How the Poconos Became the Birthplace of the Heart-Shaped Bathtub
The long-lasting tradition of the "honeymoon hotel" was ignited by the sexual revolution—and the flame never died.
When diving into the world of retro, kitschy hotels, there’s one place you’re bound to end up: the Poconos. Known as the birthplace of the heart-shaped tub, this mountainous region of eastern Pennsylvania has a rich history of welcoming couples with its cheesy, lighthearted approach to romance, as well as influencing the decor of hotels around the world.
Tourists started coming to the Poconos as early as 1829, drawn by the region’s diverse natural beauty and the fact that it was just a short trip from major metropolitan areas (90 miles from New York City and Philadelphia and roughly 300 miles from Boston and Washington, D.C.). The very first honeymoon resort in the area, the Farm on the Hill, opened in 1945. (Not located on a hill at all, this hotel started the long-lasting Poconos tradition of advertising a fantasy to its patrons.)
The end of World War II saw a sudden rise in marriages, and therefore honeymooners. The Farm on the Hill was quickly joined by other hotels attracting young couples. The designs of these first honeymoon hotels were wholesome and rustic and had Early American interiors that mimicked the cozy countryside, as if to give newlyweds a homey feel while they became better acquainted and embarked on their lives together. Activities from volleyball and hayrides to evening performances and parties were offered throughout the properties, so visitors had a chance to go out and meet other couples in a similar stage of life.
In 1958, two new hotel developers entered the scene and changed the course of couples hospitality throughout the region and, soon, the entire country. When Morris Wilkins and Harold O’Brien purchased Hotel Pocopaupac, they changed the name to Cove Haven and immediately got to work on improvements. This was the era that ushered in the sexual revolution, the launch of Playboy magazine, and Elvis Presley gyrating on national television. America was ready for something risqué, even explicit, and Cove Haven would offer just that. Most notably, it was the site of Morris Wilkins’s most famous creation: the heart-shaped bathtub. This iconic bathtub ignited a huge shift in the Poconos, and before long, every other resort in the region had one.
Tubs were not the only common feature getting a heart-shaped makeover. Mattresses, sinks, windows, and even entire bars were being built in the symbolic shape. And that’s not where the sexy face-lifts ended: Shag carpeting on every surface, mirrors on walls and ceilings, silky drapes and sheets, multilevel suites, round beds, and crystal chandeliers replaced the once-rustic, suburban decor. Morris Wilkins was designing spaces people were used to seeing only at the cinema, offering lovers a chance to enter a fantasy world full of glamour and sex.
See the full story on Dwell.com: How the Poconos Became the Birthplace of the Heart-Shaped Bathtub
Related stories:
