The Beverly Hills of northeastern Pennsylvania
Stately homes and proximity to recreation and country clubs are not the only things attracting residents to Clarks Summit. A 7-mile commute to jobs in Scranton and a top-performing school district make Clarks Summit a highly desirable borough in northeastern Pennsylvania. “Clarks Summit is very transient and has a more elite feel,” says Realtor Michelle Valvano of Classic Properties, who has lived in the Scranton area for 20 years. “People come in because it’s the closest lively town to Proctor and Gamble in Mehoopany. It’s the Beverly Hills of northeastern Pennsylvania.”
Custom-built mansions alongside quaint 1920s cottages
Clarks Summit dates to 1911, yet its history precedes that. The long-established borough is named for a Revolutionary War soldier who built a log cabin for his family on the future site of the Clarks Green Cemetery. Today, the borough still maintains a quiet, historic feel amidst its development over the years and new construction of the 20th century. Small cottages and Cape Cods built between 1920 and 1950 that evoke this historic feel typically range from $125,000 to $300,000. Split-level ranch styles are popular among the smaller home styles, listing between $173,000 and $400,000. However, most Clarks Summit housing comprises custom-built Colonial Revival and New Traditional examples and traditional ranch homes with L-shaped layouts and contemporary 70s influences. Spanning 2,500 to 5,000 square feet, these styles may fetch between $420,000 and $1.5 million. Land is also available here, especially in new developments like the Royal Oaks subdivision, with options between 0.44 acres to just shy of 2 acres. Yards tend to be modest in the gridded section north of Winola Road, slightly larger along the more looping streets south of West Grove Street, and larger still in the hillier area northeast of South State Street.
High achieving academics in Abington Heights School District
Rated the best school district in the Scranton area, Abington Heights School District contains three A-minus-rated schools that collectively serve kindergarteners through seniors in high school. Kids may start at Clarks Summit Elementary before advancing to Abington Heights Middle School. At Abington Heights High School, students can enroll in dual enrollment classes or opt for an associate degree pathway with one of four nearby universities, including the University of Scranton and Lackawanna College. The high school was named the thirty-fourth-best high school in Pennsylvania by U.S. News and World Report for the 2023-2024 school year.
Locales along South State Street and a few franchises
The neighborhood’s mostly gridded, sometimes hilly streets branch out from both sides of South State Street – or U.S. Route 11 – a busy but walkable two-lane thoroughfare lined with sidewalks, trees and shops. Along this main commercial strip, the Silver Spoon Diner is known for its hefty menu and equally big portions. Residents enjoy folding a New York-style slice at Rosario’s Pizzeria & Ristorante or sampling the surf-or-turf dinner options at the elegantly designed State Street Grill, a neighborhood staple for 22 years. Manning Farm Dairy, supplied by a local farm, serves everything from bottled milk and ice cream to cakes and pies.
“Northeastern Pennsylvania is not big on franchises,” Valvano says. “In Clarks Summit, there are lots of independently owned shops and restaurants but not a lot of franchises.” She adds that the area just got its first Chik-fil-A just south in Dickson City, where most of the other closest franchises and big-box retailers are found, including Target, Walmart and Panera Bread. Closer to home, groceries are available at two regional chains, Weis Markets and The Fresh Grocer of Summit Square.
From country clubs to Lackawanna State Park
West of Clarks Summit, Hillside Park serves as a community nucleus. The multifaceted regional recreational space spans 100 acres of former state-owned farmland and boasts a soccer field, dog park and community garden. Anglers enjoy setting up along the banks of Eston Willis Lake, while others sit on the lakeside benches to take in the tranquil view. Folks also take to the shaded paths of Trolley Trail by foot or bike, winding 6 miles along what once was a streetcar right-of-way. Valvano says the nearby country clubs are also a recreational attraction. Glen Oak Country Club and its tennis courts are located just north of the borough, and the Country Club of Scranton is just south. Lackawanna State Park sits just shy of 6 miles north of Clarks Summit, offering an additional 198 acres for fishing, boating and camping.
Clarks Summit’s Festival of Ice
Summer in Clarks Summit kicks off with a Memorial Day parade featuring military tributes and a high school marching band and continues with fireworks for Independence Day. Winter brings the Clarks Summit Festival of Ice, a three-day celebration involving intricate ice sculptures and ice-carving demonstrations. Live music provides a lively backdrop to the games, parade and horse-drawn-carriage rides offered throughout the weekend. “The Ice Festival is a very community-involved event,” Valvano says, noting the participation of local businesses and volunteers. The various houses of worship scattered around the borough host additional community events and programs, such as youth small groups and community picnics.
From South State Street to Philadelphia
US Route 11 connects to major thoroughfares like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 81, which take residents to downtown Scranton. The borough is roughly two and a half hours from Philadelphia and less than 30 minutes from the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport.
Photography Contributed By
Brendan Rogers
