The History Of The Heart Shaped Tub
In my last post, 'LOVEFOOL: Discovering The UK's Only Heart Tub Bath,' I touched briefly on the magic of heart-shaped tubs. Now, I’d like to take you on a deeper dive into revisiting the origins and look at the history of how this iconique style has lured lovers across time to the resort where the heart tub was born.
Our story begins in the picturesque Poconos mountains of Pennsylvania, where Morris Wilkins, a former electrician and submariner, dared to dream big. He opened one of the earliest Poconos hotels and personally designed the heart-shaped tub that would soon become a legend. What's fascinating is that his design was so revolutionary that Wilkins even tried to secure a patent for it.
Imagine a bathtub shaped like the universal symbol of love, adorned with vibrant red tiles and surrounded by mirrors. It was the swinging '60s, a time of free love and boundless creativity, and the heart-shaped tub quickly became a sensation. Other hotels in the Poconos caught on, adding their own heart-shaped tubs to enchant honeymooners and couples seeking a quirky yet romantic escape.
Life magazine couldn't resist the charm either, featuring a passionate couple in one of these tubs in a 1971 spread. The design may have been labeled "a surfeit of affluent vulgarity," but the images spoke for themselves. It seemed like everyone wanted a piece of the action.
Despite being the mastermind behind this love-inspired tub, Morris Wilkins was never able to secure a patent for his "Sweetheart Tub." Nevertheless, it became an enduring symbol of passionate nights and unforgettable getaways. Even as some Poconos resorts evolved and others were left behind, the heart-shaped tubs remained unforgettable.
Morris Wilkins, Image source (NY Times)
Image source (Medium)
You might say that the Poconos owe a significant debt to Wilkins and his wildy romantic invention, earning the region the title of 'The Honeymoon Capital of the World' during the 1970s. Carl Wilgus, the president of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, recognizes that it was a testament to the persuasive power of advertising.
Image source: (Roadtrippers)
But the story doesn't end there. Morris Wilkins, not one to rest on his laurels, went on to introduce yet another quirky marvel nearly two decades after the debut of the heart-shaped tub. He unveiled the Champagne Glass Whirlpool Bath-for-Two at Cove Haven, a bathtub that's anything but ordinary.
Image source (A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour)
A prototype of the colossal champagne glass from 1971 now stands as a quirky centerpiece in the Champagne Palace dining room at Cove Haven. It was an amusing addition that people couldn't resist asking about. Both the heart-shaped and champagne glass tubs remained beloved features at Cove Haven and its sister establishments, with these three hotels boasting a stunning 437 heart-shaped tubs and 135 champagne-glass tubs.
Image source (A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour)
Morris Wilkins, the man who brought the concept of love to life in concrete, tiles, and fiberglass, was born in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1925. He shared his life with Lois Weitz, whom he married in 1955, until her passing in 2002.
Image source: (Juno Calypso)
