Joanna and Brian Linton pose in front of The Rex, the formerly rundown motel in Pennsylvania that they purchased in 2020.Joanna and Brian Linton
- Joanna and Brian Linton live in Philadelphia and wanted a break from city life during the pandemic.
- They sought out a cabin in the mountains for quick getaways, but decided to buy a motel on a whim.
Joanna, 37, and Brian Linton, 36, live in Philadelphia with their three kids. The couple like to hike and camp, and have always made a big effort to spend time in nature.
So when pandemic lockdowns hit in 2020, the Lintons started feeling the constraints of city life.
"All public spaces were closed — even those outdoors. Our playground, which was like our second home, was closed," Joanna told Insider. "I was really struggling as a mom, who was somewhat recently postpartum."
The married couple wanted to buy a cabin in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, where they could stretch their legs and breathe in fresh air.
In August 2020, the couple and their kids piled into the car and made the roughly two-and-a-half hour drive upstate to scout properties.