History

The Nichols Village Hotel & Spa Has An Interesting History Of Over Fifty Years

What you are about to read is a rather simple story. It is about a "motel" that started in Northeastern Pennsylvania shortly after World War II. Since the community at that time was not viewed by many as any kind of a traveler's destination, its success that began in the late 40s, and continues, is remarkable. No longer a roadside motel, Nichols Village now enjoys a state and national, if not international, reputation as one of the small number of premier, highly rated hotels. The Inn's success and growth over the years is due to a number of factors. The factor that has played the most significant role is the contribution of the Nichols family itself and their passion for the hospitality business.

William and Marion Nichols, natives to Northeastern Pennsylvania, scraped together all of their savings and purchased 300 feet of highway frontage on US Route 6, where it skirts the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania. They sold mobile homes, began a small mobile home park and built four modest motel guest rooms. Miraculously, everything seemed to work: The mobile homes sold, a few people signed on at the park and travelers started to rent the tiny rooms. Soon, the four rooms grew to six, and six to twelve, then twelve to eighteen.

In the early 1960s when their last child, George, graduated from college William Nichols, co-founder, passed away. George then joined his mother and later his older brother, Norman, joined the fledging organization. Like anyone raised with a strong puritan work ethic, Marion didn't retire to the sidelines when her two sons joined the business. She redirected her efforts towards managing the housekeeping staff as her primary responsibility. She finally retired in her early eighties. She lived comfortably on the complex. Mrs. Nichols Dunlap passed away in May 2001.

Today, Nichols Village is a complex laid out almost as a college campus and includes a freestanding restaurant which enjoys tremendous community support. The food service department is further complemented with a catering operation that boasts to be among the best for small conferences and social functions. The Inn offers its guests a fitness center, saunas, massage therapist, a large indoor pool and a Presidential Quarters with private whirlpool garden spa.

Finally, the Nichols Village Hotel & Spa is strongly oriented toward its staff. The family philosophy has always been that "if we as employees treat each other with dignity and respect then our guests similarly will be treated in a warm and friendly manner." It should be no surprise then to learn that the 100 full time and 70 part time staff members at Nichols Village total over 700 years of service to the company.