a hidden gem among Chase fans and anyone who appreciates 80’s comedy. It’s not Chevy’s finest (Clark Griswold is a tough act to follow), but there are plenty of smiles to be had here.
Critic’s Grade: B
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Best of all- Woodloch Resort guests enjoy an exclusive 15% discount on lift tickets! Information available at our main Desk! Ski Big Bear at Masthope is open Thursday through Sunday through February, weekends only through March. 570.226.8585 / www.ski-bigbear.com
Down memory lane... treasured tales of yesteryear The year was 1971. LBJ was sitting in our Oval Office, disco was a few years away, and Woodloch had just become a “teenager.” And like any adolescent of 13 years, Woodloch was starting to grow into its identity.
woods. In total, 2 feet of heavy and wet snow fell over the Pocono Mountain region.
The turkeys never thawedjust as the kitchen staff was to prepare the great feast, power lines came crashing down, leaving our resort without So as Thanksgiving ‘71 electricity and no easy way weekend approached, we out of town. felt confident in our abilities. There were 22 enormous But we did have a fireplace turkeys in our coolers, ready and blankets. And we did to be cooked and plattered have plenty of lunchmeat. for more than 40 weekend And most of all- we had each other. And that’s what really guests. mattered, right? What we didn’t count on was Mother Nature stirring up a “The Thanksgiving of 22 Frozen Turkeys” will live wild buffet of her own. forever in our hearts as a A coastal storm crept up the time where we realized how eastern sea board. It brought important togetherness was. howling 60 mph winds to New York City... and plenty It is also when we decided to of snow to our neck of the buy a generator. :)
Ask a K!
Honest answers to the hard-hitting questions
Have any celebrities visited How are dining room seating the resort? arrangements decided? Of course. We’ve had prolific athletes, movie stars, musicians and TV personalities visit through the years. Everyone’s entitled to privacy so we’ll keep their identities on the DL. But of course, when you visit, all of our guests are celebrities.
Once and for all- what is your most popular ice cream? By
average consumption, CRUMB CAKE is by far our most popular ice cream flavor. Cookies n’ Cream is 2nd.
BROOKE
Seniority rules! The more you stay at Woodloch, the closer you sit to the windows on your visit.
What time do you let the deer out?
The deer are let out every morning at 5 am and then head back to their pens at 8 pm. Just kidding, they are wild animals.
Have a question? Send it our way! Message our Facebook page and you might make a future issue!
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PROPOSAL POINTERS
Advice for popping THE big question We’ve worked our way back to the wonderful month of February, and in yearly tradition, love is in the air! With all of winter’s majesty surrounding us, it’s not uncommon to see a proposal or three pop up! It’s perfectly normal to be just a little nervous if you are thinking of proposing. But just in case, we’ve consulted our expert Woodloch Bridal Team to provide a couple golden nuggets of advice. After all, we know a thing or two, because we’ve seen a thing or two. Know the answer. Before you put everything on the line, try to be absolutely certain that “yes” is the only possible answer. If there is doubt, maybe that’s your cue to wait just a little longer. Feelings will be spared, just in case you aren’t there yet.
find human kindess often lends itself to people in love. Whether you’re looking for a server to help execute your plan at a fancy restaurant or searching for a photographer to capture the moment, let them know the deal. Just be sure to properly show your appreciation for your help!
Have the ring. This is a whole tutorial in itself, but having a beautiful bauble in hand will make the proposal truly memorable. And EVERYONE will be curious to see it. Just stay within your means. Find a safe place to hide the precious.
Have a backup plan. Things don’t always go according to plan- this trend will continue through your wedding day. If things happen to change, don’t panic- just smile and be flexible. You’ll thank yourself later.
Ask permission. Yes, it’s 2022, and the world has certainly changed, but getting approval from parents or close relatives is a gesture that means a lot not only to them, but your beloved as well. Start off on the right foot by honoring this tradition.
Know when the time is right. You’re going to feel all sorts of emotions, but deep in your heart you’ll know the exact right time to go for it. Planning things out makes this so much more evident. When you know, you’ll know.
Read the room. This is where things divert. Private or public? Flashy or subtle? Nobody should know your significant other better than you. Use this to your advantage. Once you have an idea of what they’d want, put your plans in action.
Bend the knee. It’s a tradition, but a good one. Unless you’re proposing from outer space, don’t forget to get down on one knee as you speak the words your parter has been waiting to hear!
Keep it quiet. Yes, the jeweler will know. And yes, families will know to a degree as well. As excited as you will be, the more people you share this with, the more likely things could be spoiled. Keep things on a “need to know” basis for as long as possible.
Share the news. If it’s a yes (and we KNOW it will be at this point), be sure to tell your loved ones! Try to do it in person with those closest to you- if not possible, FaceTime or a phone call will do. Facebook posts should be last.
Consult the professionals. Need some help? Ask for it. You’ll Best of luck... and give us a “ring” if you need any help with wedding planning! ;)
NAMED BEST OF WEDDINGS 2021 AND BEST OF WEDDINGS HALL OF FAME BY THE KNOT WOODLOCH.COM | 800.WOODLOCH
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