Eagles Mere Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Why it's listed
Set around a spring-fed lake at about 2,100 feet in the Allegheny Mountains, this resort community in the Borough of Eagles Mere grew from land sold by the Geyelin estate beginning in 1877. After a syndicate bought the lake and surrounding land in 1885, it promoted the area as a summer destination for families from Philadelphia, Williamsport, and Washington, D.C. Five large hotels operated here, and by 1919 they could accommodate more than 1,100 guests. Most surviving buildings are cottages in Shingle, Queen Anne, and Craftsman styles, many built in the 1880s and 1890s. Early restrictive covenants kept trees and construction within one hundred feet of the shore, and the lake and beach are still managed by the Eagles Mere Association, which descends from the syndicate. The district is regarded as one of the largest and best preserved turn-of-the-century resort communities in Pennsylvania.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is significant for its association with the late nineteenth and early twentieth century mountain and lake resort movement, and as an early example of a successful conservation effort protecting the lake and surrounding forest. It also argues the district's concentration of Shingle, Queen Anne, and Craftsman style resort architecture is significant in its own right.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF). NRHP reference 13000745, listed September 18, 2013. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by PA 42, Borough boundary, Loyalsock State Forest & Eagles Mere Golf Club, Eagles Mere Borough |
|---|---|
| County | Sullivan County |
| Listed | September 18, 2013 |
| Reference number | 13000745 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1877-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Little, Albert Charles, Little, Charles (Builders); Jones, A.B.; Brink, C.A. (Builder); Rankin & Kellogg |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style; Queen Anne; Bungalow/Craftsman; Prairie School |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Conservation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 500 |
| Within district | Eagles Mere Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.41825, -76.57590 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 13000745.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives)
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.