Lake Township Luzerne offers quiet country living near Harveys Lake
Lake Township in Luzerne County is about 20 miles northwest of Wilkes-Barre. This small, rural community of less than 2,000 residents borders Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania’s biggest natural lake by volume. Homes here are sparsely scattered along rural roads and among forests and farmland. “A lot of people enjoy the country living,” says Kristen Hopkins, an agent at Christian Saunders Real Estate, who sells in the area. “It’s not far from other places people like to go on vacation, like the Poconos. You can come out here and enjoy the rural area and travel down the road to the casinos. The school district draws people to Lake Township as well.” Lake Township Luzerne is part of the Lake-Lehman School District, which consistently reports high scores on standardized tests. The overall CAP Index Crime Score in Lake Township is 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score.
Lake Township Luzerne’s limited housing supply
Whether it’s a ranch-style home along State Route 29, a farmhouse surrounded by fields or a cabin deep in the woods, properties typically come with acreage. However, homes rarely come on the market. In recent years, only one home has been sold, and its price was $825,000. According to a Homes.com calculation, which uses a combination of estimated data, average home values in the township are steadily rising; they remain slightly above those in Scranton, but still below the national average.
The Lake-Lehman School District offers flexibility for online learners
Lake Township Luzerne is part of the Lake-Lehman School District. The district’s SPP scores – which stands for School Performance Profile, a state-wide metric – are consistently in the 80-90% range, and Niche awards the district a B-minus rating overall. Students through sixth grade may attend Lake-Noxen Elementary before advancing to Lake-Lehman Junior/Senior High School, which serves grades seven through twelve. Both schools and the district are rated B-minus. The Lake-Lehman School District also offers full-time and part-time online learning at both the elementary and secondary level. Online students are welcome to join sports teams and clubs and attend school events.
Private beaches at Harveys Lake and other outdoor fun
Apart from horseback riding lessons at nearby Royal Rock Equestrian Center, outdoor recreation hotspots are a short drive from Lake Township Luzerne. At Harveys Lake, folks can launch boats, kayak, fish for bluegill and walleye, swim and even scuba dive. “The lake is interesting; it’s super deep, and it’s kind of a mystery as to why,” Hopkins says. Its deepest point is about 100 feet. “It’s about 9 miles to drive around it, and people can go ice skating in the winter,” Hopkins adds. However, lake access requires membership in one of the area’s clubs, like the Harveys Lake Beach Association. This group, which is open to residents of Lake Township Luzerne, maintains Sunset Beach, a swimming spot with lifeguards on duty.
Beyond the lake, locals can spend the day at Ricketts Glen State Park, a forest spanning over 13,000 acres. This park is known for its dog-friendly hiking trails that wind past waterfalls. Additionally, Huntsville Golf Club is a nearby private golf course that hosts local qualifying tournaments for the U.S. Open.
Shopping in Lake Township Luzerne and dining in Harveys Lake Borough
There aren’t many places to shop in Lake Township Luzerne, but Delkanic Greenhouse & Farm Market is open all year, selling plants, homemade bread and locally made jams. Mountain Fresh Supermarket supplies the area with groceries. More comprehensive shopping, as well as a variety of restaurants, can be found in neighboring Harveys Lake Borough and in the town of Dallas. Popular dining spots in Harveys Lake include Grotto Pizza & the Grand Slam Sports Bar, a family-friendly place that serves Italian food. Jones’Potato Pancakes is another hometown favorite; this family-owned staple has been around since 1955. “A great place to eat is Jones’ Potato Pancakes,” Hopkins says. “They’re only open certain months of the year. I remember going up there and getting pancakes as a kid.” Grocery shoppers will find a Weis Markets location in Dallas, along with a variety of retailers in the Dallas Shopping Center.
Driving through Lake Township Luzerne
Though there are no public transit options in the immediate vicinity of Lake Township, State Route 29 is the main road through this car-dependent area. Heading south, 29 leads to U.S. Route 11, which connects drivers to Scranton, about 35 miles away, and Interstates 80 and 81. Emergency care is available about 20 miles away at Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Lake Township is about 30 miles from Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport.
