Hopatcong residents embrace lake life and hometown ties
Living in Hopatcong means living near the largest freshwater lake in all of New Jersey. "The best part about living in Hopatcong is enjoying lake life," says Patrick Bolger, who grew up in Hopatcong and is a Realtor with The Holmquist Group of Keller Williams Metropolitan. "It always has a summertime feel to it and there are a lot of businesses that revolve around it, like lakefront bars and restaurants." Bolger says there are lots of folks who grew up in Hopatcong who never want to leave.
Homes range from lakefront chalets to inland ranch styles
There is ample opportunity to wake up to views of Lake Hopatcong each morning or live a little more inland, still only minutes from the water. Three-bedroom, two-bath ranch-style homes on the lake begin around $315,000. Colonial styles with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a private dock might run for $600,000, while luxury lakefront properties with private docks, saunas and sunrooms go for nearly $1.6 million. Further inland, two-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch styles sell for about $280,000; while slightly larger bi-levels are priced around $400,000.
Garden State Yacht Club and Hopatcong State Park offer recreation
After boating all morning or getting some sun, residents can head to Lola's Waterfront Tex-Mex restaurant for lunch. Afterwards, they can quench their thirst with a Guinness from Patrick's Pub, an Irish eatery on the water. Hopatcong is also home to the Garden State Yacht Club, where members can go water tubing, ride a sailboat and relax poolside. The club has events all year round, like a Halloween costume party, foreign film nights and kid's activities.
Locals can also access the lake from Hopatcong State Park, which offers volleyball, soccer and fishing, as well as a sledding hill when snow blankets the town. In the winter months, the lake offers ice fishing and the annual Leap in the Lake, a polar plunge-style event. Outdoor enthusiasts are near several other parks, including Jefferson Dog Park, Veteran's Field Memorial Park and Civic Center Field.
Local diners and farm markets highlight community spirit
At the Hopatcong Diner, a no frills place, locals can enjoy a grilled cheese with a side of disco fries—french fries covered in mozzarella and gravy. They can also order pad Thai or pad see ew from Twisted on Thai Cafe. "There's no main highway that cuts through it. It's very much a small town that doesn't feel very commercial," Bolger says.
Beloved annual events include the Memorial Day Parade and Hopatcong Days. Every summer on Sundays, there's a farmers market that features an abundance of local businesses.
Little Chief's Preschool program connects teens and children
Students can attend Durban Avenue Elementary School for kindergarten and first grade before advancing to Tulsa Trail Elementary School for third through fifth, both of which receive a C-plus rating from Niche. Students can then move on to Hopatcong Middle School and Hopatcong High School, which both hold a C. High schoolers can teach preschoolers a few days a week through the Little Chief's Preschool program, during which families send their littles to high school for roughly three hours to play with blocks, make arts and crafts and go outside.
Photography Contributed By
Brendan Rogers
