Rural charm meets outdoor adventure in Franklin Township
Resting in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, Franklin Township in Carbon County blends the slow pace of a rural community with the adventure and scenery of a mountain town. “Franklin Township is special because most of the land is zoned agricultural, which gives homeowners the ability to raise animals and livestock,” says Aggie Schoenberger, a lifelong resident of the Lehigh Valley and the owner of Castle Gate Realty. She adds that Franklin Township is home to part of Beltzville State Park, which attracts those who love the outdoors. “Betlzville State Park has beaches, boating and water skiing, and it’s open year-round,” Schoenberger says. Along with the state park, residents are near a hospital and the highway. While no major retailers are in the township, restaurants, shops and a popular music venue are within driving distance.
Phifer's Ice Dam Park is a sprawling 14 acre green space.
Fishing the canal is a popular activity at Lehigh Canal Park.
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A variety of homes with views of farms, forests and mountains
Single-family homes in Franklin Township rest along country roads that climb the community’s hilly terrain. Some properties have views of farms or mountains, while others are hidden by dense tree cover. Architecture is diverse, with Victorian homes sitting close together on small blocks near Weissport and ranch-style homes, farmhouses and Colonial Revivals spread out on larger lots to the north and east. Custom designs can be found throughout the township. The median price for a single-family home is around $285,000, well below the national figure. Prices start at around $150,000 and can top $550,000.
Connecting with nature in the foothills of the Poconos
From green spaces in town to nearby state parks, game lands and ski resorts, the Pocono Mountains region offers plenty of activities. Partially within Franklin Township, Beltzville State Park offers more than 3,000 acres to explore. Its namesake lake features a sandy beach for sunbathing and swimming. Residents can rent boats or hire a fishing charter to try to reel in bass and trout. Mountain biking, hiking and birdwatching are popular in the warmer months, while ice fishing and cross-country skiing are common activities in the winter. The Lehigh River is a destination for whitewater rafting. The D&L Trail, which has an access point at Lehigh Canal Park in neighboring Weissport, runs along the banks, offering scenic views for hikers and cyclists. Several parks within the township offer baseball fields, including Phifer’s Ice Dam Park, where youth recreation leagues play. Families often reserve the park’s pavilions for birthday parties and reunions. There are a few places for indoor recreation in Franklin Township, including LaRose’s Skating Rink and Archery Addictions, an archery range.
Ride your bike along the canal at Lehigh Canal Park.
Launch your boat for a day of fun on Beltzville Lake, just a short drive from Lower Towamensing.
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Shopping and dining options in and around Franklin Township
A few small businesses, services and taverns dot Franklin Township, but residents typically shop and dine in nearby communities. National retailers like Walmart Supercenter and two grocery chains are less than 6 miles away in Mahoning Township. Weissport has local restaurants like Central Lunch, a no-frills cash-only spot for American diner classics like pancakes and omelets, and the Gorge Eatery, which serves an eclectic menu in its elevated dining space near the Lehigh River. Neighboring Towamensing is home to Country Junction, which markets itself as the world’s largest general store. Along with typical general store goods, Country Junction features a hardware store, a pet store and a furniture store as well as family-friendly activities such as a petting zoo and an arcade.
Within the township, locally grown produce and pasture-raised meats draw shoppers to Spring Mountain Farms, which operates a farm stand throughout the summer and a pick-your-own orchard from July through December. Residents don’t have to drive out of town for medical care. St. Luke's Hospital - Carbon Campus, an acute-care hospital with an emergency room, onsite critical care and surgical facilities, is along North Harrity Road, near Interstate 476.
A Walmart and other national retailers are within a ten minute drive of Lower Towamensing.
The Carbon Plaza Mall is a few miles away, offering a variety of additional shopping options.
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Mountaintop concerts and events at Penn’s Peak
Franklin Township puts music lovers less than 10 miles from Penn’s Peak, a rustic-yet-contemporary music hall perched at the top of Bear Mountain. About 1,800 people can enjoy a performance at Penn’s Peak, which offers views of Beltzville Lake below. Along with national touring acts and tribute bands, the venue hosts weddings and private events.
Students can attend public schools in Lehighton
The Lehighton Area School District serves six communities, including Franklin Township. The district earns a B-minus overall rating from Niche and has about 2,400 students learning across three schools and a virtual academy. Lehighton Area Elementary Center receives a C-plus rating and is home to the district’s free Pre-K Counts Kindergarten Preparation program, which uses hands-on learning to help prepare students for kindergarten. Lehighton Area Middle gets a C-plus, while Lehighton Area High earns a B-minus.
Lehighton Area High School is ranked #264 among best high schools in PA, according to Niche.com.
Lehighton Area High School teaches 603 students.
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Commuters have close access to the Mahoning Valley Interchange
Two highways meet in Franklin Township, U.S. Route 209 and Interstate 476. Commuters often use this intersection, known as the Mahoning Valley Interchange, to reach nearby cities like Allentown, which is less than 30 miles away. Lehigh Valley International Airport is about a 30-mile drive, and Philadelphia is around a 75-mile drive.
A low risk of wildfire, riverine flooding and crime
While FEMA’s National Risk Index indicates that Carbon County has a very low risk of wildfire, about 600 acres burned in a wildfire in October 2024 during a record-setting period of dry weather. Some of that scorched land was in Franklin Township, which has a burning ordinance to help prevent wildfires during particularly dry periods. The county also has a relatively low risk of riverine flooding. However, FEMA flood maps show some properties in Franklin Township rest along regulatory floodways. Franklin Township has a relatively low risk of crime. According to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System, the Franklin Township Police Department reported five incidents of violent crime in 2023 and six incidents in 2024. The department reported 45 incidents of property crime in 2023 and 48 the following year.
Written By
DeeVa Payne
Photography Contributed By
Jay Ratchford
Video By
Chris Norton
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