Delaware Water Gap is birthplace of Pocono tourism industry | Something to Think About

We live in an area brimming with history. Virtually every spot in the Poconos has an interesting history about it. One that has its own great history is the borough of Delaware Water Gap.

Although not the oldest of Monroe County’s boroughs, it was the birthplace of the resort industry in the Poconos.

The “Water Gap” was often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, known for its fresh air and scenic beauty.

Delaware Water Gap was laid out by its founder, Antoine Dutot in 1793. A French refugee, Dutot had come from Santo Domingo around 1790. He originally named the settlement, Dutotsburg, but of course today is known as Delaware Water Gap. (There was a short period of time when it was also called Monroe Square.)

In its early time, Delaware Water Gap was the frontier of Indian territory. Because of its location along the Delaware River, it was a major stopping point of loggers who would float giant rafts down the river with the wood from forests further up-river. The final destination of the “Forks of the Delaware” was in Easton. Rumor has it that the tavern located in the Gap had some of the most monumental fights among loggers in the history of Pennsylvania rivers.

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Dutot constructed a “boarding house” in the Poconos in 1829, which he named Kittatinny House. That was the start of the resort industry in the Poconos. Over the years of the 19th century, the Kittatinny House grew to become one of the largest resort hotels and hence Delaware Water Gap became one of the best known resort towns, only behind Saratoga.

As the railroad industry grew so did the vacation industry in the Gap. Benefiting the entire Pocono region was the building of the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad before the Civil War.

Other hotels that drew visitors to the Gap were places such as the Glenwood (1854/55)— which was built as a boys' boarding school by Reverend Horatio S. Howell, who was a chaplain to the 19th Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil War. He was killed by a Confederate sniper during the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg as he was tending to the injured in a field hospital.

Also part of the now many hotels in the Gap was the Water Gap House (1872), which was visited by Theodore Roosevelt among other famous guests.

The last of the great hotels to be build in Delaware Water Gap was the Castle Inn. It was constructed in 1906 by Dimmick Drake. The Castle had all the latest amenities such as an ice cream parlor, 1600 electric lights and running spring water in every room.

The Castle Inn was in operation as a hotel until 1952, when it was purchased Big Band leader Fred Waring, known as the leader of the famous Waring and the Pennsylvanians and the creator of the Waring blender.

Beginning on July 3, 1907, the Stroudsburg and Water Gap Railway company began trolley service from the Gap to South Stroudsburg. The trolley company, changed its name to “Mountain View Line” because of the scenic views that its route traveled. In order to reach Stroudsburg, it was necessary to construct a bridge over the railroad tracks and the McMichael Creek. On June 25, 1908, the first trolley from Delaware Water Gap crossed the bridge to arrive in Stroudsburg at Courthouse Square. The trolley company ran until 1928 when the line’s service was discontinued and in the 1930’s the tracks were torn up.

Today Delaware Water Gap’s historic trolley stop has returned to the Castle Inn. The modern version of the trolley is available by taking advantage of the Pocono Historic Trolley Tour (570-977-7731 for reservations and information). Learn more about the history of Castle Inn by touring it. Tours take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.. (570-730-0547 for more information and reservations). Finally, revisit the founder’s history by visiting the Dutot Museum, located in the heart of the Gap. (570-476-4240 for information and open times).

Longtime resident or new, if you are a history buff (or not), taking a trip through local history will be time well spent!

Debbie Kulick writes a weekly news column for the Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent. She serves on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic as an EMT.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Debbie Kulick: A trip to Delaware Water Gap to relive Poconos history