The Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort

{{Short description|Resort in Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania, U.S.}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} [[File:The Shawnee Inn.jpg|240px|thumbnail|The Shawnee Inn]] [[File:Buckwood Inn2.jpg|240px|thumb|1926 letter on Buckwood Inn stationery]] {{Location map |USA |relief = 1 |label = <small>Shawnee Inn</small> |lat = 41.005 |long = -75.115 |caption = Location in the [[United States]] |float = |background= |width = 240 }} '''The Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort''' is a [[resort]] in the village of [[Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania|Shawnee on Delaware]], located in the foothills of the [[Pocono Mountains]] in [[Northeastern Pennsylvania]].<ref name=StandardSpeaker /><ref name=DailyRecord1>{{cite news|title=Shawnee Marking Golden Season|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/65387791 |access-date=December 21, 2020 |work=The Daily Record|location=Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania|date=June 17, 1960|ref=DailyRecord1}}</ref> The hotel is a [[Spanish Colonial Revival architecture|Spanish colonial revival]] building with white-Moorish architecture and Spanish tiled roofs.<ref name=InquirerArticle1>{{cite news|last1=Fleeson|first1=Lucinda|title=Fading Memories In The Poconos|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/169518198 |access-date=December 21, 2020 | work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=September 2, 1994|ref=InquirerArticle1}}</ref> Mike Jesky of the ''Standard-Speaker'' wrote, “The three-story, 96-room inn looms large and flat on the grounds, with a stately yet inviting appearance.”<ref name=StandardSpeaker>{{cite news|last1=Jesky|first1=Mike|title=Shawnee Inn: It's stately, yet inviting|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/61303628/ |access-date=December 21, 2020 |work=Standard Speaker|location=Hazleton, Pennsylvania|date=October 26, 1997|ref=StandardSpeaker}}</ref> In the 1990s the Shawnee Inn was identified as the only resort on the banks of the [[Delaware River]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Fodor's national parks and seashores of the east|date=1994|publisher=Fodor's Travel Publications|location=New York|page=164|edition=1|ref=Fodor1}}</ref><ref name=CourierNews>{{cite news|last1=Shea|first1=Barbara|title=Let the current set the pace at the Delaware Water Gap|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/223710464/ |access-date=December 21, 2020 |work=The Courier-News|location=Somerville, New Jersey|date=September 11, 1994|ref=CourierNews}}</ref> ''Tee Time'' magazine has ranked the golf course there as one of the finest in the [[Mid-Atlantic (United States)|Mid-Atlantic]] region.<ref name="StandardSpeaker" />

==History==

The hotel opened on June 5, 1911, as the Buckwood Inn<ref name=DailyRecord1 /> and was built by [[Charles Campbell Worthington]], formerly head of the [[Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation]].<ref name="Davis">{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Gerry Hempel |title=Romancing the Roads: A Driving Diva's Firsthand Guide, East of the Mississippi |date=2011 |publisher=Taylor Trade Publishing |location=Lanham, Maryland |isbn=978-1-58979-619-5 |page=69}}</ref> It was constructed out of concrete, considered unusual for the time, and some of the walls were a foot thick.<ref name="HomeNews1" /><ref name="GolfDigest">{{cite magazine |last1=Stachura |first1=Mike |title=In Search Of Higher Ground |magazine=Golf Digest |date=August 14, 2007 |accessdate=September 19, 2018| url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/gw20070810stachura}}</ref> Author Lawrence Squeri wrote, “Although the Buckwood Inn was adjacent to the Delaware River, only a few steps from the water, its management realized that guests preferred a swimming pool to river bathing.”<ref name=PoconosBook1>{{cite book|last1=Squeri|first1=Lawrence|title=Better in the Poconos: The Story of Pennsylvania's Vacationland|date=2002|publisher=Pennsylvania State University Press|location=University Park, Pennsylvania|isbn=0271021578|page=111|ref=PoconosBook1}}</ref>

The golf course at the Buckwood Inn was the first to be designed by [[A. W. Tillinghast]], a renowned golf course architect.<ref name="StandardSpeaker" /><ref name="Tillinghast1">{{cite web |last1=Goodwin |first1=Stephen |last2=Wolffe |first2=Rick |title=The Creator of Golf Courses |url=http://www.tillinghast.net/lifetimes.shtml |publisher=The Tillinghast Association |accessdate=September 19, 2018}}</ref> In 1919 the resort was a host site for a [[U.S. Women's Amateur]] won by [[Alexa Stirling]].<ref name="GolfDigest" /> [[John D. Rockefeller]] stopped over to play golf at the Buckwood Inn in 1920.<ref name=Squeri108>Squeri, p. 108.</ref> Worthington hired “a Scotsman with a flock of sheep and dogs” to keep the fairways trim, but the efforts were not successful. He then designed the gang mower to maintain the golf course, and this led to the establishment of the Shawnee Mower Factory, which sold gang mowers all over the United States.<ref name="Davis" />

The annual [[Shawnee Open]] attracted well-known golfers such as [[Harry Vardon]], [[Ted Ray (golfer)|Ted Ray]], [[Fred McLeod (golfer)|Freddie McLeod]], and [[Alex Smith (golfer)|Alex Smith]]. At the 1913 tournament, Worthington sent a letter to participants suggesting that they get together and organize. The Buckwood Inn hosted the [[PGA Championship]] in 1938, and an excerpt from the program stated, “It was the thought expressed in that letter that gave the boys the idea of forming a professional association."<ref name="GolfDigest" /> [[Paul Runyan]] defeated resident pro [[Sam Snead]] 8 and 7 in the title match.<ref name="StandardSpeaker" /><ref name="GolfDigest" /><ref name="GolfTrips">{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Marcus |title=Pennsylvania Course - The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort Opens Season With Value Added Golf Packages |url=https://www.golftrips.com/articles/article.cfm?ID=880 |website=GolfTrips.com |accessdate=September 19, 2018}}</ref><ref name="GolfAdvisor" /> In 1943 bandleader [[Fred Waring]] purchased the resort, renamed it the Shawnee Inn, and broadcast his radio shows from the Shawnee Playhouse, a half-mile down the road.<ref name="HomeNews1">{{cite news|last1=Sturm|first1=Barbara|title=Getting rejuvenated in the Pennsylvania wilderness|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/319067032 |access-date=December 21, 2020 |work=Home News Tribune|date=September 2, 1994|location=New Brunswick, New Jersey|ref=Home News1}}</ref><ref name=Squeri182>Squeri, p. 182.</ref> [[Jackie Gleason]] took up golf there in 1944,<ref name="GolfAdvisor">{{cite magazine |last1=Deegan |first1=Jason Scott |title=Celebrate golf, history and the great outdoors at Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort in Pennsylvania |magazine=Golf Advisor |date=August 20, 2012 |url=https://www.golfadvisor.com/articles/celebrate-golf-history-and-the-great-outdoors-at-shawnee-inn-golf-resort-in-pennsylvania |accessdate=September 19, 2018}}</ref> while [[Art Carney]], [[Lucille Ball]], [[Ed Sullivan]] and [[Perry Como]] would make regular appearances at the resort.<ref name="GolfDigest" /> [[Arnold Palmer]] met his wife Winnie at the Shawnee Inn when she was working at the clubhouse in 1954."<ref name="GolfDigest" /><ref name="MorningCall1">{{cite news |last1=O'Rourke |first1=Larry |title=Shawnee is both historic and up-to-date |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/284546716 |access-date=December 21, 2020 |work=The Morning Call |location=Allentown, Pennsylvania| date=July 2, 2003}}</ref>

In 1964 the golf course was expanded from eighteen to twenty-seven holes, with nine new holes designed by [[Bill Diddle]]. Jason Scott Deegan of ''Golf Advisor'' wrote, “Where Tillinghast holes begin and where Diddle ends can be confusing, but they mesh well, nonetheless.”<ref name="GolfAdvisor" /> Twenty-four of the holes are on a private island in the Delaware River.<ref name="GolfTrips" /><ref name="GolfAdvisor" /> Jesky wrote, “Several of the holes involve hitting across the Delaware River, and a 284-foot-long foot bridge helps golfers get there.”<ref name="StandardSpeaker" />

In 1967 [[Hale Irwin]] won the [[NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships|NCAA Championship]] for the [[Colorado Buffaloes|University of Colorado]] at the Shawnee Inn golf course.<ref name="GolfDigest" /><ref name="GolfTrips" /><ref name="GolfAdvisor" />

In 1972 the resort merged with the American Landmark Corp. of [[Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania|Stroudsburg]] under developer Karl Hope.<ref name="MorningCall2">{{cite news |title=Shawnee Inn Will Expand |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/275324826/ |access-date=December 21, 2020 |work=The Morning Call |location=Allentown, Pennsylvania |date=September 22, 1972}}</ref><ref name="MorningCall3">{{cite news |title=Breakfast Chatter |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/275324826/ |access-date=December 21, 2020| work=The Morning Call |location=Allentown, Pennsylvania |date=October 1, 1973}}</ref> In 1974 he established the Shawnee Village, the first [[timeshare]] development in Pennsylvania.<ref name="MorningCall4">{{cite news |last1=Brelje |first1=Beth |title=Small ski hills in Poconos face tough terrain |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/273173433 |access-date=December 21, 2020 |work=The Morning Call |date=March 3, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Ski2" /> The Shawnee Inn began to offer skiing in 1975, and ski champion [[Jean-Claude Killy]] was hired to lead the new operation.<ref name="Ski2">{{cite magazine |last1=Gillen |first1=Bob |title=Feisty With Flair |magazine=Ski |date=February 1983}}</ref><ref name="PoconoRecord1">{{cite news |title=Killy to head Shawnee ski operations| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/44423416/ |access-date=December 21, 2020 |work=The Pocono Record |location=Allentown, Pennsylvania |date=November 29, 1975}}</ref><ref name="Ski1">{{cite magazine |title=Where To Ski In Your Region |magazine=Ski |date=January 1976}}</ref>

[[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]] native Charles Kirkwood purchased the Shawnee Inn in 1977.<ref name=StandardSpeaker2>{{cite news|title=Shawnee Inn purchased by Bethlehem man|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/97009365/ |access-date=December 21, 2020 |work=Standard Speaker|location=Hazleton, Pennsylvania|date=April 2, 1977|ref=StandardSpeaker}}</ref> The nine-hole, par-3 Tillinghast Approach Course, designed by [[Tom Doak]], opened at the resort in 2006.<ref name="GolfAdvisor" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{official website|https://www.shawneeinn.com/}} *[http://www.golfinamigos.com/GolfCourseReview/Shawnee_Inn_Golf_Course_Blue_Red.aspx Article on Shawnee Inn Golf Course]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort}} [[Category:Golf clubs and courses in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Monroe County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Monroe County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:1911 establishments in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Sports in Monroe County, Pennsylvania]]