Barrett is a pocket of small-town life in the Poconos
The rolling, forested topography of the Pocono Mountain region cradles modern recreation destinations and historic landmarks in the Monroe County community of Barrett. Villages like Mountainhome, Skytop, Cresco and Buck Hill Falls center the township with a modern district of resorts and local businesses. Connected to nearby boroughs and much bigger cities across state lines, Barrett has been able to savor a small-town sensibility that’s as attractive to weekend tourists as it is to year-round residents. “For whatever reason, Barrett has developed this great synergy and this really vibrant business community for such a small town,” says Walter Lewis, a Realtor at Keller Williams Real Estate who lives in Barrett. “When you get the local grocery store, the restaurants, the bowling alley, the golf courses – that all adds up to a great quality of life.”
Golf courses, nature preserves and classic recreation areas
Well-manicured greens and stately stone bridges decorate the three nine-hole golf courses at Buck Hill Golf Club. While Skytop Lodge’s guests get a discount, the resort’s 18-hole golf course is open to the public. During snowy winters, residents might drive half an hour to winter sports destinations like Camelback Resort or stay indoors at the Mountainhome Bowling Center. The township also offers more typical recreation areas. High Acres Park offers athletic fields, picnic groves and a playground. Conserved areas like Mount Wismer Nature Preserve welcome hikers and dog walkers to explore Barrett’s hilly forests. Anglers can cast into Brodhead Creek from the township’s public access points or their own backyards. The Barrett Administrative and Recreation Complex was once an elementary school. Today, it’s a hub for senior services, athletic programs and community events better known as BARC.
Single-family homes in a township friendly to short-term rentals
Throughout Barrett, single-family homes fill forested subdivisions and line forested country roads. Simple midcentury ranch-style and minimal traditional homes blend with Bungalows and National homes from the prewar era. Custom builders have also introduced many upscale cabins and Colonial Revivals in more recent decades. Move-in-ready homes typically sell for around $170,000 to $760,000, depending on size, renovation levels and proximity to attractions like Skytop Lodge. Large estates with modern upgrades or especially large acreages can go on the market for closer to $1 million or even more. HOA fees for Buck Hill Falls are higher thanks to its wealth of athletic and social amenities, but buyers can find lower monthly fees in less active communities. Short-term rentals are generally allowed in Barrett, but residents must receive a permit from the township and comply with any homeowners’ association rules.
Shopping and dining at Barrett’s small businesses
“There are areas around here with a lot of convenience where all the restaurants are fast food or chains. Here, the chef is back in the kitchen, figuring out what he’s going to do with the cabbage tonight. You get unique food that way,” Lewis says. Diners might opt for the higher-end chef creations at Butter or browse the classic breakfast menu at Mountainhome Diner. The PourHouse Neighborhood Bar & Grille is a favorite for bar fare and a drink on the patio. Down the road, specialty businesses run the gamut from antique shops to candy stores. Lewis’ Supermarket is the township’s locally owned grocery store. Diverse houses of worship hold services throughout the township, including Am Echad Poconos Shul and St. Michaels Ukrainian Orthodox Church. For big box names like Walmart, residents head several miles away to Mount Pocono’s strip malls.
Monroe County and New York commuting
While Barrett has its own industrial and commercial employers, many residents leave the township to work. Stroudsburg and the nearby Lehigh Valley Hospital – Pocono are about 20 miles away. Heading south to Interstate 80, commuters have a roughly 90-mile drive to New York City. Residents rely on cars rather than public transportation to get around. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is about 40 miles from home.
Events at BARC and fireworks at Skytop Lodge
BARC hosts many of Barrett’s community events throughout the year. One of the best-known is the Pocono Mountain Music Festival. This summer concert series highlights the talents of professional musicians as well as the festival’s youth performing arts camp performers. The Barrett Township Historical Society maintains the collection at the Cresco Station Museum and often organizes arts and educational events at the historic train station. Fireworks and a barbecue draw crowds to Skytop Lodge's Fourth of July festivities.
Attending Pocono Mountain School District
Swiftwater Elementary Center serves kindergarten through third grade and earns a B-minus from Niche, as does Swiftwater Intermediate School, which serves fourth through sixth grades. Pocono Mountain East Junior High School also earns a B-minus. B-rated Pocono Mountain East High School offers a half-day career education program through the Monroe Career and Technical Institute.
Flood risk on Brodhead Creek
Barrett was one of the Pocono Mountain communities hit hardest by a flood in 1955. While extreme flash flooding is unlikely through much of the township, properties near waterways like Brodhead Creek may require flood insurance.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
