Nestled in the Pocono Mountains, Keen Lake Camping & Cottages Resort is celebrating its 70th anniversary. This family-owned resort has been a destination of the Waymart community since 1954, when James and Dorothy Keen first opened its doors to campers seeking a tranquil retreat by the water’s edge.
Today, three of James and Dorothy’s seven daughters, Jennifer Wertz, JimAnn Petroski and Janet Keen, continue their parents’ legacy, managing the resort with the same dedication to family values and warm hospitality that has defined it for seven decades.
Keen Lake itself has undergone a transformation over the years. Originally canoe-shaped, the lake took on its butterfly silhouette in the mid-1800s with the construction of a dam and trestle for the Gravity Railroad, later used by steam engines. This engineering feat not only reshaped the lake but also created the Hermit Island at its center, adding a unique feature to the resort’s landscape.
The resort’s grounds are steeped in local history, with several structures serving as links to the past. The Pre-Civil War Barn, now a vacation rental, began its life as a blacksmith shop in the mid-19th century. Visitors can still admire its original beams and even spot where horses once nuzzled the interior woodwork.
Similarly, The Schoolhouse rental offers guests a chance to stay in a building that educated local children in the past.
Wertz, one of the current owners, emphasized the deep connection between the resort and the local community. Wertz attributed much of the resort’s success to the community of Waymart and Wayne County, where she has lived her entire life.
“We succeed together, and we are invested in lifting each other up. What we have here is special and it’s been such a joy to share it both with our friends and neighbors and with the folks who travel from hours away to what we were able to experience growing up,” she explained, as reported by Happenings Magazine.
Wertz added that camping is beneficial for the soul and highlights the importance of being part of a community that welcomes everyone like family, regardless of their origin.
This sense of family extends beyond the Keen sisters to encompass their employees and guests. Petroski noted that everything at the resort revolved around family, highlighting the multigenerational involvement by mentioning that some current employees were children of former staff members.
“Two of our summer employees are girls whose mom worked for us in the 90s, and we have a brother and sister who have been a part of our team for six years,” Petroski said.
In addition to natural beauty, the resort has helped create memories for generations of visitors. Janet emphasized that the guests are what make the resort special.
“We’ve played host to generations of families, and we all have pictures of our grandparents and great-grandparents boating and enjoying the same things by the lake that our guests do today. Our memories are incomplete without the camping families with whom we shared our childhood,” Janet added.
For more information about Keen Lake Camping & Cottages Resort, visit keenlake.com.
Featured image by Keen Lake Camping & Cottages Resort via facebook.com/KeenLakeResort
