The Story of the Lake House

The Hotel of Horror and Altered Nightmares Haunted Houses are both imprisoned inside the Legendary Abandoned Lake House Hotel in historic Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania- Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. The Lake House Hotel history spans over more than 200 years and justifies the dark and sinister back drop of the modern horror attractions that currently infest the walls today. 

The tales begin with the original stagecoach stop, circa late 1700’s, whose foundation only remains, sheathing the walls of the furthest basement rooms under the encapsulated Victorian mansion. The destruction of that original stagecoach stop gave birth to a tavern referred to at the time as The Saylorsburg Hotel, an Inn for Travelers, built by Charles Saylor in 1847. Over the course of the following 53 years, it saw much expansion and construction. The first “rebirth” of the Saylorsburg Hotel came around 1882 to 1888 with the coming of the railroad, removing the roof, building a third story, and renovating the exterior to celebrate the wonderful architecture of the Victorian Era. 

In October 1918 the local press reported that the Spanish Influenza had arrived in the Pocono Mountains, bringing sickness and death. The recently built county hospital was inadequate and temporary hospitals were established in local resorts surrounding Stroudsburg.  Then in 1929, again in October- just a few days before Halloween, investors in New York City began to panic- stocks bought high began to drop and so the Great Crash of The New York Stock Exchange devastated the economy. It is recorded that guests of the Lake House, having left New York in shame and despair, not knowing how to provide for their families, checked into the Hotel, had drinks in the bar, dinner in the dining room, and saw their final night on earth in the guest rooms on the second and third floors. It was at that time that Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania became known as “The Place to Hang Yourself”.

In the late 1940’s and 1950’s the basement area had become home to Vickie Lee Blouse Company, employing ladies who worked on rudimentary textile equipment with minimum safety precautions. It can only be imagined the injuries suffered in the lower level of the Lake House Hotel during this time. After the close of this company the lower-level saw use as a barber shop and then a state liquor license permitted the serving of alcoholic beverages in this same lower level, in addition to the first floor bar.  The basement was turned into a marine themed bar and in 1985 a failed robbery attempt left the owner of that time totally incapacitated and resulted in the hotel closing for good. It was purchased in 1990 and turned into an Antique Co-Op, and then in 1992 saw its first Haunted House Attraction.

Our Timeline of Terror

Late 1700’s – The Original Stagecoach Stop and Post Office

1847 – Opening of the Saylorsburg Hotel, Inn and Tavern Opens

Civil War Era – Hosted Monroe County Battalion Soldiers

1882-1888 – Railroad Comes. Addition of 3 rd Floor. Victorian Mansion Remake.

1891 – Mining of rare white clay starts in the area

1893-1900 – Expansion to the Grand Lake House Hotel

Infirmary for victims of mine accidents

1918 – Hotel used as hospital during Spanish Influenza

1929 – Stock Market Crash, Hotel Became “The Place to Hang Yourself”

1940’s – 1950’s – Vickie Lee Blouse Company Housed in Hotel Basement

1950’s – 1960’s – Basement turned into a bar

1985 – Failed robbery attempt left the hotel owner incapacitated / Hotel Closes

1990 – Hotel purchased, becomes Antique Co-Op

1992 – First Haunted House Attraction Opened

2025 – 33 Years of Fear at the Hotel of Horror!