Ridge Top Summit at Shawnee - SHE

[jazzeaw]

We are going to Ridge Top Summit at Shawnee in JUne and we have never been there or to the poconos before so I have some questions

1. how is this resort? Is it new or old? what is the SHE part of the resort (that is what the II guy said we are in SHE)
2. is there a certain bldg or room to request?
3. how are the on-site activities? We have kids - 12, 7 and 4

any info would be greatly appreciated

[wackymother]

We were there over the winter. Ridge Top Summit is the newest and nicest of the Shawnees, so that's definitely where you want to be. (I don't know if SHE designates Ridge Top Summit--can't help you there.)

Shawnee is an enormous resort with many different sections. There is one central recreation building. You can walk there from parts of Ridge Top Summit, but it was a looooong walk from where we stayed. There's a shuttle that takes you around; at peak times it's on a schedule, but during off-hours you call and someone drives over and picks you up. At the rec building, there's an indoor pool, basketball courts, arcade, activity areas, tennis courts out back, an outdoor pool, and miniature golf. There's also a little strip mall near the rec building with a Thai restaurant and a pizzeria and a sales office.

The activities are excellent. When we were there, they had a karaoke night with tons of people. They have organized board games and movie nights, and for the kids they had tie-dyeing T-shirts, games, art activities, and more that I can't remember right now. There's lots to do in the area, too. You'll have fun!

[KenK]

Ww stayed in the Summit units, too. There are three bathrooms, the one on the lower level seems 'almost' handicapped equipped. Most of the units (separate houses) have STAIRS going up to the separate units....but not all...there is one or two rows of houses that have very little or no stairs....and if physically handicapped, that should be a request.... (Theresa pointed that out)

Summit means on the top of the hill, and you are. You will pass the older Ridge Top units, as you go up the hill. You units will look much newer (they are 5 star). They appear to be economy built...

This website will direct you to the timeshare section. The Shawnee Inn was RCI # 1 but the RTU has or is ending soon. This WAS the center of all timeshare functions until the Rec Center was completed a few years ago.

There are many different villages (T/S Phases) at Shawnee....including Northslope which has unit that are quarter shares....but most functions are open to all villages. The Rec center has several pools, on big one inside, and a mini golf (small charge).

The ice rinks were permenently distroyed by Ivan a few years ago (next to the Inn) (Because they felt the repairs were too costly, as was the insurance.

That was cuased by the Del River flooding...also, the ins basement )including the other indoor pool) and first level were damaged...but that is fixed. The Inn also has the outdoor pool, the tennis, bocce, vollyball, tubes & stuff for using the river (I don't know about fishing equip....also if you or the kids would need a liscense for fishing in PA or NJ)....and of course, the golf course.

Sam Sneads was good for lunch (or dinner$$) the best place to shop IMO is the local Shop Rite....has the local Wal Mart beat by a mile....(they will give you a price plus card). The Local Supermarkets (like Shop Rite) have the local foods (mainly middle & eastern European) for the old timers who lived and worked in the area (as for a corn(ed) rye bread at Shop Rites bakery...they may have one if not sold out.....(its a sour dough rye that has the best taste)...or even ask for a pumpernickle).

There is a general store (circa about 1915) right next to the Playhouse (discounted tix for owners, AND EXCHANGERS ask at check in)

They will give a list of activities.. some will be free, low cost or $$$$)

As of last year exchangers did not pay for extras owners recieved for free.
But the new management (Fairfield) might have begun changing stuff.

Around the area....Bushkill Falls...several walking trails as to ability, Del Water Gap Tours, Train Tours, but the kids might really like Steam Town USA, near Reading, the National Park Rail Road Museum...very interesting..kids watch & help work a turntable, there are those cars where you push down on a handle to move along the rail...(but I think it might be a distance from Shawnee...if Pat H sees this, she might know.

You are about 60 + miles via Rt 80 E to NYC (or via rail or bus)...there is a trip sponsered by Shawnee to NYC, OR Philly, or Atlantic City....Mertz* has a Wed Shoppers Special that might be good for seeing a Wed Matinee in NYC....but you would be playing pot luck waiting at TKTS for those 1/2 price tix...(TKTS does not take charge cards)....eat lunch at Carmines....you will not need dinner...(I would order 1 meal for two....if four, 2 meals & ONE salad...will still have leftovers....if they put in a Carmines Bag...theater folks will ask if thats for back stage

(*Mertz has a bus terminal adjacent to one section of Shawnee....very close...but I don't know directions) They are the daily commuter service to NYC

[wackymother]

One more thing--Shawnee is based around the old Shawnee Inn, which is still an operating hotel. There's an indoor pool at the Shawnee Inn that we thought was much nicer than the indoor pool at the rec center. It's smaller but cleaner, and the locker rooms at the Inn have recently been renovated. They're great now, while the locker rooms at the rec center leave a lot to be desired.

When we were there, the indoor pool at the rec center was closed for repairs and they let us use the one at the Inn. I think you can use the one at the Inn even if the rec center one is open.

[KenK]

Gee Wackymother...I forgot the web site:

http://www.shawneeinn.com/default.aspx

Use this to get to the timeshare units...it has info on the entire place. I also was able to use the pool in the hotel (very old...in the Delaware River Flood area)

Building is an Edison poured Concrete desogn, built like the Edision Hotel in NYC.

Also, changes may have been made with the new manaement company Fairfield. No extra charges for exchangers.

[wackymother]

Really? It's built like the Edison in NYC? I used to have lunch there all the time in the 1980s. Haven't been there in ages, though. The chicken soup was fabulous, like Bubbe used to make.

[davhu1]

Originally Posted by jazzeaw

2. is there a certain bldg or room to request?

If you are trading with II, you will be assigned a unit. They may give you another unit if available or problems with the unit.

Here is a link for direction and map of the resort. You can find your unit in the Full Color Map". The second link is the floor plan.

http://www.shawneeowners.com/shawnee...irections.html

http://www.shawneeowners.com/shawnee.../ridgetop.html

[KenK]

Same methods....poured concrete...like http://www.divosta.com/ the Pulte builder in Fl.

But I don't know about the chicken soup. But the Edison in NY was (I think) built at the same time as the Empire State Bldg (early 1930s)

Many houses in NJ were build this way (by Menlo Park...near Edisons residence)...but the big problem is to renovate the houses. Very hard to work with solid concrete walls.

I hope someone starts noticing anything different (positive or neg) with the FAIRFIELD management. I think they might really make the place great....its too close to too many highly populated areas to let sit like the HOA seemed to be content with.....(but at the expense of higher maint fees??)