Greenfield Township has quiet country living near outdoor recreation
Among the lakes and mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania is Greenfield Township, a rural slice of Lackawanna County where life moves at a slower pace than in the nearby city of Scranton. “You can get a little bit of peace and quiet out here,” Colin Striefsky, an associate broker with Re/Max Home Team who’s sold homes in the area for over six years. “There aren’t a lot of people, so you pretty much know everybody. A lot of people who grow up here stay here.” This quiet township includes the private waterfront communities of Newton Lake and Crystal Lake and is near the popular Elk Mountain Ski Resort and Merli-Sarnoski Park. Interstate 81 makes it easy to travel the 21 miles to Scranton, and the small city of Carbondale is only 7 miles away.
Multi-acre properties and lakefront homes have scenic views
“When we saw everyone go remote, we had a big shift where people from the city came out here,” Striefsky says. “That’s when our real estate took off.” While most of the area’s former farms are primarily residential now, those that remain break up the forested landscape with views of grassy pastures. Most homes are ranch-style and split-level houses, and buyers can also find farmhouses built in the early 1900s. “It's very low inventory,” Striefsky says. “Our area is pretty sought after because you can get a little bit of privacy.” He notes that most of the houses rely on wells and septic systems, and most properties are required to be at least 2 acres, preserving the area’s country feel. There are also lakefront homes in the Newton Lake and Crystal Lake communities, including cottages, ranch-style homes and luxury custom builds. Homes throughout the township can range from $160,000 to $360,000. Working farms can cost more, and luxury lakefront properties can be listed for as much as $4.5 million. “If it's priced right, it goes pretty quickly,” Striefsky says. Undeveloped land typically ranges from about $40,000 to $150,000.
Lake access, golf courses and a ski resort for recreation
The 840-acre Merli-Sarnoski Park features a lake for swimming and fishing, plus hiking trails and playgrounds. In winter, ice-fishing is allowed on the lake, and the nearby Elk Mountain Ski Resort is a big attraction with 27 trails for skiing and snowboarding. The privately owned Crystal Lake and Newton Lake provide boating and fishing opportunities for residents in those communities. There are several golf courses throughout the area, including the public Sleepy Hollow Golf Course and the private Elkview Country Club. The Hurricane Hills Sports Center is a motocross course that hosts races and classes, and kids can play Little League games at Eric W. Slebodnik Memorial Sports Complex.
Kids attend Lakeland public schools
Kids can start school at Lakeland Elementary and then go to Lakeland Junior/Senior High from seventh through twelfth grades; both earn a B-minus from Niche. Middle and high schoolers can join 15 clubs, including the Lakeland Lance student newspaper and the Curtain Club, which produces and performs a play each spring.
A car-dependent area near Interstate 81
Interstate 81 passes through the community’s west side, leading about 21 miles to Scranton. Carbondale, the closest city, is a 7-mile drive along state Route 106. Houses of worship here include Finch Hill Baptist Church and Pioneer Baptist Church. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City, the closest hospital, is about 14 miles away, and Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport is a 31-mile trip.
A few restaurants are nearby, but most are in Carbondale
Finch Hill Restaurant and Dairy Bar is one of the few restaurants in Greenfield Township and is known for Italian comfort food, classic diner fare and ice cream. Orazzi’s Blue Ridge Inn is a motel with an attached restaurant here that serves pizza and sandwiches in a casual atmosphere. For shopping, Striefsky says most locals drive to Carbondale. Each Thursday, the Carbondale Farmers Market sells locally grown produce and food products. Carbondale’s Main Street is home to restaurants, stores and amenities like the Carbondale Public Library. Grocery stores here include Weis Markets and Dollar General.
Events in the community and at Lakeland Orchard
The Greenfield Township Community Auxiliary hosts several community events each year, including Trunk-or-Treating, an Easter egg hunt and the Greenfield Day Community Picnic each August. Just to the south, Lakeland Orchard is a popular farm attraction that’s open from May until November, with strawberry picking in June, apple picking in September and October, and carnival rides throughout the season.
Written By
Annie Franklin
