Rustic country living in Franklin Township Luzerne
The community of Franklin Township lies among the pine and sugar maple trees in Luzerne County's rural north end. There is a collection of rustic single-family homes sitting on acres of rolling farmland, and residents can take in natural beauty at expansive state parks close to home. In town, there are a handful of farm stands for fresh produce, but most locals head to Shavertown or Dallas to the west to reach grocery stores. Pennsylvania Route 309 is a few miles west of the township, providing residents with access to Wilkes-Barre, about 15 miles south, and Interstate 81.
Rural farmhouses and ranch-styles on spacious lots
Buyers can find midcentury ramblers, American Foursquares and farmhouses along narrow country roads. Many homes have one-acre lots or larger, and are often bordered by white farm fences. Homes are priced from $200,000 to $600,000, with prices depending on things like lot size and square footage. Neighbors may have small vegetable gardens or full-scale agricultural operations next to one another. "There are a couple of active farms here, though not as many as in years before," says Rick Melvin, the Secretary and Treasurer of the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors. "It's people's livelihoods and has been for many years."
Frances Slocum State Park is a popular outdoor destination
Frances Slocum State Park is located south of Franklin and covers over 1,000 acres. Visitors can fish or take kayaks out on the park's 165-acre horseshoe-shaped lake, hike on forested trails or pitch a tent at one of the park's campsites. During appropriate seasons, hunting for deer, waterfowl and turkeys is allowed on 700 acres across the park. The Greystone Mountain Golf Club is a nine-hole public course within Franklin Township. The club also offers Glow Golf on select nights, an experience with four holes of glow-in-the-dark putting.
Local farm stores and grocery options in Dallas
Residents of the township benefit from the agricultural tradition that continues here, as they have access to fresh-picked produce and other handcrafted goods nearby. "Two of our working farms travel and set up displays in Wilkes-Barre and Pittston," says Melvin. "One farm here has an active store that people go to, which is Brace's Orchard." The family-owned Brace's Orchard has seasonal sunflower fields and a farm store with pastries, fresh produce and local honey. Backwoods Bar and Kitchen is the Greystone Mountain Golf Club's restaurant that offers barbecue, burgers and Cobb salads. There's also Dymonds Farm and Farm Market in the township for locally sourced fruits and vegetables. Melvin recommends nearby towns like Wyoming, Shavertown, Dallas and Tunkhannock for boutique shopping and local dining options. Weis Markets is seven miles west in Dallas, and Gerrity's is about 10 miles south in Wyoming.
Dallas High School transfers college credits to several institutions
The Dallas School District covers Franklin Township. Students can attend Wycallis Primary Center and Dallas Elementary School, which together teach kindergarten through fifth grade. Both have A-minus ratings from Niche. Dallas Middle gets a B-rating and Dallas Senior High gets a B-plus. At Dallas Senior High, students can earn up to 12 college credits that they can transfer to participating colleges like Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University, King's College and Luzerne County Community College.
Half hour from Wilkes-Barre and Scranton
Wilkes-Barre is a 16-mile drive from Franklin Township, a trip which takes around thirty minutes. Scranton is 22 miles to the southeast, which takes around thirty-five minutes. The Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport is 14 miles away on U.S. Route 11 and offers domestic flights. Though residents can commute to Wyoming Valley employers from Franklin Township, Melvin says many residents work locally around Luzerne County, especially in the fields of road infrastructure and agriculture. The nearest medical center is Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, 14 miles south of town.
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Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
