A Love Letter to Northeast Pennsylvania’s Accidental Film Career

Move over, Hollywood Hills. Step aside, New York City. The Pocono Mountains have been quietly stealing scenes for over a century, and honestly? They deserve way more credit than they’re getting. While you’ve been vacationing at waterparks and admiring waterfalls, you’ve been walking on hallowed cinematic ground. Ryan Gosling cried here. Paul Rudd made camp jokes here. Steve Carell pretended to be the captain of a boat here (spoiler alert: he wasn’t).

Let’s take a hilarious tour through the Pocono Mountains’ surprisingly impressive filmography, broken down county by county, because apparently, every corner of this region wanted its fifteen minutes of fame.

Wayne County: Where Summer Camp Became a Cult Classic

Honesdale’s Claim to Fame: “Wet Hot American Summer” (2001)

Picture this: It’s May 2000, and a bunch of relatively unknown actors descend upon Camp Towanda in Honesdale to film what would become one of the most beloved cult comedies of all time. The cast? Oh, just casual names like Bradley Cooper (in his film debut), Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, and a young talent named… wait, let me check my notes… BRADLEY COOPER IN HIS FILM DEBUT.

The movie, which spoofs 1980s summer camp sex comedies, was filmed in just 28 days. And here’s the kicker: it rained 23 of those 28 days. That’s very on-brand for the Poconos, honestly. Paul Rudd later recalled that because there were no cell phones or computers (ah, the year 2000), the cast spent their downtime watching each other film scenes and buying beer in town. You know, building that authentic summer camp camaraderie. Except with more craft services and significantly less bug juice.

Fun fact: The production had to pause for a week because the camp had been rented out for a bar mitzvah. That’s right—a 13-year-old’s coming-of-age party temporarily shut down a movie starring future Marvel superheroes and SNL legends. Mazel tov, kid. You’ve got quite a story.

Camp Towanda, located on 400 acres at the end of a dirt road, became the fictional Camp Firewood. Today, the camp still operates and proudly acknowledges its brush with Hollywood. You can even rent the facility for your own events, though they can’t guarantee a surprise appearance from Paul Rudd. We checked.

Honesdale’s OTHER Moment: “Blue Valentine” Street Scenes

But wait, Wayne County wasn’t done! The downtown streets of Honesdale also served as the backdrop for one of the most memorable scenes in the Oscar-nominated drama “Blue Valentine” (2010). Director Derek Cianfrance shot an all-night scene where Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams walked the streets as their characters got to know each other. From dusk ’til dawn, the pair wandered Honesdale’s main street, probably stopping at every stop sign to discuss their feelings. Very method. Very Gosling.

Monroe County: The Unsung Hero of Indie Cinema

Monroe County, home to Mount Pocono and Stroudsburg, has been a workhorse for film productions. With its higher elevations and dramatic mountain scenery, it’s provided moody backdrops for numerous independent films and TV shows.

While Monroe County hasn’t hosted as many blockbusters as its neighboring counties, it’s been the go-to location for productions needing that authentic Pocono Mountain atmosphere—you know, the kind where the weather changes every fifteen minutes and there’s always a slight chance of snow, even in June.

The former Bethany Colony Resort in Bethany served as the primary location for the 1986 comedy about teenagers trying to turn an abandoned hotel into a rock ‘n’ roll resort. Additional scenes were filmed throughout the county, showcasing the region’s versatility in playing both “abandoned resort” and “slightly less abandoned resort.”

Pike County: Quietly Collecting Credits

Pike County, stretching north to the New York border, has served as a filming location for various projects over the years. While it may not have the marquee credits of Wayne or Lackawanna counties, Pike has provided stunning natural backdrops for productions seeking that authentic Pennsylvania wilderness feel.

The county’s forests, lakes, and small-town charm make it perfect for any director who needs to film something that screams “rural America” but is still within driving distance of New York City. It’s the filmmaking equivalent of having your cake and eating it too, except the cake is covered in pine needles and possibly a bit muddy.

Lackawanna County: The Office’s Home Away from Home… Sort Of

Scranton: Where Dunder Mifflin’s Employees Went on Vacation

Ah yes, Lackawanna County. Home to Scranton, the setting for one of television’s most beloved sitcoms, “The Office.” While the show itself was filmed in California (betrayal!), the series made Lake Wallenpaupack famous in Season 2, Episode 11: “Booze Cruise.”

In the episode, Michael Scott drags the Dunder Mifflin crew on a mandatory “leadership training exercise” aboard a booze cruise on Lake Wallenpaupack in January. Because nothing says “team building” like forcing your employees onto a boat in the dead of winter. The episode features Michael battling the boat’s actual captain for authority, Jim nearly confessing his love to Pam, and all the cringe-inducing awkwardness that made The Office a cultural phenomenon.

Here’s a fun behind-the-scenes secret: The episode was actually filmed on a boat in Long Beach Harbor, California, not Lake Wallenpaupack. Why? Because in real life, Lake Wallenpaupack is frozen solid in January, and all boats must be removed by October. But shh, don’t tell the fans. Let them believe that Michael Scott actually set foot in the Poconos. It’s more romantic that way.

Today, Lake Wallenpaupack is a legitimate tourist destination offering real (not fictional) boat tours during the warmer months. No booze cruises, though. Michael Scott ruined that for everyone.

Scranton’s Oscar Moment: “Blue Valentine” (2010)

But Lackawanna County actually DID host a major film production: the critically acclaimed “Blue Valentine,” starring Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling. After originally planning to film in California, director Derek Cianfrance relocated the production to Northeast Pennsylvania when Williams couldn’t uproot her daughter from New York.

Using a compass, Cianfrance literally drew a circle around Williams’ Brooklyn home to find locations within commuting distance. The compass point just touched Scranton, and he thought, “Perfect. Let’s make everyone cry in Pennsylvania.”

The film shot extensively in Scranton, including scenes at the University of Scranton, the Hill Section, Albright Memorial Library (yes, the same library system that served as a research spot), and a Wine & Spirits store in Chinchilla. Because nothing says “romantic drama about a failing marriage” quite like Pennsylvania’s state-run liquor stores.

But here’s where it gets really interesting: To prepare for filming the scenes depicting their crumbling marriage, Cianfrance had Gosling and Williams live together in a house in Carbondale for an entire month. They created a household budget, did dishes, and went grocery shopping at Wegmans in Dickson City. It was basically method acting meets reality TV, except with more Oscar nominations and fewer confessional interviews.

Michelle Williams later said of the experience: “I feel like it’s a place that I’ve lived. I would include that in my stops through life, like, ‘Oh, yeah, I lived outside of Scranton for a couple of months.'”

That’s right, folks. Michelle Williams considers living near Scranton a legitimate chapter of her life story. Take THAT, Los Angeles.

Carbon County: Supporting Character Energy

Carbon County rounds out the Pocono film region, contributing its own scenic locations to various productions over the years. While it may not have the blockbuster credits of its neighbors, Carbon County provides that essential “we need another mountain backdrop” energy that every film region needs.

The Poconos: Northeast Pennsylvania’s Best-Kept Hollywood Secret

With over 200 film projects shot in the area over the last century, the Poconos have quietly become one of Pennsylvania’s premier filming locations. The region offers:

• Diverse Locations: From summer camps to urban centers to wilderness areas, all within a 2,400-square-mile radius
• Film-Friendly Communities: Local governments that actually want productions there (looking at you, small towns with complicated permit processes)
• Tax Incentives: Pennsylvania offers film tax credits, because even Hollywood loves a good deal
• Proximity to Major Cities: Just 2.5 hours from NYC and Philadelphia—close enough for day trips, far enough to actually look like somewhere else
• State-Owned Land: Available for filming with just a permit. Free backgrounds! Directors love free backgrounds!

Other Notable Pocono Productions

The region has also hosted:

• “Transformers” – Because even giant robots need mountain backdrops
• “The Molly Maguires” – A 1970 film about Pennsylvania coal miners
• TV shows like “Hotel Hell” (Gordon Ramsay yelling in the Poconos!), “Treehouse Masters”, and “Restaurant Impossible”
• Numerous indie films, documentaries, and horror movies (those Pocono forests are spooky, folks)

The Future Looks Bright (and Slightly Overcast)

The Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Film Office continues to attract productions, promoting the region’s versatility, beauty, and surprising convenience. As streaming services create an insatiable demand for content, more productions are discovering what Hollywood has known for decades: the Poconos can play basically anywhere.

Need a summer camp in Maine? That’s actually Wayne County. Want a gritty Pennsylvania town? Try Scranton or Carbondale. Looking for a romantic lakeside setting? Lake Wallenpaupack is standing by (in warm weather only, please). Need a mysterious forest where anything could happen? Take your pick—we’ve got about 2,400 square miles of them.

The Bottom Line

The next time you’re visiting the Poconos and someone says, “Isn’t this where they filmed that thing?” the answer is probably yes. Yes, it is where they filmed that thing. And also that other thing. And possibly that thing you forgot about from 2009.

So raise a glass (perhaps on a booze cruise, if Michael Scott ever gets them reinstated) to the Pocono Mountains: quietly making your favorite movies look good since the silent film era, and not even bragging about it.

Well, until now. We’re bragging a little bit.