The Pines resort was built in 1933 with many buildings being added throughout the years. The resort was comprised of 420 guest rooms and situated on 318 acres. The resort offered an array of sporting activities such as golf courses, an Olympic size ice skating rink, Olympic size indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and four indoor and six outdoor tennis courts. There was also a ski resort facility with snow-making capability, and tows and lifts for downhill and cross country skiing. The Pines had three levels of accommodations and a variety of suites. The resort also included the Spa, a 6,000 square foot state-of-the-art fitness and exercise facility, featuring free weights, cardiovascular machines, and aerobics, as well as a massage room and salon. There was also 80,000, square feet of meeting convention and catering facilities. The resort located in the so-called "Borscht Belt", catered to Jewish visitors - it contained a Kosher kitchen and planned events that were related to Jewish interests and holidays. You can find boxes of yarmulkes and coloring books about Passover in a store room.
The Pines Resort also hosted the Polkabration Weekend - a three-day polka extravaganza featuring nine bands and plenty of dancing. The event included a Roman Catholic polka mass, with hymns and polka music, and free polka lessons.
The resort went through a $6 million renovation in 1996, but closed in 1999 (dates differ, but there were flyers for a 1999 event). The mostly new furniture was sold to newly renovated Swan Lake Resort Hotel.
An arson fire in 2003 claimed the 28-room Carleton building, one of the residential buildings on the hotel property, as well as various staff buildings. Demolition of the property began in 2011 including the Viceroy Room, Persian Room, Wedgewood Room, the indoor pool, the skating rink, the coffee shop and others. As of 2014, some of the former buildings to the Pines Resort are still standing, but demolition is likely - a report from June 2006 claimed that a developer plans on using part of the Pines property - the golf course, ski hill and chalet - to build single family homes.
