Rustic living comes with eclectic character in Dreher Township
The northeastern Pennsylvania wilderness gives way to a well-rounded rural community in Dreher Township. This slice of Wayne County features a meandering Main Street lined with trusted restaurants, a mix of stores, a spacious park and a public elementary school. From there, the area branches off into scenic residential roads offering homes from a variety of generations, all on spacious lots. Interstate 84 is also just minutes away for trips to more populous areas, like Scranton.
Houses span decades, and come with large lots and privacy
Usually set back from the road and often hidden behind trees, homes in Dreher Township range from options constructed in the early 1900s to those built in the 2000s. Area architecture includes Cape Cods, ranch-style homes, colonial styles and log cabin-inspired structures. Most properties stretch at least an acre, and sometimes multiple acres, providing privacy that can appeal to a variety of people. “There are people who have lived there for generations. There are young people moving into the area. It’s very desirable,” says Joe Scarpaci, a local Realtor with Iron Valley Real Estate Innovate who’s been in the business for over 20 years. Because of the relatively rural nature of the community, on-site septic systems are standard. Sale prices typically vary from the lower $200,000s to the upper $600,000s, based on factors such as square footage and acreage.
Area students have access to a close-by elementary school
Dreher Township is part of the highly rated Wallenpaupack Area School District. The system’s Wallenpaupack South Elementary School is located along Dreher Township’s Main Street, features kindergarten through fifth grade, and offers after-school programming with science, arts and crafts, and performing arts activities. The district’s Wallenpaupack Area Middle School and Wallenpaupack Area High School are both about 20 miles away, off U.S. Route 6.
Local parks and lakes offer year-round ways to enjoy nature
Public green spaces come with the territory in this area. Main Street’s Carlton Drake Memorial Park is notable among them, offering 44 acres full of athletic fields, picnic areas and a trail by the Wallenpaupack Creek. Kresswood Lake, also on Main Street, becomes a skating rink in late January and early February for the annual Wally Ice Fest ice hockey tournament. Lake Wallenpaupack, located just north of Dreher Township, teems with people in the summertime, with activities like boating, fishing and swimming. The 5,440-acre Tobyhanna State Park is also close and features a 170-acre lake and 10 miles of trails. “It's a family-oriented community,” Scarpaci says. “There’s Little League. There’s recreation areas. It’s just a nice, wholesome town and area.”
Main Street is a destination for dining and everyday errands
As the name suggests, Main Street is the hub of commercial activity in Dreher Township. The thoroughfare has multiple places where you can grab a bite to eat. Spanky's Breakfast & Lunch is among the mainstays. “Spanky's has been a landmark for years and years,” Scarpaci says. “The same family’s owned it for years. It’s a fantastic breakfast spot.” Backroads Cafe & Dairy Bar is another, known for its ice cream. The Hotel Restaurant is housed in a building that originally served as a car repair shop in the 1920s, was a functioning hotel at one point, and is now solely a restaurant serving steak, seafood, pasta and more. “That has a tremendous menu,” Scarpaci says of The Hotel. “They have specials, like they might have wing night one night. The atmosphere is really good. The waiters and waitresses are super friendly.”
You can also head to Main Street to run your errands. Other businesses here include:
- Dollar General with a produce section inside
- Spolem Deli, a Polish deli with pierogies
- Ella C. Ehrhardt General Store, which dates to 1860, is open from the spring until the fall and carries penny candy and knickknacks
- NBT and PNC bank locations, with ATMs
- McLain's Auto Repair
Interstate 84 connects residents to jobs, air travel and healthcare
Nearby Interstate 84 takes locals from Dreher Township’s relative seclusion and over to some other key locations in the region. From I-84, you can reach:
- The city of Scranton, an employment hub and commercial destination about 30 miles away
- The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, which is roughly 35 miles away and has daily flights to cities including Charlotte, Chicago and Philadelphia
- Geisinger Community Medical Center, about a 30-mile trip and home to a 24-hour emergency room
![Wayne Epps Jr.]()
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
