Birchwood-Pocono Airpark Explained

The Birchwood-Pocono Airpark is a former airport located in Tannersville, Pennsylvania that operated alongside the Birchwood Resort from 1968 until its closure in 1996.

History

The resort and airpark were originally owned by a Pan Am pilot and founder of Pocono Airlines, the late[1] Walter E. ("Wally") Hoffman Jr.[2] and his former wife Gail.

The location is identified by the United States Board on Geographic Names as the Birchwood-Pocono Airpark[3]

The site is now derelict and the airstrip closed.[4]

It is currently owned[5] by the C. Castle Group, which at one time had ambitious plans for redevelopment[6] that were not popular with some local residents,[7] and which have since been modified.[8]

In 2014, fugitive Eric Matthew Frein was captured near an abandoned hangar at the former facility after an extended manhunt.[9] [10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Walter E Hoffman . Oak Ridge Funeral Care . 1 February 2020 . 1 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200201184616/https://www.oakridgefuneralcare.com/obituaries/print?o_id=6231588 . live .
  2. . On top . Flying Magazine . April 1969 . 1 February 2020 . 17 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220217090943/https://books.google.com/books?id=1CgR1efvGE0C&pg=PA102 . live .
  3. Web site: Birchwood-Pocono Airpark . 1 February 2020 . 17 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220217091005/https://www.usgs.gov/us-board-on-geographic-names/domestic-names?p=gnispq%253A3%253A0%253A%253ANO%253A%253AP3_FID%253A1211935 . live .
  4. Web site: Birchwood Resort . Mullen . Melissa . 1 February 2020 . 1 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200201152018/http://melissamullenphotography.com/blog/birchwood-resort/ . live .
  5. Web site: Tax Parcel Assessment Search . 14 March 2011 . Search for PIN 12638300863959 . Monroe County . 1 February 2020 . 24 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200124124754/http://agencies.monroecountypa.gov/parcelsearch/ . live .
  6. News: Pedersen . Brian . 11 June 2015 . Firm wants to restore former resort, create haven for Pocono visitors . Lehigh Valley Business (LVB) . Bethlehem, PA . 1 February 2020 . 1 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200201154010/https://www.lvb.com/firm-wants-to-restore-former-resort-create-haven-for-pocono-visitors/ . live .
  7. News: Strunk . Brianna . 20 October 2015 . New Resort Proposal Causing Controversy in the Poconos . PA Home Page . 1 February 2020 . 1 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200201153949/https://www.pahomepage.com/news/new-resort-proposal-causing-controversy-in-the-poconos/ . live .
  8. News: Tatu . Christina . 8 November 2014 . Once a lovers' getaway, now a fugitive's getaway . Pocono Record . 1 February 2020 . 1 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200201154024/https://www.poconorecord.com/article/20141108/News/141109474 . live .
  9. News: Keneally . Meghan . This Is the Abandoned Airport Where Eric Frein Was Found . 3 November 2014 . . 31 October 2014 . 3 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141103031446/http://abcnews.go.com/US/abandoned-airport-eric-frein-found/story?id=26606846 . live .
  10. News: Freeman . Paul . Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Northeastern Pennsylvania . 3 November 2014 . . 31 October 2014 . 3 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141103021701/http://www.airfields-freeman.com/PA/Airfields_PA_NE.htm#birchwood . live .