Eldred Township offers tranquility between buzzier Poconos areas
The multi-billion-dollar value of the Pocono Mountains tourism industry has super-charged growth along highways like U.S. Route 209; Eldred Township is a pocket of western Monroe County that falls between these major resort and retail centers. Surrounded by growing business districts and expansive recreation destinations, Eldred Township can remain richer with private acreages and sweeping vistas of untouched forests and fields that line sloping mountain roads. "Eldred Township is a wonderful area. You can get beautiful hilly properties or gorgeous houses and farms in a valley setting,” says Cheryl Linares, a Realtor with the Cristina Primrose Team at Keller Williams who lives in Eldred Township. “When we first came here, it would take 45 minutes to get to any kind of restaurant. Now, you’re in a very beautiful area that’s 10 minutes from Brodheadsville and basically everything you need.”
Hiking the A.T. and nearby Poconos recreation
High up on the Blue Mountain’s ridgeline, the Appalachian Trail offers awe-inspiring views of the valleys below along Eldred Township’s southern border. Local hikers can scramble up to the A.T. from steep, connected paths like Gata’s Tongue Trail. The Appalachian Trail passes through State Game Lands 168, so hikers will share the woods with orange-clad turkey and deer hunters. Those who want to socialize with other hunters and anglers or gain access to private shooting ranges and hunting areas might join the Kunkletown Rod and Gun Club. Walter W. Mock Memorial Park is a smaller forested area pocketed with picnic tables and trails that offer views of Princess Run. Just north of Eldred Township, Western Pocono Jaycees Memorial Park offers baseball diamonds for local Little League teams. The mountainous Hideaway Hills Golf Club is a short drive away. Visitors go skiing or mountain biking west of the township at Blue Mountain Resort, depending on the season.
Rural retreats on forested acreages
The diverse single-family homes that line Eldred Township’s country roads speak to the different kinds of rural Poconos retreats that residents prefer: prewar National and Victorian homes, midcentury ranch-style homes, contemporary cabins and New Traditional colonials. Most homes hide away on at least an acre of land, with many offering even more seclusion on deeply wooded lots of more than 10 acres. Prices typically range from around $200,000 to $500,000, though especially simple cabins can go closer to $100,000, and some larger homes on expansive acreages can crest $700,000. While many come to Eldred Township seeking privacy, a handful of suburban-style subdivisions and cabin communities offer closer proximity to neighbors or access to shared amenities like swimming lakes and fishing ponds.
Driving to regional Poconos highways and I-80
“What’s awesome is that even though it’s rural, you’re 10 minutes to Routes 33 and 209. That’s easy access to Interstate 80, New York City and New Jersey. Hence, why I moved here,” Linares says. State Route 33 connects residents to the Lehigh Valley to the south and more developed areas of Monroe County to the north. Down U.S. Route 209, St. Luke’s Hospital Monroe Campus is about 17 miles away, while the county seat of Stroudsburg is about 20 miles away. Lehigh Valley International Airport is also close to 20 miles away. Taking I-80, New York City is around 95 miles from home. Fixed route Pocono Pony buses do not serve Eldred Township, so residents rely on cars to get around.
Shopping and dining in Kunkletown and Brodheadsville
The little village of Kunkletown lines its namesake road in the middle of Eldred Township. There, locals can pick up a sandwich at the Kunkletown General Store. Across the street, the Kunkletown Pub serves creative bar fare and hosts live musicians in an inn that dates back to the 1830s. Down the road, a thrift store and food pantry operate inside the Eldred Township Community Center. For most major shopping and dining, residents will drive less than 10 miles to the village of Brodheadsville. Along U.S. Route 209, big box stores like ShopRite and Tractor Supply anchor a line of strip malls, gas stations and restaurants that range from national chains to small locally owned spots.
Events with St. Matthew’s ECC and the Kunkletown VFC
Shaded by a centuries-old oak tree, St. Matthew’s Evangelical Congregational Church's white steeple rises high above Kunkletown and the surrounding valley. Along with regular services, the church also hosts an annual summertime car show and family fair. Neighbors also get together to support the Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Company at breakfast buffet fundraisers, typically held once a month. Larger community events, like the popular West End Fair and the many craft fairs in Stroudsburg, happen across Monroe County throughout the year.
Attending Pleasant Valley School District
Pleasant Valley Elementary School serves kindergarten through second grade and earns a B from Niche, while Pleasant Valley Intermediate School serves third through fifth grades and earns a C-plus. Pleasant Valley Middle School also earns a C-plus. At B-minus-rated Pleasant Valley High School, students can enroll in career pathways to explore fields like business and engineering.
Scattered flood risk throughout Eldred Township
Low-lying properties and roads near waterways like Buckwha Creek may flood after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can check maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
